It seems to us that what should be done during
the very short breathing space which is allowed us—action of some kind cannot be long postponed—is to think out some plan for giving France that sense of security which alone will enable her to think calmly instead of wildly in regard to what Frenchmen no doubt quite honestly think is the German " menace." We have always held that it would pay us both morally and financially to give France a written guarantee that we would stand by her to our last man if she were wantonly and unjustly attacked by Germany. To say that, and to say it plainly and straightfor- wardly in a treaty, is not to incur any new or dangerous respon- sibility. We all know quite well that we should not, and indeed, could not, allow Germany to attack France. We know also that there is, humanly speaking, no danger of such an attack. There- fore, to do that which would quiet the nerves of the French and make our view of the reparations question prevail is clearly our policy.
