16 JUNE 1917, Page 2

We admit. all this without reserve, yet after reading Mr.

Banal Law's frank statement in the. House.-on Monday we do not sea that -the Government .eould have acted-differently. At the-outset he made it clear that there was no -question, of acting in opposition to the wishes of our two Republican and democratic Allies, the United States and France. It was simply a case of a choice of evils, and in deciding which was the lesser the governing factor was the position of Russia, on whose attitude in the new-circumstances-. the final issue of the war might possibly depend. The one danger to be feafed from Raisia was not the part that would be played by the Russian Government in trying toget a general peace, but that Russia might be induced to go for naeparate peace. There was; however, a possibility of the new Russia playing in this war a-part as effective as, or more effective than; that played by Russia tinder the Tsar. In these. circumstances it was clearly our duty to try to make the' path easier for the Government of Russia.