We do not pretend for a moment that there arguments
are not serious arguments. We think they are. Put the world is in quite an abnormal condition and it is essential to bring into the orbit of trade all the available resources. Russia is a large part of those resources. We know that there is very little hope of trade there in the immediate future, but that is only a reason for preparing the way as soon as possible. Nor is the indignation- at the thought of treating with murderers based on history. Burke denounced the proposed " regicide peace" with the French revolutionaries, but Pitt consented to it.. Consider, again, the case of Abdul Hautid. As Sultan of Turkey he was responsible for more massacres than any ruler of our times—at least, until Sultan Lenin appeared. We never made the massacres of Abdul Hamid a reason for breaking off relations. This was not because the massacres were not execrated from end to end of the British Empire but because no way existed, except negotiations, for dealing with the Sultan. We could not apply force single-handed ; we had a tiny professional army ; and as Lord Rosebery used to say, our ships could not sail over the mountains of Asia Minor.
