UNITING OF EMPIRE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1929, Page 13

UNITING OF EMPIRE

FEDERATION SUGGESTED M. BRIAND PREPARING PLAN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL BRITAIN FORMS OBSTACLE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.' Australian Press Association. Received July 12, 7.30 p.m. United Service. Paris, July 12. Much discussion has arisen concerning a scheme attributed to M. Briand for the formation of a United States of Europe. It is reported he hopes to lay the foundation stone of the unification At the League of Nations assembly in September. ...

It is recalled that when he welcomed Germany into the League M. Briand declared this was really the beginning of a United States of Europe. The idea has since been germinating in his mind and has developed into a scheme for an economic federation in Europe, followed later by political federation. Visionary though it may look at present the scheme appears to have taken root on the Continent. It is argued the Old World’s innumerable tariff walls tend to keep Europe economically feeble compared with the United States, whose proposed big increase in tariffs has given an impetus to the new movement.

M. Briand has not yet disclosed his scheme in detail. Everybody seems to realise the difficulty in carrying out the project without the support of Great Britain, from which there has been no response whatever.

Berlin political circles declare Germany will undoubtedly welcome closer European understanding in the sphere of tariffs and economic co-operation generally, provided it is not directed against Britain or the United States.