It would be useless for us to write in detail
about the domestic political situation. Several things will have happened by the time these words are published. On Thursday, when we go to press, Mr. Chamberlain is due to make a speech which is sure to be important. The Coalition Liberals are to meet on Friday in conference to decide the form and future of their Party. On Saturday, the Prime Minister himself is to speak. Let us therefore leave these events alone and pass to the striking series of events which have happened in France. On Thursday, January 12th, M. Briand, after a passionate defensive speech in the French Chamber, dramatically resigned without waiting for a division, and walked out followed by his Ministers. It will be remembered that M. Briand had hurriedly returned from Cannes in order to face his critics. It was a most unusual incident for a Government to resign in the middle of such a momentous Conference as was taking place at Cannes. It is freely said in France that M. Millerand, the French President, who has avowedly enlarged upon the functions which tradi- tionally belonged to the French President, took an active part in conveying to M. Briand at Cannes the warning that his critics were alarmed and incensed at his " surrender," as they called it, to Mr. Lloyd George.
