NEWS OF THE WEEK.
ONE thought alone sprang to the mind when the result of the French elections was announced—" Is it too late ? " England threw off her old War Government and all that it stood for in the autumn of 1922. France, owing to her rigid system of five-year parliaments, has had to wait until the spring of 1924, and while she waited Europe has been sinking. The defeated nations got their liberal governments directly after the War, and now in Germany, at the very moment when the liberal spirit has won in France, the tide has turned and a reactionary Nationalism is in the ascendant. Who can doubt that if the present French elections had occurred at the same time as the fall of the old Coalition in England, Europe would now be well on her way to recovery ? Last week, in writing on Mr. MacDonald's task in foreign politics, we said :- " The ooming French elections will give us an indication
whether he can possibly succeed. If they show any tendency
towards the Left, it is just possible that he may ; if, however, France follows the example of Germany and returns an even PAGE stronger Bloc National, it is doubtful whether there will bo anything left for Great Britain to do on the Continent of Europe."
Mr. MacDonald has got the chance which we almost feared to hope for him last week. It is only, let us remember, a chance. There are many adverse factors. The sands of European ruin are running out, but a chance it is.
