If the facts are really as stated—of which we can
profess to have no first-hand knowledge—we do not wonder at Moscow being . dumbfounded. We, of course, have no possible right to make any objection to Mr. Clynes, if he likes, sympathizing with the political aims and methods of Lenin and. the Soviet Government. But can one -imagine a greater folly than his imploring the Russian Dictators to do something not on its merits, or in order to further the interests of Great Britain gene- rally, but to ease the position of the Labour Party in the coming elections ? But this is not all. If Mr. Clynes had made the announcement in a public speech that he was endeavouring to influence the Soviet Government in this direction it might not have been a wise policy, but it would have been straightforward and the harm would not have been nearly so great.
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