Unhappily France approaches none of her problems.
in -this spirit. She is a retarding force. Let, us freely recognize, -however, that. two points have been gained. .One we have already. mentioned—that France no longer objects on principle to entering into-a pact with Germany..
. The second is that Fiance no hinger objects to Gerniany . joining the Council of the League. - It -is obvious that whatever pact may be made cannot become operative until Germany is -a member of the League. That fact should not prevent us, however, from working as hard as possible to perfect the draft of a pact which would need only formal acceptance when Germany. jciined. the League. In other wordS, if only the necessary good. will and practical sense of-affairs were forthcoming there, might be a settlement. in September. Really the menace to those French political schemes which depend upon the maintenance of the Polish frontier is not worth the consideration; much less the morbid -dread; of French- men: The Covenant provides that there can be no changes in treaties without the unanimous consent. of the Council:7 This is a comprehensive 'safeguarding and pact in itself. It fully justifies what Mr. Chamberlain: said about the Covenant being the centre of the whole matter. * * * *
