The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
PLEADS WITH FRANCE
Premier Macdonald Seeks Cooper. ation In Preparations Problem

PORT TALBOT, Wales, April B. fBy Associated Press. )-Prime Minister Macdonald, speaking here this evening to the electors who sent him to parlia- ment, declared he was not going to lose a single chance of putting the re- port of the separations experts into op- efAtion.
 And want France to be with me. Let, there be no doubt about it, he said.
 T regard the experts report" con tinued Mir. Macdonald, '.as an oppOr- tunity for peace settlement and agree ment which if not taken advantage of by European. statesmen will be one of the most God-sept opportunities ever neglected, and lost.''
 The prime minister declared he was glnd President Coolidge had referred to disarmament the other day. 1a
 When disarmament comes to be discussed, he said, s"the President will find no stronger support in tho world for it than from us." s"
 Appeals To France
 Mir. Mcdonald appealed to France to work with him and the other allies in offering Germany real chance to fulfill its word-a real chance to make a pledge and keep it." .
 The prime minister said he was go- ing to do his best to carry out that policy, steadily and patiently, but without any humbug or cheating at all"
 MT. Mcdonald began his discussion of foreign affairs with an expression of his hopes of helping put Europe on it's feet.
 If can only do anything before I leave this Officej' he said, "tO remove some of the difficulties that have been in the way of an European settlement, if l can do anything to bring my coun- try and France into closer friendship, If can do anything to enable central Europe to find its legs not with hate and revenge in its heart but with new revelation of international cooperation then l shall have felt have done my days work, and regard it as a pretty satisfactory one at that.
 The other day I spoke at York. In the part of my speech as reported in France was some misunderstanding as to what I said. Let there be no doubt about 1t, regard these experts reports as being an opportunity for peace, for settlement, for agreement which if not taken by European statesmen will be one: of the most God-sent opportunities ever neglected and lost.
 To Lose No ChRace
 "As far as am concerned, I am not going to lose one single chance of putting these reports into operation if l can help it and I want France to be with us.
 Some of our papers are talking about France being isolated. That iS the very last thing want. l do not want France to be isolated. I want to stand side by side with France. I want NJ. Poincare to know that France so far as her security is concerned has no better friend than this country.
 If we disagree as to the angle from which we look upon these things it is not that we do not want security, that we do not want friendship. I am pro- foundly convinced that these experts reports, joined together with the ex- perience of the last four years, ought to make both France and ourselves see that by our common friendship and by that alone. working with Italy, working with Belgium, working with the small nationalities and offering Germany a real chance to fulfill it's word, a real chance to make a pledge and keep it-- in that way, in that friendly way, in that allied way, we can open anew the doors to peace, happiness and interna- tional cooperation.
 That is my policy and that is the policy that my. friends and will do our best to carry out, steadily and pa- tiently, but without any humhug and cheating at all-straight, honest, open diplomacy.
 When we disagree, let us say that we disagree, and when we agree unite the agreement with the firm hand clasp of friendship and fellowship. In that way our country will again take it's proper place in the councils of the world "