22 JULY 1911, Page 1
Supporters of a timid, and consequently a dangerous, course may
ask us whether we mean to suggest that France is to be supported whatever she does, and whether our motto is "France, right or wrong." Of course we mean nothing of the kind. Our policy towards France must be governed by common sense and must be defensive, and if France were to ask either us or Russia to join her in an aggressive policy towards Germany we should naturally refuse. But there is no thought of any such action by France. We have to deal with the situation of the moment, and here the aggression is entirely on the part of Germany. What Germany is almost admittedly doing is testing the strength of the entente.
