There is little new to record in the war between
Italy and Turkey. But we do regard it as important that unofficial persons—Italians and Turks—have met at Lausanne, and are groping for a formula that might end the war. In our opinion an inadequate formula might serve, if only it were thought good enough to form the basis of an armistice. An armistice might pass insensibly into a state of peace. We remember that when negotiations for peace with the Boers in 1901 were hanging fire, Lord Rosebery pointed out by what informal means peace might be reached—a mere wayside meeting might provide a formula of which the Government could take official cognizance. As both Italy and Turkey want peace we are by no means without hope that even the unofficial negotiations at Lausanne may end in some material result.
