Hence a bold coup which will change the whole balance
of the situation is necessary. The first idea was the creation, as an alternative to the moribund Entente, of a Latin bloc of Belgium, France and Italy. But the great disadvantage of this is that, though it might become homogeneous, it could never become dominant. As a French journalist characteristically put it, this could never be anything but " a, bloc of the third class." Hence the second idea.. To this nucleus of the Latin States must be added some other Power to make them dominant. England is drifting away. Where is the necessary Power ? French diplomats are traditionalists. There is still a Russia. So arises M. Herriot and the move towards Russia. At present it is all very tentative. The difficulties are great—but so is the prize. Russia, detached from the German bloc, attached to the Latin ; England isolated.
