The United States of Europe The much heralded plan for
a " United States of Europe " was communicated to the twenty-six Governments, members of the League, last Saturday. They are requested to reply with comments and sug- gestions before July 15th. ThiS embodiment of M. Briand's dream contains (1) a General Pact affirming the solidarity of European States ; (2) proposed machinery ; (3) a programme of " federation founded on union, not unity." It is a perplexing document, so timid in its definite suggestions, and so vague in its phraseology, that we doubt whether its consequences are likely to be important. M. Briand seems to have been inhibited by his anxiety to allay apprehensions—in America, in Russia, in the small European States—and not least, • perhaps, by diplomatic warnings in his own country. We have discussed elsewhere the surface meaning of the proposals. There is,- in M. Briand's final paragraph, a meaning that may be more subtle. He says that " encouragement should be given to the nations of Europe -.which are less economically developed," and we hazard the suggestion that the defermined attempt to Make Paris an important money market is not unconnected with this French proposal.
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