Unless the reports from Lausanne give a totally wrong impression
of what took place, the chief Russian delegate did his best to sterilize the Conference and to stir up warlike feeling. The Bolshevist State, in spite of inter- national professions, has apparently yet to learn that internationalism cannot be built up on a Machiavellian basis. Had the Bolshevists shown a different spirit we—and also, we believe, most of the British people— would have strongly urged that they should be allowed to continue to join in the discussions at Lausanne, if they so desired. After what has happened, however, one cannot wonder that it was decided that, the problem of the Straits having been reached and solved the Russian delegates should, as originally planned, withdraw from the' Conference. They were, it will be remembered, invited to Lausanne to deal with the one point with which they were vitally concerned.
