16 OCTOBER 1920, Page 14

FRANCE AND GREAT BRITAIN.

(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") St,—As you remark, the French are not very gracious in their criticisms of us, but our opinion of their newspaper articles may be modified by two things. The French are a jealous people and quarrel amongst themselves with even greater asperity than they display towards foreigners. Then the " cleri- pals" take the time from their priests, who have always been Anglophobe owing to religions differences. I do not believe that the wide-minded French have forgotten the great part played by the British Navy and Array during the war, and any mis- trust which they may have regards the manner in which the present Government has acted since the end of the war. I am afraid that Mr. Lloyd George is not a persona grata on this aide of the Channel, and they do not make allowances for the

difficult part which he has to play, owing to the ambition of the Labour Party as expounded by its leaders. French journalists allow themselves more license, when they criticize, to any a great deal more than they believe at heart, so that their readers take what they read with a pinch of salt. I have always believed that the French were a nation very easily governed, provided they had a strong head, and facts since the end of the war have confirmed me in this opinion, for they have put up with many hardships and much maladministration which the British would not have tolerated.—I am, Sir, Sc.,

A 'RESIDIMT 714 FRANCE.