Evening star., 1927-05-29
VISIT OF DOUMERCUE
RECALLS OLD ENTENTE
French Presidents Reception in London
Raises Important Question of Con-
tinued Franco-British Friendship.
BY FRANK ii. SIMONDS


THE recent visit of the President
of the French Republic to
England has not only an inn
l. mediate political significance.
but 1t revives memories of
almost quarter of century ago,
which must remain in the minds of
all who witnessed the inception of
the anglo-French entente. Twenty
four years ago Anglo-French hospi-
talities were notable as marking the
end of one era and the beginning of
another. Today the problem is to
know whether it Is possible to revive
that close association which from 1904
to 1919 was dominating factor in
European affairs.
The visit of King Edward to Paris
in the Spring of 1903 was an example
at once of courage and sound political
sense. Between France and Britain
there had been a long period of Bit
terness. 1t had eliminated in the
Fashoda crisis of 1898, when the two
hereditary enemies had again been
on the edge of war. In the following
years the Boer War had excited the
sympathies of all Europe for the
Afrikanders, and nowhere had criti-
cism Of British policy been sharper
than in the French capital.
Distrust Increases.
On the other hand, while Anglo.
French relations had been bad, those
between Germany and Great Britain
had been transformed from the SYM
pathetic cooperation of the Victorian
age to mutual distrust, which was to
develop rapidly into actual bitterness.
Germany was now well launched upon
Il VIZ 1Iar hn
to British sea power was beginning to
be felt in London. The dislike of
King Edward for his nephew the
German Emperor was unmistakable.
In the situation of 1903 the British
Government and the British people
felt the need of some ally on the
Continent. France, still unreconciled
with Germany because of Alsace-
Lorraine, was the obvious selection.
But il France had not forgotten Metz
and Strasbourg, she had not at the
moment forgiven Fashoda. Moreover,
for the French Government of that
day the proposal of King Edward to
go to Paris awakened real anxiety.
No one could foresee how the Pa
risians would receive him.
King Edward Persists.
Nevertheless, Edward persisted and
his visit was real success. He won
first Paris, then France and became,
as he remained to the hour Of his
death, the most popular foreigner in
Paris. The visit was thus a personal
triumph, and three months later
President Loubet went to London.
This return visit was also successful,
and a year later Europe was put
on notice of the existence of the
Anglo-French entente.
This new association was disclosed
in long series of agreements liqui-
dating the innumerable colonial quar-.
rels from Newfoundland to Siam,
which divided the French and British
governments. And chief among the
many adjustments was the British
recognition of the French interests in
Morocco and the French acceptance
of similar British rights in Egypt.
The attempt of the Germans to chal-
lenge this association year later led
to the descent of the Kaiser upon
Tangier, the Conference of Algeciras
and the series of later crises which
brought Europe to war in 1914.
Conditions Are Not Same.
Today no actual parallel exists be.
tween present conditions and those of
1908. If France and Great Britain
in the postwar period drifted apart
and the occupation of the Ruhr prac-
tically destroyed their close partner
ship, Locarno later abolished the worst
of the consequences of this tragic
break. With the coming of BRAND to
control, French foreign policy has
ceased to seem a menace to British
interests or in British eyes a barrier
to European settlement.
Nevertheless, it is true that nothing
like the solidarity of the prewar years
has been re-established. France has
gone her way creating on the Conti-
nent series of alliances which, while
they certainly contribute to her pres
ent security and European influence,
raise grave problems. At the same
time France has established at Geneva
an influence within the league which
is in marked contrast to British un-
popularity.
At the moment no direct clash of
interests separtes the British and the
French. The nearest thing to a dis
agreement existing Is the divergence
of views over the evacuation of the
Rhineland Britain would like to
bring allied occupation to speedy
end, both as a matter of policy and as
France, on the other hand, stands at
present upon the letter Of the Treaty
Of Versailles. which permits occupa-
ton until 1885.
German Cabinet Ar0uses France.
The fact that Germany has today
a cabinet in which the Nationalists
have the upper hand has obviously
aroused French apprehension and post
poned evacuation. In this situation
the British are urging reduction of
the army Of occupation as the best
present compromise between French
and German views. And this whole
question doubtless found consideration
during the visit of the French Presi-
dent.
But there is actually a much broad
err horizon lifted by the present cir
cumstances. OF all the great powers
which survived the war, the British
undoubtedly face the most difficult
and troublesome situation. In reality
there has been going on between Brit
ain and Russia for years something
little short of war. What czariSt Rus
sia was never able to accomplish boil
shevist Russia is rapidly bringing to
pass-namely the destruction of Brit
ish prestige in Asia. First by sup
porting Kemal and the Turks, now
by backing Canton and the Chinese
Nationalists, Russia is inf1icting severe
wounds upon Britain.
French Policies Differ.
But in China. as in Turkey, France