NEWS OF THE WEEK.
A CURIOUS change of temperature is apparent in Europe. Last week it appeared that relations in general between France and Germany were steadily getting worse and that in particular the situation in the occupied area was becoming one of abnost open hostility. But for some reason a reaction has come; there has been no more killing on either side, sabotage has decreased and the German officials are said to be offering far less obstruction to French measures. Paris opinion attributes this change to a new mot d'ordre sent down from Berlin to which the German population has responded with characteristic biddableness. Some parts of the French Press consider, or affect to consider, that this means a German surrender; others recognize that it is far more likely that it is only the prelude to a " diplomatic offensive " from Berlin. It is said that proposals are to be submitted simultaneously to Paris, Washington, and London. They would amount to a real settlement of reparations. The sum that Germany is to pay would be fixed by an external but expert Commission, and French evacuation of Germany would be conditional on the payments. The terms would undoubtedly be designed to affect favourably public opinion both here and in America ; hence they would probably represent the utmost that Germany can do without ruining herself and thus ruining Europe and possibly the world with her.
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