NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE deepest anxiety is being caused by the situation in the Near East. When we write on Thursday this anxiety has by no means been allayed, as no definite answer has yet been received from France to the questions of the British Government. Lord Curzon has returned to the Foreign Office and we have the satisfaction of knowing that his desires for a settlement in the Near East exactly coincide with those of most Englishmen. He will do all that he can for the protection of the Christian populations, and, of course, for the permanent neutrality of the Straits. Even if France had not already indicated as much we should take it for granted that she wants the freedom of the Straits every bit as much as we do. The danger is that she will try to make so many side points in favour of the Turks that she may jeopardize what is indispensable.
