That, however, he went on to say, postulated that popular
opinion in all the countries should be adequately informed. President Hoover and Mr. MacDonald had recognized that no temporary feeling could develop into a matured and compelling judgment, determining policy, unless the people everywhere thoroughly understood the issue. Next the President and Mr. MacDonald had agreed that they must try to being about a cumplete understanding in each country between- technical naval thought and the responsible statesmen. The statesmen, not the experts, they said, must always represent their countries, though the statesmen, of course, would always be advised by their experts. Lastly, it was agreed that not until technical naval conditions had been adjusted could the whole problem be stated in such a simple form that the populations of the different countries would really grasp it. We have never read such a daring manifesto in favour of making popular opinion ultimately the judge and trustee. Obviously any arrangement which has popular feeling behind it stands.
Previous page
