Jean Finot

The Anglo-French Nation Jean Finot

The Anglo-French Entente, before it was finally brought about, seemed almost impossible of realisation. Every effort was met by the insuperable obstacle of misunderstandings, centuries old, which were constantly being sharpened and renewed by a lack of comprehension on the part of both peoples. But an admirable rally and display of goodwill on both sides of the Channel soon overcame the hatred which was alleged to exist between the two races. I had the honour of opening this campaign in the French press, at the very moment when our Quai d'Orsay seemed frankly hostile to it. My first articles were received with hundreds of protests from all sides. They constituted, it was considered, an attack on national aspirations and national interests which tended, so everyone believed, in a contrary direction to those of Great Britain. But in the end our efforts were supported by several great English and French newspapers. As by enchantment, long-standing recriminations and misunderstandings vanished in the space of a few years. The idea of the Entente was taken up by eminent men in both countries; they were supported by King Edward, to whom France and England paid the same homage of unforgetting gratitude, and very soon their endeavours were crowned with brilliant success. Life is often an experimenting school for ideas. It renders their testing easier, and gives a final approval to deductions which are often at first purely speculative, but which, thanks to its support, are elevated into the rank of truths.