On the other hand, Mr. Bevin may fall into the
opposite extreme. He may be so appalled by the intricacy of the transactions with which he has' to deal that he may exaggerate his difficulties and fall into a mood of sullen and obstinate suspicion. This may tempt him at times to act a trifle too forcefully, and to adopt towards foreign governments an attitude of almost Palmerstonian pragmatism. I have an uneasy fear lest the day may come when Mr. Bevin will angrily push his chair away from the conference table and refuse either to budge or to explain. He must himself be aware of this danger, and will curb all such temptations. He must be aware that in the conduct of foreign policy gullibility is a far less dangerous attitude than constant distrust Assisted by the advice of his colleagties and subordinates, guided by his own sound precepts and fortified by the immense driving power of his own personality, he may well prove himself a worthy successor to Arthur Henderson and Anthony-Eden.
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