4 SEPTEMBER 1915, Page 3

Sir Edward Grey and Lord Haldane of course refused to

walk into this rather obvious trap. They said that there was to be a guarantee of absolute neutrality on one side but not on the other. Upon this Sir Edward Grey made a very reason- able proposal under which we, with perfect good faith, bound ourselves to make no unprovoked attack upon Germany and pursue no aggressive policy towards her, and frankly stated that aggression upon Germany was not the subject of any combination to.which England was a party, nor would she become a party " to anything that has such an object."