There has been a great deal of discussion during the
week in regard to Mr. Asquith's statement, in answer to a question by Lord Hugh Cecil, that we are under no obligation to France to send a military expedition to her support in case of war. For some reason or other this announce- ment that we have no definite and specific treaty of alliance with France has been regarded as a very great and im- portant piece of news. Yet all the world knew already that we have no formal alliance with France, and therefore, that we are not likely to have any kind of treaty, secret or otherwise, in regard to military aid. In our opinion, however, what Mr. Asquith did not say was much more important than what he did say. He did not say, as no doubt some of his followers would have liked him to say, that in case of war between France and Germany we should not go to the assist- ance of France and offer her military as well as naval aid.
