n FROM THE TREATY TO CONFERENCE OF LONDON 23

not meant seriously, and were simply another movein the game, to give M. Briand a breathing space. Iwonder if there has ever been anything quite like it■—-best diagnosed perhaps as a consequence of theportentous development of " propaganda." Themonster had escaped from the control of its authors,and the extraordinary situation was produced inwhich the most powerful statesmen in the world werecompelled by forces, which they could not evade, tomeet together day after day to discuss detailedvariations of what they knew to be impossible.

Mr. Lloyd George successfully took care, however,that the bark should have no immediate bite behindit. The consideration of effective penalties was post-poned, and the Germans were invited to attend inLondon in a month's time to convey their answerby word of mouth.

M. Briand duly secured his triumph in the Chamber." Rarely," The Times reported, " can M. Briand in allhis long career as a speaker and Parliamentarian havebeen in better form. The flaying of M. Tardieu wasintensely dramatic, even if at times almost a littlepainful for the spectators as well as for the victim."M. Tardieu had overstated his case, and " roundlyasserting that the policy of France during the lastyear had been based on the conclusion that thefinancial clauses of the Treaty of Versailles could notbe executed, had gained considerable applause bydeclaring that this was just the thesis of the pacifist,