We have dealt elsewhere with the forming' of the British
Institute of International Affairs and with Lord Grey of Fallodon's speech last Monday. Here we must say something about the im- portant and striking speeches made by Mr. Balfour and Mr. Olynes. Mr. Balfour's speech dealt specially with the question of international sympathy. Quite excellent was the passage in which he described in characteristic fashion the conflicting claims of scientific and sympathetic treatment :— " There were people so cool and indifferent in their intellectual outlook that they *ere quite ready to study anything in the world—domestic politics, foreign polities, or any politics— without a trace of passion or a trace of sympathy for the actors. They treated politicians as though they were beetles and great communities as though they were hives pf bees. That was quite sound scientifically, but unfortunately the temper of mind which made that scientific attitude so easy was one which destroyed the sympathy without which no knowledge could be acquired of any community, domestic or foreign. The real problem which the ideal member of this Institute would have to solve was this : HQW could he look at the political and national struggles of his fellow-men in other countries with profound sympatily and deep comprehension unless he shared their passions as well as studied them ? "
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