A NEW ENTENTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18649, 4 March 1924, Page 7

A NEW ENTENTE.

FRANCE AND BRITAIN. TEXT OF NEGOTIATIONS. I VOTER VIEW OF PROBLEMS. FIRST STEPS TO SOLUTION. FACING- THE ISSUES. By Telegraph—Press —Copyright. (Received 9.25 p.m.) Beater. PARIS. Mar. 2. Farther letters exchanged between Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald and M. Poincare embody a general exposition of the views of ■ the two Governments on the methods necessary to lead to a solution of the problems of foreign policy. The letters are couched in a sincere spirit of collaboration. Mr. Mac Donald sent to M. Poincare a letter which the newspapers declare is one of the frankest and most unequivocal t documents ever sent by the head of one [.*.■ Government to another. It marks a ' great innovation in diplomatic exchanges. Mr. Mac Donald wrote that he desired to prepare the way for a more - complete '-:'.. mutual understanding by reciting, without reserve, the difficulties with which he was faced. He said it was widely felt in England that, contrary to the Versailles Treaty, 'France was endeavouring to create a situation by which she would gain what she had failed to gain during the peace negotiations. Such a policy could only perpetuate uncertainty and dangers, and finally destroy whatever temporary security France might gain. Britain's Different Viewpoint. Britain's position was entirely different. Our security on land and sea was not menaced, but our economic existence was gravely endangered owing to the acute, persistent dislocation of the markets of Enrope, occasioned mainly by ; the uncertainty of the relations between • ■''■. France and Germany, and the ultimate '■;,: ;■>■ uncertainty, of those between France and Britain. The people of England regarded with anxiety what' was apparently a determination of France to ruin Germany and dominate the Continent without con- -" siderafion of our reasonable .interests and of the future consequences to Europe. ; They felt apprehensive of the large military and aerial .establishments "• France maintained. -They were disturbed by the interest France showed. in military organisation in the new States in Central \ Europe. ■ Finally they asked* why France should finance all these, activities,,- disregarding the British taxpayer, who had to pay, up- : wards of £30,000,000 interest on the Ame-. ' rican debt, and had also" to pay interest on the debt France owed to Britain. The ; French people desired security and the British- cherished a similar ideal, but whereas France conceited security as ;. security against 'Germany alone, the British Empire gave her word' a far wider significance. t "What we desire," said Mr. Mac Donald, ' "is security against war. The problem, 'of security hot merely a French problem. Similarly the French, desire ret parations -which■■■■•they conceive mainly as ' ■ payments from Germany. The British ardently desire to repair the' devastation' of war; but interpret devastation in wider terms— ruined markets, vanishing pur- • chasing- power, declining shipping and foreign trade, fallen currencies and unemployment." - : The Bohr Problem. ■'"■'■".■■ Mr. Mac Donald said he saw little prospect of their being able to attain agree- • ment in regard to the Ruhr, Rhineland and Palatinate, ' unless they were first able, by frank and courageous discussion, to achieve some unanimity .in regard to -.he essential purposes to which these prob- : lems were merely subsidiary; for when t he considered their relations in a wider - aspect he did not feel that their essential "object was so divergent. Their task / ' must be to establish confidence which could be achieved only by allaying international suspicions and anxieties. ; Whether this could be partially achieved by local demilitarisation and neutralisation by the creation, between certain States, of, bands of neutralised territory, under mutual or even collective guarantee and supervision, or,by some other means, is a' matter for careful consideration in detail. He believed the: League of Nations, by discussions and eventual i ' action.; might play an important part therein. • The assent and goodwill: of every European country must be enlisted - in support of this policy, which could be .initiated only if France and England agreed. If France and England could but, agree, the co-operation of other European countries. would be assured, and it would be possible for them to approach the ' United- States as -: a united Europe, anxious, by mutual sacrifice and arrangement, to cure the ills of the people. , The letter 'concludes with an earnest appeal for co-operation between France and Britain, : and mutual sacrifices in order to. cure the ills from which both peoples .~ ; are suffering. ; M. Poincare's Reply. ,■;■}'.' M. : Poincare, in reply, expressed keen pleasure at the very frank and friendly letter. He said: "I am ready to begin with you the examination of these great outstanding problems and shall enter thereon in the spirit of concilation and loyalty with which you are animated."

M, Poinoare insists that France does not dream of political or economic annihilation of Germany. France is not so mad as to reduce a debtor to poverty. "Among the errors concerning ourselves which a section of the British people entertains." continues M. Poincare, "the most incomprehensible, and one that most saddens nsr, is regarding military armaments. Are there really Englishmen who suppose France capable of fratricidal preparations against their country. Our military and aerial establishments are exclusively designed to defend us 1 against an attempt at revenge by Germany." M. Poincare's reply concludes by dwelling on the necessity for the FrancoBritish entente, and declares that the whole of Europe and humanity would have to pay the price of dissensions between France and Britain.