Although the Government shrank from any action that might seem
to indicate Allied dissension, he con- tinued; they nevertheless held that the problem " cannot be evaded." They had therefore decided to publish the documents they had sent to the Allies and to invite France and Belgium to agree to the publication of their replies. Incidentally, Mr. Baldwin mentioned that the British draft Note to Germany advised the German Government " to withdraw the ordinances and decrees which had organized and fomented passive resistance in the Ruhr." This advice, as is obvious in the circum- stances, was conditional upon France agreeing to the rest of the British proposals. Altogether it is clear from Mr. Baldwin's statement that the era of neutrality is at an end and that it is to be replaced by a positive British policy. Bad though the news is, it is a matter of deep satisfaction that Mr. Baldwin is holding reso- lutely to his principles, though that is no more than we expected.
