France and Britain
In the historical sequence of events regional alliances in Europe have come first, though in logic the world organisation has priority, with regional arrangements falling under it. An agreement between Great Britain and France still remains to be negotiated, and the delay may prove to have been worth while if the agreement can be made in the light of definite assurances from America that she will play her full part in world security. There can be no doubt in the mind of General de Gaulle that this country is bent on entering into the closest possible relationship with France. In his broadcast last Monday he made it clear that it was to ensure the peace of Europe that France had concluded a firm alliance with Russia, and desired to make an alliance with Great Britain. An understanding such as has been arrived at with Russia could easily be reached with Britain, and a treaty in which it was embodied would not need totouch upon questions which must be left for a wider peace-treatysuch, for example, as the question of Germany's western frontier, or the procedure in dealing with the Rhineland. These are very important matters in which our interests are closely bound up with
those of France, but they must. be settled by the United Nations in concert. But it is likely that we shall have to make more than
one agreement with France. Security is only one problem. There are a host of economic questions, including that of air transport, on which cooperation with France would be highly advantageous to both countries. The sooner these can be explored the better, and there might well be discussions in which Belgium and Holland would be invited to join.
