Speaking to the Congress of the Federation Inter- nationale des
Unions Intellectuelles at Frankfurt last Saturday, Lord Birkenhead said some very sensible things. He deprecated holding a post mortal?, on the present situation of Europe, by which, of course, he meant among other things an inquiry into war-guilt. He pointed out that such an examination would paralyse the effort at international reconstruction by re-creating bitterness. Judgment must be left to the historians. As regards the Peace Treaty, he said that no great clash of arms ever had ended, or ever could end, with solutions that would satisfy everyone. Alleviations and modifica- tions must be won by patience • and friendly discussion, and by the recognition that the interests of Europe were really one. It is satisfactory that a member of the British Government speaking abroad was not afraid to say aloud that the review of the Treaty contemplated by its authors is not absent from his mind.
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