13 MAY 1922, Page 2

Mr. Lloyd George, hearing on Monday of the Times statement,

had written to M. Barthou, asking him to contradict Mr. Steed's version of their conversation. He said :-

" I request this because, as you know, I value Franco-British co-operation too highly to tolerate public misstatements regard. ing the official conversation on that subject at a moment of great importance in the relations of our two countries. I was a strong partisan of the Entente between France and England long before the War, and to me as to every Englishman that friendship means more since it was consecrated by common sacrifices."

Mr. Chamberlain read this letter and M. Barthou's reply in the House of Commons on Tuesday, and said that they seemed to dispose of the " malevolent and unfounded " reports in the Times.