Premiers' Conference

Premiers' Conference

While foreign countries expressed their unbounded approval, Premier Herriot of France journeyed to London to confer with Premier MacDonald of Britain upon the enactment of the Experts' Report. The two Premiers then traveled to the Chilterns and settled down in Chequers Court to a pipe-puffing conference.

Comment, crude and rude, veiled and disguised, made it evident that Europe was pleased that the French Premier was M. Herriot and not M. Poincare as had at first been arranged (TIME, May 19). In Belgium, Germany, Central Europe, France, Italy and Britain, the greatest hope was expressed for a happy outcome to the conference; for it was felt that the Experts' Report lay in the balance. It was no overstatement to remark that the Report could not be successfully put into operation unless there was unanimity of opinion between France and Britain.

Two wreaths of smoke ascended to the sky; two men spoke, yet no one heard them speak; finally, after the smoke had cleared, it was stated by the British Foreign Office:

1) That the Premiers had agreed to call an Allied Conference to discuss the procedure to be adopted in putting into execution the Experts' Report.

2) That the Premiers had agreed to visit Geneva in September for the opening of the Fifth General Assembly of the League of Nations.

The suspense was broken and Europe resounded with lively satisfaction.