We wish, all the same, that Lord Parmoor had not
assumed that so much of the dislike of the Geneva Protocol comes from those who at heart mistrust the whole idea of the League. It is certain that there are a great many ardent supporters of the League who are frightened by the dangers which they think they detect in the Protocol. No doubt they often exaggerate these dangers, but the sincerity of their alarm remains. There is Lord Grey of Fallodon, for example, who has come to the conclusion that the Protocol does, in effect, place the British Navy at the disposal of an International Court. He regards that as an impossible policy. Nevertheless, he does not advocate the rejection of the Protocol without the most careful inquiry and an earnest attempt to save all that is good in it. Whatever happens, " Great Britain must carry the Dominions with her." On the other hand, he hopes that the Dominions will not severally reject the Protocol without full consultations with Great Britain. After all, to meet the Protocol with a mere negative would make the proposed Disarmament Confer- ence impossible and would produce a very bad inter- national atmosphere.
* * * *
Previous page
