[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:—