Politically, that method of responsibility is surely preferable to the
method which allows Jingoes to shout other people into war though they have not the slightest intention of risking their own skins. Partly for such reasons we used strongly to support Lord Roberts' proposals for National Service. We should be the last, therefore, to deride the French point of view or pretend that it is insincere. Nevertheless, we are forced back on the reflection that there is no prospect of persuading hesitating nations to agree to any formula of disarmament while a huge French conscript army remains in being. Perhaps Lord Cecil's solution is the true one—not to try to persuade the French against their convictions but to secure the modification of conscription " by way of quality rather than quantity." The aim, lie says, should be to make an army available for defensive purposes unusable for aggression. That, of course, is the Swiss way. The Swiss period of service is extraordinarily light. One good sign is that the French period of service has been reduced to a year. * * * *
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