If France stood completely isolated, we fear that the temptation
to act at once would carry away the GerIntua Government, which, in spite of its immense apparent strength, is a nervous Government.—It realises more clearly than does the public the many weaknesses, geographical and .moral, of that vast but not too securely founded fabric, the German Empire.—But France does not stand isolated. As long as France does not wantonly provoke a war or refuse reasonable concessions and compromises—in fact, as long as France does her best to preserve peace, and only accepts war if forced upon her—Germany knows that Britain will stand by France. And Germany also knows that, in spite of our military weakness, we could play a very formidable part in a war of defence. We believe that it was the knowledge that though we should be most unwilling to go to war with Germany—the British people look with the utmost horror upon a war with a nation which they respect and admire, and would fain be on friendly terms with—we should nevertheless fight to defend France from an unprovoked attack, which last summer saved Europe from war. But the same conditions are present now as in the summer. Of this the German Government are well aware. They are also aware that France is now far better prepared than she was. Last summer she might have been overwhelmed in a moment of panic. Now she would fight with clenched teeth and steadfast heart. In other words, we cannot help feeling that the Germans must realise thy& the psycho- logical moment has gone by and the opportunity been missed. But though on the whole we incline to believe that peace will be preserved, it would be idle to conceal the fact that if Germany still means to avail herself of the Russian revolution to crush France, the Moroccan Conference will give her any number of excuses for action. The temper of the Sultan of Morocco is evidently that of the Oriental, who believes that he can play off one European Power against another, and his attitude will thus give plenty of opportunities to Germany if she desires to avail herself of them.
