Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1931 THE UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 January 1931, Page 6

Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1931 THE UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

THE recent utterances of MM. Briand and Herriot, both ex-Premiers of France, bring the question of the proposed United States of Europe into prominence. The (European delegates are discussing the proposal at Geneva and, in the course of liis address to them, M. Briand expressed the opinion that:

Not since tiro war has the whole economy of the European world felt a more heavy threat of grave disorders which, if not promptly remedied, will lead to a fearful rupture in European equilibrium. . . . Millions are now hoping for a more effective and constructive manifestation of the will for peace, for which reason the way is now open, although for long it must be traversed prudently. . . . M. Herriot's statement was remarkable for the fact that, in his opinion: There can be no (European) union without Britain. There cannot be

peace and liberty in Europe without Britain’s participation. The question, to our mind, is, whether with or without Britain’s assistance and participation, the Continent of Europe can heal all its differences and antagonisms, and become united, as are the United States of America. Before an answer can be framed, it is necessary to determine the cause or causes of those antagonisms and animosities which, as M. Briand points out, are gravely endangering the equilibrium of the Continent. Europe is what it is because it is divided among eighteen or twenty races which, in carving out for themselves regions where they might live, each in accordance with its racial proclivities and characteristics, have necessarily engendered those international antagonisms whili have existed since the collapse of the Roman Empire. Europe’s history during the last thirteen or fourteen centuries has been one long record of wars which have had their origin in the racial antagonisms referred to, and in the ambition of Emperors arid Kings. The monarchs of Europe have mostly disappeared, but the races remain, and witli them those antagonisms which, if not healed,, may well reduce Europe’s civilisation to semi-barbarism.

M. Briand’s injunction is something like n counsel of perfection. He would ask tlie lion to lie down with the lamb. He would expect the Teuton and the Frank to shake hands, and swear eternal friendship. He would ask the Slavic nations of the Balkans to embrace the Turk. He would hope to heal in a day the Italians’ rivalry with the French. But, most astonishing of all, he would imagine that the Bolshevists of Russia will combine with monarchist and republican States of Europe which, one day, they hope to convert to Communism by means of red revolution! Truly, M. Briand’s is a herculean task. His idealism awakens the deepest admiration. It is difficult to conceive that he will bo completely successful, but, if he should bo successful in part, he will have performed a great work, for he will have “blazed the trail” which finally may load to a Europe sufficiently united to protect iiself against those forces which, lie sees, threaten it with catastrophe. When M. Herriot says that there can be no United States of Europe without the inclusion of Britain, he is surely speaking without due consideration of existing facts. Britain has already notified M. Briand that her relationship with the British Commonwealth of Nations and the British Empire generally prevents her inclusion in the contemplated United States of Europe. M. Briand accepted that explanation, re T gretfully no doubt, and went on with his good work. It docs not appear that there is a British delegate at M. Briand’s Geneva Conference. Surely M. Herriot must perceive that for Britain k> become a member of the United States of Europe would disrupt the British Commonwealth of Nations and break up the British Empire. Greatly as it is desired to settle Europe’s troubles by furthering M. Briand’s plan, it must be plain to every practical statesman that Britain cannot become part of the United States of Europe without effacing herself as a world-Power and the head of the mightiest Empire which the world has ever seen. Britain’s destiny is wrapped up with that Empire, and her groat task is to consolidate its innumerable States. Dominions, Colonies, Protectorates, and Dependencies, into one indivisible political and economic unit, which shall counter-balance the United States of America on the one hand, and the proposed United States of Europe, on the other.