Mr. Balfour, speaking immediately after M. Briand, said that nothing
could be more useful and instructive than M. Briand's revelation of " the inner thoughts of French statesmanship." He was careful not to confirm all that M. Briand said, but, on the other hand, he was just as careful to point out that the moral isolation of France would indeed be a tragedy and that an unaggressive France could always rely on British help. The cause for which the British Empire had suffered so much in the War was still a British cause and a just cause. Though English- men grieved over their sacrifice they did not repent it, and if ever
the lust of domination appeared again Britain would be ready for a further sacrifice. That is absolutely true if only because, under the conditions of modern war, our frontiers are no longer along our coasts but are in the heart of the Continent. If Frenchmen were guided a little less by logic and a little more by instinct they would recognize that the true security of France lies in a complete acceptance of the ideas of the English-speaking race, which is her friend.
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