That is, of course, quite right in itself ; all
we want to point out is that if Sir Austen Chamberlain would state British policy in the large so that it could not be misunderstood, the little detached questions of honour (due to his having slightly committed himself here and there in conversations with foreign statesmen) would never arise. He is the soul of good will and would liberally pour out milk to extinguish flames ; but such a speech as he made at Birmingham about the League controversy encouraged all the claimants to immediate permanent seats on the Council to go full speed ahead. Great Britain seemed not to know her own mind. We venture to hope, however, that all will yet be well, because if, as Mr. Baldwin says, the first duty is to get Germany on to the Council, all other claims must fail while Germany adamantly refuses to accept the simultaneous election of any counter-balancing Power.
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