Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1922. THE ANGLO-FRENCH ENTENTE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 402, 20 May 1922, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1922. THE ANGLO-FRENCH ENTENTE.

The Genoa Conference has brought out in strong relief the differences of opinion that have occurred between the British and French Premiers—differences that have become more accentuated since the ex-President of France, M. Poiricare, suoceeded to the Premiership, and thus assuming more direct control over the affairs of the country than when lie was occupying his previously exalted position. M. Poincare and Mr Lloyd George are both men of action, each being inclined to pursue his own course without much regard for the feelings of the other when differences arise between them. The British Premier has gifts of oratory and a certain personal magnetism which enable him to sway an audience to a greater extent than other men. His persuasive powers and his adroitness in changing his viewpoint and arguments to suit those whom he is addressing if they do not actually convince his hearers 540 far towards winning their support. M. Poincare, for all his Gallic temperament, is no match in debate for the fiery little Welshman, who is said by one of his former admirers—now one of his most persistent critics—that "he has the swiftest mind in politics," and is a ''man of no restraints . . . the

hnprovisor of politics." The. "stimulus of the occasion," this critic further says, ''works in him like wine. It Hoods him with the riot of high spirits and swift fancy, until ho seems to be almost the. voice of the collective emotions. And yet, with all this sensitiveness to the external impulse, he is at bottom the most subtle, the most resolute and the most wilful force in politics " It is these contrarities ol spirit and action that have caused him of late to be misunderstood in AngloFrench political circles, and so the Genoa Conference fails to promote that better understanding between Britain and France that the Cannes agreement seemed to have brought about. Mr Lloyd George views matters from a different standpoint from that taken by the French people. At Versailles ho pleaded for a Treaty which would have dealt more leniently with Germany. Ihe French, however, insisted upon the lull fruits of victory, and rather than impair Franco-British unity -Mr Lloyd Geor"e gave way to It. Clemcnceau. Things have changed since then, and the British Premier hns gone far 111 the other direction much to the disgust 0 the Chauvinistic spirits who at present control the destinies of France, with M Poincare at their head—M. I 0111care who refused to personally attend at Genoa to discuss with Mr Lloyd George the questions that have been so prominently brought to the iront in European politics as a result ol the Genoa deliberations.

AN rjNFOBTITXATE BITTEENESS

Following the Versailles Conference there was an outbreak of ill feeling against Britain in connection with French interests in the Levant. Britain, it was alleged, was encroaching upon the French .sphere of interest in Syria, and was encouraging the Arabs ol the Hedjaz, who disputed French rights, The French press were very bitter over the business, although it was proved, on investigation, that the British were quite, innocent of offence. On the reparations question, as on the Upper Silesia border dispute, further recriminations ayainst Britain tip-

paired iri the French papers. Fortunately, both Mr Lloyd George and M. Brian'd kept their heads and poured oil upon the troubled waters. Crisis after crisis was averted; ''misunderstand--inks',' wero cleared tip, and the position grow easier. Unfortunately the French people appear to have been influenced by these press vapourings, and, with Si. Poiucaro in office, France seems more determined to have her own way. Mr .Lloyd George's actions in regard to both Germany and Russia have not impressed the French at all favourably. They have suffered more from the devastations caused by the Gormans than the British) or think they linve, and they are inclined to exact the last possible penny out of the Germans, while they complain that the British Premier seems mure anxious to study German interests than those of Britain's ally Hi the war. That is the impression in Paris, where the Soviet Government is viewed with such suspicion and distrust that the French people are loth _ to enter into any sort of negotiations with either Lenin or Trotsky, knowing as tney do .that both men wore sent into Russia by the Gorman High Command, and ' that, whatever their motives may have been in the final resort, they were the paid emissaries of the chief enemy of France. It is unfortunate that a sentiment, bordering upon jealousy of England, has been fostered by certain sections of the French • press, which is continually harping on the immense sacrifices made by France and the fact that she got nothing out of the war. which has felt her Treasury empty and bled her population white, while the cruel price she had to pay has not even brought her security, as Germany remains powerful for evil. The Russo-German agreement, coupled with the attitude of the Soviet representatives at Genoa, adds to the forebodings oi the French people, who see .Mr Lloyd George negotiating with those whom they not unreasonably regard as their enemy, in the Uppor Silemau dispute Britain had to act as the impartial arbiter, and in the attempt which .Mr Lloyd George has made to curb the French demand in the matter of reparations', it seems to the French people that Britain has acted disloyally to her ally, and that she has perversely attempted to befrend their enemy. France declines to have any dealings with the Soviet Government, which refuses to acknowledge its indebtedness to any of the Allies, and which has brazenly announced that it will continue to appropriate any private property which comes within its reach. While Britain continues to negotiate with Russia. Frame looks on with bewilderment and anger, the olio redeeming feature in the whole _ unsatisfactory business being the King's visit to the French battlegrounds and the touching reply made by him to the President',* greeting.