Nevertheless, just because the Fourteen Points are something vague and
even speculative, they admit of various interpreta- tions. It would be impossible to accuse statesmen of dishonesty who said in effect, as the Italians are now saying ; " We are quite unable to arrive at an exact understanding as to how these doctrines are to be put into practice. We therefore prefer to stand by an explicit contract which is perfectly just in itself." This argument applied to the present controversy means that Italy wants to hold Great Britain and France to the Pact of London ; and if she decides to do so we cannot be false to our word. What we can and must do is to point out to Italy that it is only too easy to mistake the shadow for the substance. We all earnestly desire that she should have a perfect guarantee of security; but if as a result of this controversy she leaves her friends with the feeling that she has exacted her pound of flesh without proper consideration for the interests of the whole world, what kind of security will she rally have attained ? We fear that it would be very little.
