France, torn between her desire to maintain her understanding with
Italy and her interest in the system of treaties based upon the League, has been wavering, but, all else failing, now inclines towards acceptance of the formally correct procedure at Geneva. It is recognized in Paris that if the machinery of the League should fail and war break out, no treaties will thenceforward be safe, and the whole contractual system on which security in Europe depends Will' collapse. So far as this country is concerned there can be no turning back from our obvious duty. Whilst it is out of the question for Great Britain to contemplate any separate action apart from the League, it is none the less her duty as the country which has taken. the le'ltd in support of the collective principle to insist in the Strongest Possible way upon the adoption of the full procedure, step by step, laid down in Article 15 or Articla 11 of the Covenant. Under the former, the Council must be asked to Prepare a report on the dispute and to make recommendations ; and this country should 'make-it ,per= fectly clear, as Sir Austen Chamberlain his stiggeSted, that we are prepared to fulfil our obligations under the Covenant if others will do the same.
