The next point is that, though the policy of the
Allies must be made secure, the British nation will tolerate no military enterprise inspired by mere viewiness. We cannot afford gambles. In our present circumstances they would be more mad than ever. It may of course be theoretically true that the fate of those who live in a fool's paradise waits upon a policy of " do nothing." We do not, by the way, admit that the changed policy towards Russia is "do nothing." It promises well. But • apart from that, if the Bolsheviks mean definitely to try to overwhelm the Caucasus we should of course gain nothing by pretending that the danger did not exist, any more than a man can " hold a fire in his hand by thinking on the frosty Caucasus." But we have yet to be convinced. We strongly suspect that Mr. Churchill wants to go out more than half-way to meet trouble. If we arc to have more military entanglement; every one will want to know the exact reason why. As regards RUssia herself, there can be no recognition of the Bolsheviks without an explicit statement by the Government. Mr. Lloyd George gave a pledge to that effect when he addressed the House of Commons on Russian affairs on November 5th.
