Paris, July 18.
The German Government's reply to M. Briand's plan for the formation of a European federation under the mis of the League of Nations has at last been received, While it politely accepts the main prineipl French opinion regards it as rathe like a basket of flowers in which a few snakes are concealed.
When the Wilhelmstrasse rays would be futile to attempt to construct a mew Europe on a b which could not hold out agi "vital evolution," this is taken imply a reiteration of the German idea that the peace treaties, which form the present bai bog revised sooner this we may infer that Germany clings to the hope of some future upheaval or rearrangement which. will relieve her from the necessity. of continuing her payments up to the end of the stipulated period.
The "peaceful harmonizing of the natural necessities of existence of nations" appears to the "Tempe" to hiean the revision of the eastern frontiers of the Reich, the acconipushment of the union with Austria and the abandonment of the territorial status quo.
The Italians have already suggested treaty revision as a prelimirary to the formation of acy European federation, the only. difference being that Italy wan.s this revision not for the benet of} the vanquished but for that of the victor who satisfied with what the treaties gave them.
In substance, the Geraian reply. ay indirect attempt to escape from the onsequencés of the war.
French opinion is also disturbed by President Hindenburg's sudden refusal to attend the ceromories in of the last-of the Allied forcez, on the ground that the Prussian Government upholds ban on the Stahlhelm, an ultra alist organization." In thus an illegal association, the President of the Reicn. has given the French much food for thought and shaken their con-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.