In the House of Lords on Tuesday, Lord Oxford, in
his maiden speech, stated extremely well what we are convinced are the feelings of ordinary Englishmen. He most fairly disclaimed all intention of embarrassing. the Government and chose for his comments the delay in the publication of the Inter-Allied Commission's Report, for the reason that it raised an " uncomplicated " issue. It was not related at all to the problem of security for France. In March, 1923, the British Government had twice assured the House of Commons that Germany was " effectively disarmed." What had happened to change that opinion ? The only way to put ourselves right was to publish the reasons for remaining in the occupied territory. Lord Oxford ended with a sincere touch of emotion when he appealed to his own record in nourishing the Entente as a proof that he spoke as a true friend of France.
