Great Britain's Lead The general outcome of the Council meeting
is a marked .accession of prestige to the League, and a universal display of satisfaction that Great Britain is taking a new place at Geneva. The presence of British troops in the Saar, with a British officer as commander-in-chief of the whole com- posite force of British, Italians, Dutch and Swedes, is a visible demonstration of the decision of the Nations Government in this country to commit itself within clearly defined limits to the principle of collective action :through the League. The reception that decision has met with argues general endorsement of the claim that nothing would make more effectively for pacification in Europe than the knowledge that this country would be found ranged in case of need against any wanton disturber of the peace. Our active co-operation has, so far as can be seen, ensured the maintenance of peace and order in the Saar, and the opportunity of rendering that service has been welcomed with surprisingly universal warmth in this country. It is beginning to be realized that the best way to keep out of war is to prevent war from breaking out, and that nothing is so likely to effect that as the cer- tainty that the war-making State will find the world against it. That certainty is not established yet, but there is movement in the right direction.
* *
