M. Herriot, the most likely successor to the French Premiership,
made a most interesting statement to M. Jules Sauerwein (who, our readers will recall, contributed so able a defence of M. Poincare to the Spectator of March -22nd), which was published in Monday's Matin. M. ilerriot began by saying :— " La politique exterieure est ressentiel. . . . On no saurait
parler de reduire nos charges militaires on financieres sans av.oir mis la France a l'aise par rapport a l'Europe. . . ."
thus disposing fairly definitely of the idea that the result of the French elections merely means a change in internal policy and has nothing to do with foreign affairs. But perhaps the most interesting part of the statement to English readers was M. Herriot's summing up of the present situation between the two countries :— " Voyez l'Angleterre. Jo rai bien 6tudiee : 'Nous voulons que l'Anglais pense et pense comme nous. II no saurait en etre ainsi. L'Anglais et le Francais sent differents et en quelque sorts complementaires. Nous sommes deux nations libres et fortes qui doivent etre unies, mais nous sommes parvenus a In liberte par des moyens differents : In Francais par les principes et lea declarations, rAnglais par in pratique progressive des droits individuels qui sant en quelque sorts pour lui rexpression publique de son sens du confortable."
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