General Smuts said that the present situation in Europe was
never contemplated or intended by anybody at the Peace Conference. " We arc back in August, 1914, again. It is again the scrap of.paper." Something must be done to prevent general war and fresh ruin. Half-measures, palliatives and expedients would no longer suffice. Either there would be a comprehensive settlement now, with sonic measure of finality, or events would be allowed to go their own way until they brought about their own horrible Nemesis which would at last shock and shame the conscience of the whole world into activity. Who could conceive the suffering there might be in that case before the end ? " I vote for a gallant attempt now to save Europe." In his opinion it was necessary to summon at once a great Conference of the Powers mainly interested in the reparation question.
