The smaller States, of course, reaffirm their objection to any
extension of the system of " sanctions" and, whatever careful language may be used in the British reply, Mr. Henderson and his advisers cannot hope to escape from a thorough discussion of the thorny problem of disarma- ment and " security " at the next Assembly. The vague phrase " in the spirit of the Protocol," which is constantly used by all sections of French opinion, will have to be analysed, and we are very glad to see that the young French Radicals have been reminding their Government that the disarmament of Germany was only designed to be a prelude to general disarmament. French diplomacy, they argue, has lost a golden opportunity of leadership at Geneva, and has allowed Italy to pose as a greater friend of peace than a France which seems only concerned with " standing-pat."
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