He laid it down that it was wrong, that the
burden of taking necessary action should fall on the British Empire alone. The Near Eastern question was " not specially a British interest." It was " the interest of humanity." Similarly the freedom of the Straits was " the interest of the world." Englishmen were not " the policemen of the world." Even if they were, Mr. Boner Law sees that " the financial and social condition of this country makes such work impossible." Then followed a warning to the French which has been much misunderstood and which we have discussed elsewhere :—
"f It seems to me, therefore, that our duty is to say plainly to our French Allies that the position in Constantinople and the Straits is as essential a part of the Peace settlement as the arrangement with Germany, and that if they are not prepared to support us there, we shall not be able to bear the burden alone, but shall have no alternative except to imitate the Government of the United States and to restrict our attention to the safe- guarding of the more immediate interests of the Empire."
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