23 AUGUST 1924, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

HE success of the Allied Conference, which came to an end last Saturday, is the most important event which has happened since the signing of the Armistice. As has been justly said, the arrangement come to was the first really negotiated arrangement since the War. Every other scheme in connexion with-Germany has had a greater or lesser element of compulsion, but in London the German delegates were present as free negotiators, and we cannot be too thankful that they took the course of common sense—the only course which is likely to restore their own country as well as helping all the rest of Europe. Mr. MacDonald is to be heartily congratulated on having achieved something which evaded his predecessors. Although Europe is now heading for success on a safe and true course, and will, we believe, make a happy land- fall, there are, of course, several difficulties still in the way. * * * *