Paris, Mar. 24.
'The! session of the organization [committee for the European Economic Federation opened here at noon to-day, twelve European states taking' part directly while three more, namely Belgium, Norway and Esthonia, have sent oficial observers, The majority of the govern menis are represented by' their' diplomats. accredited to. Paris though apart from Foreign Ministers Briand and Henderson three other Foreign Ministers are present, Polish Minister Zaleski, Minister Motto and Danish' Minister. Munch.
'The session was opened by Briand with a brief speech containing no reference to the Austro-German regional pact. Minister Briand who, had been unanimously' lected. chairman of the meeting, merely. declared that under the ambiguous programme but also counselling against taking too narrow a view of its responsibil After luncheon, the committee met in camera behind closed doors wherefore the Press, and. political quarters are left to, conjectures to what is being digeussed besides the official agenda which only consists of routine items. " Although it was officially denied that Messrs, Briand and Henderson are to dis-feus the Austro-German customs union, there seems little doubt that the subject will loom large in their debate and that the British Foreign Secretary will renew his adventures, in the field of European harmony not only with the object of helping France' and Italy. to. supplement their naval agreement with a similar one in respect to diplomatic issues, According to political quarters here, Great Britain is in any the case evincing little nelination the Jsame time the committee. of a too join in a protest against the Austro. German agreement as contemplated by France with the Paris Press reverting to-day to its attacks,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.