13 JUNE 1925, Page 2

Fortunately Mr. Baldwin, though he felt unable to make any

precise statement in the absence of Mr. Austen Chamberlain, said enough in the House of Commons on Wednesday to show that the mutual principle has by no means been forgotten in the Franco-British document. The contemplated settlement, he said, is " strictly bilateral "- and is " not one-sided." He added that the arrangement would give security to everyone but would not protect the evil-doer. This probably means that if there is in the Franco-British plan any anticipatory sanction of a French right to invade Germany it is made contingent upon so many conditions that it would never come into force unless Germany actually behaved again as the mad dog of 'the community— unless, for instance, she broke all her promises and attacked Poland without provocation.

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