NO PEACE, YET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11593, 11 January 1916, Page 1

NO PEACE, YET.

FRANCE'S ARMED STRENGTH.

Receiving a deputation of 'newspaper J in Pnm rec ! ut , .? L '. Briancl. Prime Minister anu .Minister for Foreign Affairs, denied unequivocal! v tliat'anv proposals for peace-had; reached France from any source what-* over. ,: Wo hold tlie view. 7 ' said M. Bviand. "that this is no time to dis-, cuss peace terms. War nnist continueuntil victory is obtained. 1 ' Asked to state his opinion on the. oriain of the latest, crop of penes rumours from America and kuropeanctmntnV*. and to: oxpiatu why peace'; was "impossible- at ibis juncture, the Premier said : " Suggestions are thrown our in this city and that, but by whom. is onlv a matter of conjecture.- They serve 'no useful purpose and they lead to nothing. Thev cannot lead to anything. H'i.s common knowledge among, ihe Allies that. Germany's resources aro, declining, and these rumours may be j the straws which show how the wind, 15 blowing in the Central Empires, but. I ropeaCFrance does nor stand for a./ premature poace. The French people j would not accept it. The Army would 1 not. hear of it until our objects, which include the liberation of invaded territoreoes. including Alsace-Lorraine, and the smashing of German militarism are, attained. "We are now in tTie full flush of our armed strenvgh. the spirit of our elorious Army was never higher; th<v nation iH'liiud the Army is solid fwid united for ihe prosecution of our arms, am! all Frenchie.Ln fed that complete-•.-j'etc'.'v w : I! crown .ilic 'learbless efforto* our arms if only \\" unfaltcmi'.'.ly ' pur-tie oi'.r r.ni'iWise. Why.- ilicm ;iii-