Lord Grey of Fallodon, continuing.the debate, expressed grave concern at
the way in which Europe was still drifting. It was essential, in the first place, that we should secure the co-operation of America in the economic reconstruction of Europe,. and that implied a cordial agreement between Great Britain and France. We must face the question of reparations and remember that France had lost the defensive treaties guaranteeing her the full support of Great Britain and America if she were attacked by Germany, while she had not received any appreciable sums- towards restoring her ravaged departments. The Government had made a grave mistake in beginning at the wrong end- and trying to secure an agreement with the Bolsheviks instead of with America. The recovery of Russia must be very slow, and could not begin unless the conditions laid down by America wore fulfilled—namely, that an inquiry should be made by experts into the condition of Russia under the Bolsheviks. Lord Grey's weighty speech emphasized the highly speculative character of the Prime Minister's foreign policy.
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