Mr. Snowden had an enthusiastic reception when lie returned to
London. He was hailed • as a national h6ro. These revenges of time are amusing—and also reassuring. Mr. Snowden's return was comparable with that of Disraeli from Vienna, but really he had a stronger position, for the crowd showered its, approval upon him spontaneously, whereas Disraeli's " Peace with Honour " was largely his own invention. On Monday night Mr. Snowden in a broadcast talk gave a plain narrative of the Hague negotiations which anybody could understand and which was relieved by a droll characteristic humour. Probably the unseen audience laughed more at Mr. Snowden's remarks to M. Jaspar than at anything else. When one of M. Jaspar's proposals had just been " turned down " like all its predecessors, Mr. Snowden said, " M. Jaspar you are doing very well. Be not weary in well-doing.", M. Jaspar was in despair and said, " I cannot do more. You have emptied all our pockets." " Go through your pockets again," said Mr. Snowden (" very kindly. "), " I am sure you will find enough." M. Jaspar replied " If only you had a kind heart ! You are the hardest man I know." One point in the narrative which puzzled us was that Mr. Snowden condemned the upsetting of the Spa Percentages on the ground that these were an international contract. Yet Mr. Snowden suggested recently in the House of Commons tilat the Balfour Declaration should be upset, though that has so long been an accepted basis of negotiation that it also has. Om force of an international contract.
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