Complete failure of the Disarmament Conference must be averted. And
surely the best line of approach is to face the facts realistically. Germany intends, in any case, to pursue rearmament up to a certain point, though Herr Hitler has indicated the limits within which she is prepared to confine herself (which means, i f there is agreement). If we assume that nothing short of war— and war is not to be contemplated—can prevent Germany from taking that course, common sense compels us to recognize that the limited rearmament of Germany is an unavoidable basis from which to start. But France, too, must see that the rearmament of Germany will not even be limited unless it is limited by agreement ; and the further price that she will have to pay for no agreement with Germany will also be no agreement with Great Britain. Without an understanding, she has no alternative but to go on arming herself indefinitely and watch Germany arming, without any guarantees beyond those which exist already; but with an understanding she may have the assurance that the increased strength of Germany is limited, and that it is under supervision; and over and above that there must be certain guarantees of execution which we, in conjunction with the other Powers, must be prepared to offer. What is essential now is that this country should step into the breach and re-state its proposals in realistic recognition of the basic facts.
