THE AIMS OF FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17077, 28 January 1916, Page 9

THE AIMS OF FRANCE.

OUTLINED 8Y....M. BRIAND. A GREAT SPEECH. The-declaration-of policy which M. Briand made in the Chamber of Depu- ' ties recently referred to the mainteni auce of unity among.. all partjes..in France and of ■collaboration between Parliament, the .Government.[and;; the: nation; . France, said -M.;.: Briand,-. would-not lay .down her arms until the cause of justice had been vindicated by victory and until she.had obtained all the guarantees of a lasting peace. This aim would'be attained by. the close solidarity of the Allies. : Their union was" becoming closer- every, day,; but there was room 'for impfOTement in the* ' securing of.«rapid collaboration on, the: various theatres of war. Answering to the appeals of Serbia, France had, from the very first hour, gone to her aid. There was complete agreement between the French and the British Government on the subject of military operations in the Balkans. France was resolved, declared M. Briand, in conclusion, to carry on tho war to the *ory. end, ;&$•« having realised "the "nature of her "task she was resolved to win and she would win. OTHER VIEWS. The Premier's declaration was followed by several interpellations, in one of which M. Bokanowski's; the subject of the sitting of the Chamber in camera was referred to.- - . ' si« Biit* -by fat"; the most of tlie ;i interpellations ' was".that.- -of ■%'+ Renaudel, member for one of tho Toulon districts, and since the disappearance of M, Jean Jaures, one of the chief representatives of the Socialist Party in the Chamber. Addressing M. Briand, he repeated the Premier's declaration that France would carry oh tho war to the end, until the enemy had been dislodged from .the invaded provinces, those's territories $ which had suffered from invasion for many months, as well as those which.had been invaded before tho war. ■" We agreo to this," said M. Renaudel, "we accept your declaration as a formal promise thaV France, apart from the restitutions which justice demands, apart from the restitution of the politcal and economic : autonomy "of thoso heroic countries, Belgium andSerbiai-will.iiot adopt., any .-policy of annexation -or conquest. ■';. , t< " • '-,;.-;.•- .-. J\L Renaudel's words, provoked an up: roar iii the Chamber; owing to an impression in some quarters r that he' had not included Alsace-Lorraine among the objectives of the war. M. Renaudel it was only when Mi Briand took his attempted to explain his statement, but place in tho tribune that-'calm was restored. Coming as it did from Jblie man wlibTis how at the Jiead of affairs' in France, tho speech of M. Briand is of the greatest importance, as defining" the attitude of the Government towards thoso schemes of territorial aggrandisement and annexation of German provinces which aro known to be held in certain circles in France. ..The.Chamber recorded its impression of its importance by votingin favour of its being posted;, up. in every ...commune in tho. country. .--,.. v; ; THE GREAT QUESTION.

Having spoken in terms of warm praiso of the grand work performed by his predecessor in office, during | the extraordinarily difficult period ! which had followed the opening of hostilities, M. Bnand turned to the' great question brought up by M. Renaudel. "How,"' he said, " is. there any possibility of discussion,' when not a single one of us would even' consider the possibility of peace without complete victory. I" am certain that not one of our colleagues ; of the Extreme Left would differ on : this point. It would; be unjust not to. remember that they have been anion g the most active of those elements -which form the solidarity of the- nation. Peace is a more fundamental tenet with.them owing to their political faith than it is with any other party; more praise, is, therefore, due to them, and they have a further right to it when, in full liberty of conscience, they declare that at no period do they intend to associate themselves with enterprises aiming at excessive conquest. Their attitude during the past year has won them consideration for their views in the future. " The time will coine—it is not yet and we must have the courage, to tell, the nation so—when peace .will be signed. But it will be when bur troops hav ebeen victorious, our country ' is totally freed, and .the provinces of which we were so cruelly robbed, restored to France." The cheers which greeted this declaration came from 'every part 'of the Chamber. Continuing his interrupted sentence, M. Briand added: "When the integrity of Belgium has been reestablished' and Serbia completely freed, then, but only then, can the subject of peace be discussed. ' ■",

FOR CIVILISATION. . • « "But," he asked, "will this peaca be a self-seeking on? No. I refuse to believe that our country which has been so magnificent would lower itself to such mean, personal ambitions. Franco,, it is to her honour and-her glory, is the world's champion. Sword* in hand, France is fighting for civilisation and for .the freedom of peoples. When, she sheathes' hef sword' ir:'wfll ; he - because,- a solid and durable peace will hay heeen given, to the world and all ambition 10r..... tyrannical domination

will have given place to progress v in civilisation,-by which the freed nations, will bo able to enjoy their complete\aii-. toiiomy. - .: ■ ■ .:■..■■:■ ■.;■. , . ~-.■-, '.•■ ' ■." This is the peace ,for which, the.spir diers "of Franc'e.arc', fighting;-. \'.lt.'is" the only one" whtclf is [worthy of.us, ; ,.th'e' only, one-which.can' be considered. . As" long' as "the. bird of prey among the nations, and we know which nation that is,, preserves, her homicidal designs/ it is. impossible to speak of peace. Only when she manifests her intention "of onco more taking her place among the nations, preserving her own. identity, but respecting that 4 of others; only when we liave made it impossible for-her .to, trouble., the nations,, for, manyia long year,, then and ordy then,: can "we speak of peace.' Arid"it" will be the peace of France, that glorious peace which will mark the- re-establish-ment of. "justice, in the whole world."