I
do not want to dwell on that, and to comment on it, and to say where the
blame seems to us to lie, which powers were most in favor of peace,
which were most disposed to risk war or endanger peace, because I would
like the House to approach this crisis in which we are now from the
point of view of British interests, British honor, and British
obligations, free from all passion as to why peace has not been
preserved.
We shall publish papers as soon as we can regarding what took place last
week when we were working for peace, and when those papers are published
I have no doubt that to every human being they will make it clear how
strenuous and genuine and whole-hearted our efforts for peace were, and
that they will enable people to form their own judgment as to what
forces were at work which operated against peace.
I come first, now, to the question of British obligations. I have
assured the House--and the Prime Minister has assured the House more
than once--that if any crisis such as this arose we should come before
the House of Commons and be able to say to the House that it was free to
decide what the British attitude should be, that we would have no secret
engagement which we should spring upon the House, and tell the House
that because we had entered into that engagement there was an obligation
of honor upon the country.
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