BRIAND’S SCHEME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 13 July 1929, Page 7

BRIAND’S SCHEME

UNITED STATES OF EUROPE I ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL I MUCH. INTEREST AROUSED ! . . ... td (Soiled Prone Aieociation—Bs fiieotrio TelegrapJH—Copyright) (Australian Press Association) : PARIS, 12th July, i Much discussion has arisen concerning a scheme attributed to M. Briand for the formation of the United States of Europe, It is reported that ho hopes to lay the foundation stone thereof at the League Assembly in September. It is recalled (hat when he welcomed ■ Germany into the League, M. Briand declared that this was really the beginning of the United States of Europe. It has since been germinating in his mind, and has developed into a scheme for an economic federation of Europe, followed later by a political federation. Visionary though it may look at present, it appears to have taken root 1 on the Continent. It is argued that the old world innumerable tariff walls tend to keep Europe economically feeble compared with the United States, whose proposed big increase in tariffs has given an impetus to the new movement. M. Briand has ,not yet disclosed his scheme in details.

Everybody seems to realise the difficulty in carrying out.the project without the support of Britain, from which there has been no response whatever. BERLIN, 12th July.

Political circles declare that Germany will undoubtedly welcome a closer European undertaking in the sphere of tariffs and economic co-operation generally, provided it is nob directed against Britain or the United States.