BRIAND AND STRESEMANN

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3576, 6 April 1927, Page 3

BRIAND AND STRESEMANN

LOCARNO SPIRIT AT WORK. SOLUTION OF A DEADLOCK. , As an illustration of the friendship that has developed between M. Briand and Dr. Stresemann the Foreign Ministers of Prance and Germany, as a result of the Locarno spirit, Mr. Nicholas Murray Butler, in an address before a New York audience described an incident during last year’s negotiations for the admission of Germany to the Council of the League of Nations. The word had coma that Brazil was to use her legal-power of veto to prevent the necessary unanimous consent. The night before the decision was to be taken M. Briand and Dr. Stresemann were closeted together discussing how to meet the sitution. 'Outside was an anxious group of 50 representatives of the world’s newspaper press waiting for some indication of what Prance and Germany were going to do at this great crisis. v M. Briand said: "Dr. Stresemann, I do not see what we can do. Brazil has the power, if she chooses to exercise it, and it appears that she does. I do not see What we can do, do you? Dr. Stresemann replied; “No, I do not; we have come to an impasse. Brazil blocks the way, and we can apparently do nothing.” “I will tell you what to do,” said M. Briand, “Let us go to bed. Let us sleep over it, and perhaps something will come to us in our dreams and wo shall get light.” Dr. Stcrescmann said, "Splendid!” The door was thrown open. Briand and Stresemann wont out to face the waiting newspaper men, arm in arm. Briand took his cigar from his mouth and said, "Gentlemen, I have pleasure in saying to you that Germany and Prance are in absolute agreement as to the next steps to be taken.” That was telegraphed to every country from Japan to Chili and the world was gratified beyond expression at the obvious co-operation and reapprochement between Germany and Prance. That story, Mr. Butler added, is authentic.