28 DECEMBER 1918, Page 1

Perhaps the most curious aspect of the whole problem is

the paradoxical state of mind of those who have criticized the Allied policy hitherto. Those critics are all ardently in favour of a League of Nations. They spend their time in drawing up constitutions for a League, and sketching out plans for combined military and naval action by the League in order to keep the peace. Yet here we have a very obvious instance of the need of keeping the peace, and we have in existence as good a League of Nations as we are likely to et for some time. Yet our friends the critics are blind to it all. They cry out that there is no need to suppress the criminal, and that the League is itself committing a crime in attempting to do such a thing !