UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 10

UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

However visionary it may appear, tho idea of an economic federation of European States, and even of a subsequent development of such a federation into some sort of political union, is neither wholly novel nor palpably impracticable. Long ago, in days when the "balance of power" theory dominated the chancellories, there were occasional efforts to gather into close and enduring alliance some of these States, and projects of the kind were advocated. The efforts broke down because of the rapid changes in strength of some of the Powers, separate national ambitions getting expression in preference to the co-operative idea. But the idea persisted. The patchwork of alliances, though an obstacle to its realisation, presented a case for consideration whether something of wider mutual benefit might not be attempted. The war, which put a sudden stop to so many things, opened the way to a review of the whole position, and almost in spite of itself Europe was constrained to revert to the idea. In the League of Nations there was founded, on a more ambitious scale, that was all, the sort of system those earlier years had in view. The aloofness of the United States of America from the League, the continued reassert ion of the Monroe doctrine, and the recently proposed intensification of tariff restrictions by the United States, have naturally turned European thought back to the idea that earlier found favour. There is little need, therefore, for a prima-facie case to be made out for the notion. Everything will depend on the details of the scheme. A point of obvious importance is the possibility of Britain taking a place in the suggested federation, but even this cannot be discussed until the details are disclosed. Should M. Briand get the proposal ventilated at the September meetings of the League, there will be a session second to none in crucial interest.