14 FEBRUARY 1925, Page 1

Suppose France were to take the lead in proposing that

Austria, including, of course, the Tyrol, should be allowed, if she so desires, to enter the German Confederation. That might nominally increase German strength, but, as a matter of fact, it would help to give security to France. It would give the Germans something to think about beyond growling over their unhealed wounds. It would help one of the poorest States in Europe, and it would include in the German State a large population with no personal feelings of anger or revenge against France. That is the kind of way in which France will get true security. But, alas ! it looks as if France meant by security something very different from what we mean. If we arc to judge by the speeches of her poli- ticians and the leading articles of her publicists, security is only another way of spelling dominance on the Con- tinent of Europe.

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