THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1927, Page 6

THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

Games have often played a decisive part in history, but the game of golf between Mr. Lloyd George and M. Briand at Cannes in 1922 may be said to have been the most historic. This game was responsible for M. Briand's fall from power, and he has now told us that but for this fall an agreement would have been signed between Germany, Belgium, Italy, Britain, and France on the lines of the Locarno Treaty. The peace of Europe was thus delayed for four years. M. Briand has played a prominent part in efforts to secure peace, and it is gratifying to know, from a statement reported in our news to-day, that he takes an optimistic view. Much of his work has been in conjunction with the League of Nations. Latterly he has been working with the League to secure regional agreements in the Balkans, and also in the Baltic Provinces. His efforts have not been successful so far, mainly owing to Italian intervention in the Balkans and Russian interference in the Baltic Provinces. When the Baltic Provinces were on the point of concluding an agreement similar to that made at Locarno, Russia intervened and made trouble between Poland and Lithuania over Vilna. But M. Briand does not appear to have been discouraged by these failures. Perhaps the memory of his former failure at Cannes, and his subsequent success at Locarno, have encouraged him to believe that the same will happen in Eastern $nd South-Eastern Europe. His speech at the last Assembly of the League, in reply to that of the German delegate, made a remarkable impression owing to his statement that Germany and France would for the future work together for the peace of Europe. "We have both," he said, "shown our heroism on the field of battle and won military glorv. We now intend to seek laurels in other fields/' His .latest statement indicates that he is satisfied with the position of France at the beginning of the New Year, and coming from a man in his position it is very cheering.