24 DECEMBER 1921, Page 3

The French Senate, after a very long and heated debate,

approved, last Saturday morning, of M. Briand's action in resuming diplomatic relations with the Vatican. M. Briand had threatened that he would resign if the majority of the Senate objected to his reversal of what seemed to be the well-considered policy of the Republic. M. Briand's object is to gain Papal support for his foreign policy. Ho will pay a heavy price if his action revives the bitter feud between the Clericals and anti- Clericals which was manifest, for example, in the Dreyfus case. Great Britain has gained nothing by maintaining an envoy at the Vatican.