No, Sir, if it be the case that there has been anything in the nature of
an ultimatum to Belgium, asking her to compromise or violate her
neutrality, whatever may have been offered to her in return, her
independence is gone if that holds. If her independence goes, the
independence of Holland will follow. I ask the House from the point of
view of British interests to consider what may be at stake. If France is
beaten in a struggle of life and death, beaten to her knees, loses her
position as a great power, becomes subordinate to the will and power of
one greater than herself--consequences which I do not anticipate,
because I am sure that France has the power to defend herself with all
the energy and ability and patriotism which she has shown so
often--still, if that were to happen, and if Belgium fell under the same
dominating influence, and then Holland, and then Denmark, then would not
Mr. Gladstone's words come true, that just opposite to us there would be
a common interest against the unmeasured aggrandizement of any power?
It may be said, I suppose, that we might stand aside, husband our
strength, and that, whatever happened in the course of this war, at the
end of it intervene with effect to put things right, and to adjust them
to our own point of view.
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