NEWS OF THE WEEK
FEW Foreign Secretaries have had the intense pleasure, just enjoyed by Mr. Austen Chamberlain, of seeing a long period of misgiving, difficulty and discouragement culminate under their hands in a very conspicuous success. Mr. Chamberlain deserves all the praises that have been heaped upon him. He has earned the gratitude of us all. The reception he received in London on Tuesday evening when he returned from Locarno was a proof of the deep feeling which had been aroused. Speaking of the Treaties initialled at Locarno, he said, " They threaten no one, are directed against no nation, secure the safety of many and ought to be welcomed by all." At one and the same time France has been reconciled to British policy and Germany has been " entreated to a peace." We feel confident that the Treaty will be ratified ; but in any case a new spirit begins to brood over the affairs of Europe. Only madness can take us back to the bad old days. We have written in our first leading article about the nature and signifi- cance of the Locarno achievement.
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