19 FEBRUARY 1927, Page 2

The letter in regard to China which the Foreign Om"

sent to the League of Nations was published in the paper, of last Saturday and is an adniirable document. Although the Foreign Office does not see any opening at present for the intervention of Geneva, it has taken the very wise course of laying all the facts before the League and inviting it to take cognizance of the situation. We cannot be persuaded that the Government have at any point made a mistake. They have behaved in a thoroughly liberal. minded manner from start to finish. Even the moderate Liberal criticism, that thOugh the Government may have been right to send some troops they need not have done it so ostentatiously, seems to us quite unjustified. What would have been said if it had suddenly leaked out that the Government were making secret military movements'' The Government preferred to state quite frankly what they proposed and to give their reasons. It is inexcusable that this frankness should be twisted into an offence by those who generally ask for open diplomacy.