15 NOVEMBER 1919, Page 1

The French President has been the guest of the King

and of the nation this week. London accorded him a hearty welcome when he arrived on Monday, and when on Tuesday he was received in the City. M. Poincare, replying to the King at the State banquet on Monday, reviewed the origins and the course of the war in an impressive speech. He took occasion to remind the two peoples that, having won the peace, they have to co- operate "for long years" in making the peace effective. M. Poineare commended the League of Nations, but he let it be seen that he put more faith in the Franco-British Alliance, formed within the League, and in our "solemn promise of military support" in the event of a fresh invasion of North- Eastern France. The Entente, he said, had become second nature to both countries. In the City M. Poineare laid stress on the common misfortune of London and Paris in being subjected to repeated air raids, by which the enemy vainly hoped to intimidate and demoralize the two capitals. In recalling what London had endured, he courteously left his hearers to remind themselves that Paris suffered even more, both from air raids and from the long-range gun, than we did.