The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1912-12-06
FRANCE ANSWERS
GERMAN THREAT.
Premier Says Republic w..
Stand by Friends.
OUTLINES BALKAN POLICY
Indicates That Servia's Interests viii
Be Looked After by the Triple En-

Indicates That Servia's Interests Viii
Be Looked After by the Triple En-
tente.
Paris, Dec. 6.-France spoke plainly
On the European situation. Premiel
Poincare told the committee on for
eign affairs of the chamber of depu
ties:
I'VE stand by our allies and oul
friendships
The premier was laying down the
policy to be pursued by France in the
Balkan settlement.
Frances position in the present
tense European situation was summed
up by Premier Poincare in few
words. He said: Frances program is:
"First-Continuity in our foreign
policies and consequently the practical
and persevering operation of our ALI.
ances and friendships.
"Second-Sincere and continued Of.
forts to secure the peace of Europe.
''Third-Above all the firm and calm
rights and maintain our national dig
nifty free from all possible attack"
The French premier's address had
not only been carefully prepared, but
had been submitted previously to a
special session of the cabinet, as ii
was realized that a speech similar to
those delivered by the British pre-
mier, Herbert Asquith, and the Ger.
man imperial chancellor, DR.. Won Beth.
mann-Hollweg, was awaited with anx.
iety in every capital of Europe.
AS the most important negotiations
are now being pursued Premier Poin-
care pointed out that he was not free
to speak without restriction. He want.
ed to affirm, however, that France in
the settlement of the present Euro
pean questions wished that her ALI
ances and friendships should find new
proof in their force and in their eff
ficacy
France, the premier said, always
consulted England and Russia in ad
vance before acting and always acted
with them, and he added: eve shall
continue to act with them in close ac-
cord and with confidence" Referring
to me futhure, M. Poincare said:
cali the evidence goes to show tha.
a general settlement of the pending
difficulties will be effected sooner kog
later. Up to now the powers have
been ia accord, recognizings that mill
tary SheTations do not coalstjtus s.
complished facts and that no power
has adopted any irreparable initiatiye.ss
This result, which is the best guaran.
tee of European peace, is especially
due to the fact that the chancelleries
of Europe have been in constant COM
munication in the past few weeks"
The premier added: "The variations
of the points of view between GER
tain power and the Balkan allies and
among the great powers themselves
doubtless cannot, however, be solved
pacifically without a common confer
ence where all the problems will be
discussed and weighed"
Premier Poincare saw an indication
of peace in the fact that every great
power had placed itself on record as
not seeking territorial extension. This,
he said, should not be confused with
their moral and political interests in
the territory where hostilities had
been going on.
France hurls back into the teeth of
the kaiser almost the identical words
uttered a few days ago by DR.. Won
Vethmann-Hollweg, the German i'm
perial chancellor, when he said Ger
many would, in the event of hostilities
arising from the dispute between Aus
tria and Servia, fight side by side
with our allies
Germany's threat was directed
against Russia, to which France is
bound by a formal alliance. England
is lined up with France and Russia,
forming together the Triple Entente.
In the rival camp of the powers are
Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy,
forming the Triple Alliance, or Drei
bund.
Thus the great powers of Europe,
figuratively speaking, stand glaring at
each other with fixed bayonets, wait.
ing the overt act that may precipitate
a war that would involve the whole
continent.