Our nations must unite, says Queen

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 6 April, 2004 | Caroline Davies

[tjwmason]

Our nations must unite, says Queen
By Caroline Davies in Paris
(Filed: 06/04/2004)

The Queen yesterday urged Britain and France to put aside their differences and stand together in the war against terrorism.

In a rare foray into the political arena, she emphasised that the two countries, at odds over the military campaign in Iraq, must not allow "immediate political pressures" to divide them at a time of great uncertainty and threat.

Addressing a state banquet in Paris to mark the centenary of Britain's historic Entente Cordiale agreement with France, she praised the way the two nations had stood together "resolute in defence of liberty and democracy", especially during both world wars and other conflicts in the 20th century.

While the Queen did not directly refer to Britain's differences with France over Iraq, she appeared to hint at them when she told the 220 guests: "For just as our statesmen and my great-grandfather [Edward VII] realised 100 years ago, we too need to recognise that we cannot let immediate political pressures, however strongly felt on both sides, stand between us in the longer term.

"We are both reminded that neither of our two great nations, nor Europe, nor the wider Western Alliance, can afford the luxury of short-term division or discord in the face of the threats to our security and prosperity that now challenge us all."

The Queen said the centenary of the Entente Cordiale, originally an agreement over colonial territories, was "a most significant" anniversary.

"If I may be allowed tonight one small British understatement, our historical relationship has not always been smooth. For centuries we fought each other fiercely, often and everywhere: from Hastings to Waterloo, from the Heights of Abraham to the mouth of the Nile.

"But since 1815 our two nations have not been to war. On the contrary, we have stood together, resolute in defence of liberty and democracy, notably through the terrible global conflicts of the 20th century."

In what was praised as a warm and personal speech, the Queen said: "I hope we can use this anniversary to recognise and celebrate all that we have in common."

Speaking in fluent French, she said: "Of course we will never agree on everything. Life would be dull indeed, not least for the rest of the world, if we did not allow ourselves a little space to live up to our national caricatures: the British pragmatism and French elan, French conceptualism and British humour, British rain and French sun - I think we should enjoy the complementarity of it all. I believe our two peoples understand this sometimes more clearly than our governments."

The Queen then raised a glass and proposed the toast: "Vive la difference mais vive L'Entente Cordiale."

President Jacques Chirac toasted the "French and British friendship" and spoke warmly of how Britain had "protected the flame" of French resistance during the Nazi occupation. He stressed too that the two countries must work together over Europe and to combat terrorism.

"As the European Union prepares to welcome 10 new member states, the new Europe will need to adopt a constitution as soon as possible," he said. "Our two countries shall provide the impetus needed to achieve this."

But in an apparent veiled reference to Britain's decision to go to war in Iraq without a United Nations resolution, he said: "Our shared ambition of achieving a world of peace and solidarity is expressed in the forums where a new form of governance on a human scale is being developed.

"As founding members, we see the United Nations as the source of international legitimacy.

"As permanent members of the Security Council, we would like it to be strengthened and enlarged to take on the prime responsibility for international peace and security conferred upon it by the UN charter."

[tjwmason]

God Save the Queen, and bless her brave forces fighting for freedom and civilisation.

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[Publius]

But since 1815 our two nations have not been to war.

Because after the revolutions of 1848, Otto von Bismarck built Prussia into Germany, creating the entity that drove the English and French into bed with each other thanks to fear.

[LN2Campy]

The Entente Cordiale led to the Somme and Gallipoli; I can't imagine why the limeys would want to celebrate it.

[tjwmason]

The Entente Cordiale led to the Somme and Gallipoli; I can't imagine why the limeys would want to celebrate it.

I'm guessing that it has something to do with the fact that we have been fighting with the French for over a thousand years, and now we have stopped. Strange the way we like to celebrate the end of fighting.

[Darheel]

I like the Queen and all, but it sounds awfully naive, considering what France is today.

[LN2Campy]

The fighting with the French ended in 1815; the Entente occurred about 80 years later, so it had little to do with "celebrating the end of fighting".

All it did was enmesh Britain in the Continent's woes. Without the Entente, it is conceivable that the Great War would never had occurred.

Germany would have likely still invaded Tsarist Russia, but without Britain backing it up, France would be a lot less likely to jump in on Russia's behalf.

All conjecture, I know, but I just can't see the establishment of the Entente as an unalloyed "good thing".