21 DECEMBER 1929, Page 2

Great Britain and France On Thursday, December 12th, Mr. Arthur

Henderson made a happy reference to the entente of peoples which binds Great Britain and France in their common task of building the temple of peace. He did not minimize the difficulties arising from Anglo-French " incompatibility of temperament," but he insisted rightly on the urgent need for fundamental co-operation. We have written elsewhere on the present lamentable lack of understanding in Anglo-French relations. French Press comment on Mr. Henderson's speech is sufficient. proof. The Temps, for instance, solemnly warns its readers that the Labour Government is not likely to abandon its own conceptions of the way to peace and return to Sir Austen Chamber- lain's policy. Of course, no conceivable British Govern- ment could return to that policy. It is high time that French illusions on this point should be shat- tered. M. Jacques Bainville actually suggests that the Foreign Secretary was playing up to Sir Austen in order to obtain Conservative support for the Coal Bill ! A great work of reciprocal interpretation is necessary before there can be much progress towards European peace.

* *