NEW UNITED STATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 11

NEW UNITED STATES.

EUROPEAN FEDERATION.

SCHEME OF M. BRIAND.

INTEREST ON CONTINENT.

REPLY TO AMERICAN TARIFF

Australian and N. 55. Press Association. (Weceivcfl July 12, 6.35 p.m.) PARIS. July 12

Much discussion has arisen concerning a scheme, attributed to M. Briand, the French Foreign Minister, for formine the " United States of Europe." It is reported that he hopes to lay tho founda-tion-stone ol his plan at the League of Nations Assembly in September. It is recalled that when M. Briand welcomed Germany into tho League ho declared that that was really the beginning ol the United States of Europe. The idea has since been germinating in his mind, and lias dovelopod into a scheme for an economic federation of Europe, followed later by a political federation. Visionary fhough it. appears to be at present, the idea seems to have taken root on tho Continent. It is argued that the innumerable tariff walls of the Old World tend to keep Europe economically feeble compared with the United States, whose proposed largo increase in tariffs has f;iven an impetus to the new movement.

M Briand has not yot disclosed his scheme in detail. Everybody seems to realise the difficulty of carrying out the project without the support of Britain, which has made no response whatever. It is said in Berlin political circles that Germany would undoubtedly Welcome a closer European understanding in the sphere of tariffs and economic co-operation generally, provided that it was not directed against Britain or the United states.