5 JULY 1924, Page 9

The second development is M. Herriot's general per- mission for

all the exiles of the Ruhr to return to their homes. These now number well over 100,000. It is not to be expected that at this late hour such a measure will have a great effect on German opinion, but at any rate it ends a state of things which undoubtedly did more to embitter Franco-German relations than any other single factor. These two developments are certainly all to the good as far as they go. A third favourable symptom is that French confidence in English support should her security ever again be threatened is undoubtedly growing. Mr. MacDonald has certainly managed to convince the French of his friendliness, far better than ever Lord Curzon did.