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Show Locarno Marks an Important Stage in European and in World History 1 By LORD THOMSON, British Statesman. The philosopher notes with hopeful satisfaction the progress made at Locarno, and measures its extent and permanence by seeking for answers to four questions: Wiry was France reasonable and conciliatory? Why was Germany forthcoming and for the first time diplomatic? Why was Italy helpful and sympathetic? Why was Great Britain almost officious as a reconciler? Without in any way discounting the part played by idealism in the deliberations of the delegates, he finds these answers : The French frano was falling. Germany had urgert need of credit, and the German people peo-ple passionately desired the evacuation of Cologne. Italian industry waa . being starved for lack of coal an J. raw materials. In Britain unemployment unemploy-ment was increasing. In other words, Europe was staggering toward financial, industrial and political disaster. Locarno marks an important stage in European and world history. The agreements signed by the representatives of all but one of the great European powers register not only ideals and aspirations, but also economic eco-nomic facts. This justifies the hope that they will not become mere "scraps of paper." The first requirements of war-stricken Europe were peace and security. Not even the most hardened cynic can deny that in the direction di-rection of these desirable consummations a great step forward has been made. |