The French Army Estimates were discussed in the Chamber on
Tuesday, when attention was drawn, the Times correspon- dent says, to the comparatively unprotected state of the north-eastern frontier between Mezieres and Longwy. Paris, it was said, was exposed to attack from this direction, and one deputy argued that if Belgium and Holland believed that their neutrality would be respected in a European war they would not now be feverishly'strengthening their defences. The Chamber became much excited when the debate turned on the use of confidential reports on the private opinions of officers. Major Driant, a son-in-law of Boulanger, protested against this system. He was accused in turn of having him- self drawn up lists of Freemasons in the Army in order to get them ostracised. The old familiar recriminations followed. It is never easy for Englishmen to understand why devout Roman Catholics and Freemasons and even Monarchists should not serve the existing Government faithfully and in harmony as soldiers. M. Briand's ideal of conciliation meant nothing leas, but unhappily his aim has, for the moment, been repudiated.
