M. BRIAND'S SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 11

M. BRIAND'S SCHEME.

TEXT OF MEMORANDUM. UNION TO ENSURE PEACE. A COMMON RESPONSIBILITY. A " Memorandum on f lie Organisation of a Regime of Federal Union in Europe, prepared by the French Foreign Minister, M. Briand, was issued on May 17 and presented to tlie Governments of all the European States members oi the League of Nations. It was communicated also to all non-European members. The memorandum was dated May 1, the day when it. was finally approved by the French Council of Ministers. It consisted of a preamble and four chapters, containing the practical proposals, and a final statement. The preamble set out that the proposal under consideration by the 27 Governments was justified by " a quite definite recognition on their part of a common responsibility in face of tho menace which exists to the peace of Europe—from the political as well as from the economical and social points of view—as a result of Iho unco-ordinated stale of the general economic position in Europe." " There is no question of constituting a European group outside the League of Nations. On the contrary it is desired to bring (he interests of Europe info harmony. under the control of the league, and in conformity with its spirit, by incorporating into its universal system a limited system which, by its very limitations, would be all the more effective." The preamble went on to point out with particular insistence that the proposed union could not intervene in any way in the solution of problems specially reserved by the Covenant or by existing treaties for the League of Nations. In conclusion it laid emphasis on the point that in no circumstances whatever must the proposed federal link bo allowed to affect the sovereign rights of the different States. Subordination to the League. Chapter f. of the memorandum set out the " need for a general pact, however elementary, proclaiming the principle of European moral unity and solemnly consecrating the solidarity established between European States." Under the title of " Observations" tho following points were then made:— The principle of European union having been irrevocably accepted, (he European Conference or its permanent executive would study means of creating the living link of solidarity between the nations of Europe, thus realising the moral entity of (he union. In the preparation of the pact it will be necessary to take into account the reservations mentioned in the preamble—i.e., to define Europe considered as " a regional entente" existing in conformity with .Article 21 of the Covenant and acting within the framework of the League. To attest the subordination of the association of Europe to the League of Nations, the pact should be restricted at first to European States members of the League. Organs for Fulfllment of Task. Chapter 11. deals with " the necessity of creating suitable machinery to provide (he Union of Europe with the indispensable organs for the fulfilment of its task." The organs proposed in the memorandum were:— (a) A representative and authoritative body in the form of a regularly-constituted European Conference, consisting of representatives of all (he Governments of Europe which are members of the League of Nations. (b) An executive body in the form of a permanent political committee. (c) A secretariat, to ensure the administrative execution of the orders of the president of the conference, or of tho European Committee, to maintain communications between Governments which sign the pad, (o issue summonses to meetings of the conference and of the committee, to prepare an agenda, to register and announce decisions, etc. The secretariat would eventually be established at Geneva, so that advantage could be taken, at least temporarily, of the services of the League secretariat. Principles of Organisation. Chapter 111. was concerned with "the need of deciding in advance upon the principles which will determine the gen eral conceptions of the European Committee and guide it in its preparation of the programme for tho organisation of Europe." Tho considerations in this chapter came under the following heads: — (a) The need of subordinating the economic problem to tho political. (b) The conception of European political co-operation aiming at a federation founded on the idea, not of unity, but of union, i.e., sufficiently clastic, to respect tho sovereign rights of each State, whilo at the same timo all States obtain the advantages of a collective solidarity for tho settlement of political questions in which the Commonwealth of Europe, or ono of its members, is interested. (c) A conception of the economic organisation of Europe as tending toward a rapprochement of economic systems in Europe, brought about under the political responsibility of the Governments acting; in union.

Chapter IV. enumerated the questions which "it is opportune to reserve for di:> cussion, either by the next European Coriference or by the. future European Conimiltoe." These included tariffs and trusts, communications, labour and hygiene. Methods of Co-operation. Reference was then made to methods of achieving co-operation in Europe and it was suggested that it would be found opportune either to create new co-ordinat-ing organisations to support the efforts of the League of Nations in that direction or to cause the League of Nations to call conferences, European or worldwide, to discuss new issues as they arose. Chapter IV. concluded with the suggestion that the conference and the committee should bo empowered to determine methods for collaboration between the Union and countries which do not belong to it. , The final statement of (he memorandum requested an answer bv July 15 to the points raised. It declared that never, has the time bee., so propitious 01 so pressing for the beginning «i cons r ' ll work in Europe. By the settlement of the principal moral n„d material problems arising out of the war, Europe will soon be * freed from heavy burdens, spintua and economic. The new Europe will be ready for a positive effort, answering to the new order. _ , "It is the. decisive hour for Europe to listen and choose her own fate. To unite, in order to live and prosper; that is the necessity which confronts European nations to day. The peoples seem to have made their feelings clear: the Governments must now accept theii responsibilities. Otherwise the• grouping o> ii.;Je:ia! and moral forces for the commoii benefit which it is their collective ta.sk to control will be abandoned/to the dangers and chances of unco-ordinated individual initiatives.