NEWS OF THE WEEK
OUR foreign policy is in a more uncertain state than it has been at any time in the past two years. We ;do net entertain any dismal forebodings, for we know that Mr. Austen Chamberlain's intentions are perfectly sound ; but we do say that the occasion is one for extreme care and for a firm resolve to fix the mind, not upon the multitude of distracting details but upon the only goal that matters—and that is peace. Let !us be quite frank. In our opinion Mr. Austen Charnberlain, with a right and natural and intelligible desire to act in all friendliness towards France, has alloW,ed his sentiment rather to prejudice his policy. Fortunately nothing has yet been said or done which is beyond recall. We only note that the welcome com- pliance which France displayed when she was being handled by Mr. Ramsay MacDonald has for the moment hardened into something less tractable. The French Prime Minister has recently held language that might have been used by M. POineare himself.
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