EUROPEAN SITUATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7355, 6 February 1911, Page 5

EUROPEAN SITUATION

SPEECH BY M. PICHON THE ENTENTE BETWEEN FRANCE, RUSSIA AND BRITAIN. By Telegraph— Press Association— Ccpytlffhl LONDON, February 3. M. Pichon, Minister for Foro.gn Af fairs, speaking in the Senate, replied to the critics who had questioned the usefulness of the Triple Entente. He deprecated a statement that Entente with England was unproductive and that military matters had not been discussed during the past two or three years. Continuing, he exclaimed, "What do you know about it? Diplomacy is not carried on in public places.” He affirmed in his own name, and on the strength of a declaration made to him ou behalf of Great Britain, that the Entente was never more complete or more intimate than to day. He* spoke similarly of the alliance with Russia, which had fully informed Prance prior to and during the Potsdam Conference (between the Czar and the Kaiser), and lie added that whatver might bo the outcome of the Potsdam meeting there would bo noth-, ing to regret from the standpoint,of the interests of France and peace.