LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE NEED FOR A BRITISH POLICY.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—If we look round the world to-day we must realize how heavy is the price that is demanded for indecision, for temporiz- ing with the verities. That England leads Europe, that the English-speaking races rule the world, is not due to any blind favour of a partial Providence, it is the reward of plain speaking and direct action. Ours is the tradition of honest dealing, and consequently we ought to have found but little trouble in maintaining it in the time of the greatest crisis that has yet involved the Empire. Unfortunately, we were tried and found wanting ; for reasons not yet apparent to the plain man, our rulers could not rise to the height of a great occasion in 1919 and through four following years they failed of courage. So we have seen the state of Europe pass from bad to worse; so, for the sake of sparing the feelings of hyper-sensitive friends, we have refrained from stating a case that in the last recourse we should be compelled to assert in the face of all opposition. The chaos in Europe is largely the fruits of our indeterminate policy, and yet that policy of negation and subterfuge is not an expression of the national will. We desire peace and the resumption of normal relations. Tem- peramentally we are incapable of bearing malice, and we look with a mixture of astonishment and contempt on those who do. Now, the Latin races have a different viewpoint. They .
cannot understand ours nor can we grasp theirs and this is why for hundreds of years we have found it impossible to maintain friendly relations with France. To-day these friendly relations are desired by both parties, but they can be achieved only by a wise recognition of the English attitude, for it is the only one that can endure. Truth to tell, we have been misled for years on end and the present Government must unravel a tangle that was none of its making. The way to disentanglement lies along the road of the fundamental principles that dictate British policy, and if these have been forgotten by Allies or friends they must needs be restated. It is most desirable that France be encouraged within all reasonable limits to accept the views we hold because it is only in co-partnership that Europe can recover from the world war ; but if agreement be possible and a cordial misunderstanding is the best substitute we can and for the Entente, it is better far to face the position at once, for we may then proceed to such work of European reconstruction as we may achieve without our ally's assistance. Some of us know that the attitude of the Quai d'Orsay to- wards Whitehall has had in it of late more than a little trucu- lence, but it is impossible to blame France for this. Our own shifting attitude, the unfortunate disinclination of America to support Mr. Wilson in providing for French security and the real financial crisis in France will account, if they cannot quite atone, for much that is unpleasant. It is for our states- men to assert themselves with a very minimum of offence and for Englishmen of every political party to support the policy the times require. The restoration of peace and pros- perity to Europe, the removal of all the causes that may provoke another war of revenge—this goal stands far above party politics, for it is not party, but civilization, that is at stake.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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