'But Sir Edward Grey in 1914 did not and could not offer similar Treaties to France and Germany because our relations with France and the conduct of Germany were such, that for us to join Germany in any event was unthinkable. And he did not proclaim our neutrality because our relations with France, as described in his own speech, were such that he could not in honour refuse to join France in the war. Therefore the example of 1870 could not be followed in 1914, and Belgium was not saved but destroyed.' [39] See the Documents published by the Russian Government in November, 1917. [40] It is not clear whether the undertaking to Russia was actually given. Lord R. Cecil in the House of Commons on July 24th, 1917, said: 'It will be for this country to back up the French in what they desire. I will not go through all the others of our Allies--there are a good many of them--but the principle (to stand by our Allies) will be equally there in the case of all and particularly in the case of Serbia.' [41] Since these lines were written, there has been a change of government and of policy in Italy. An agreement has been reached with Yugo-Slavia, which appears to satisfy the moderate elements in both countries. [42] Lord Curzon (May 17th, 1920) wrote that he did not see how we could invoke the League to restrain Poland. The Poles, he added, must choose war or peace on their own responsibility. Mr Lloyd George (June 19th, 1920) declared that 'the League of Nations could not intervene in Poland.' [43] _The War that will End War_, p. 14. [44] _Ibid._, p. 19. [45] _The Issue_, p. 37-39. [46] _Land and Water_, February 21st, 1918. [47] Even as late as January 13th, 1920, Mr H. W. Wilson of the _Daily Mail_ writes that if the disarmament of Germany is carried out 'the real cause of swollen armaments in Europe will vanish.' On May 18th, 1920, Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson (_Morning Post_, May 19th) declares himself thus:-- 'We were told that after this last war we were to have peace. We have not; there are something between twenty and thirty bloody wars going on at the present moment. We were told that the great war was to end war. It did not; it could not. We have a very difficult time ahead, whether on the sea, in the air, or on the land.' He wanted them to take away the warning from a fellow soldier that their country and their Empire both wanted them to-day as much as ever they had, and if they were as proud of belonging to the British Empire as he was they would do their best, in whatever capacity they served, to qualify themselves for the times that were coming. [48] July 31st, 1920. [49] April 19th, 1919. [50] A Reuter Despatch dated August 31st, 1920, says:-- 'Speaking to-day at Charleston (West Virginia) Mr Daniels, U. S. Naval Secretary, said: "We are building enormous docks and are constructing 18 dreadnoughts and battle cruisers, with a dozen other powerful ships which in effective fighting power will give our navy world primacy."'