Russia has ordered a general mobilisation, Germany has proclaimed martial law throughout the Empire and may begin at any moment now to mobilise. The outlook in Europe is as bad as possible, short of being quite hopeless. Under other political conditions in England we should now be wringing our hands over the situation in Europe. We advise Englishmen that they have no sympathy to spare for Europe. Let them keep it for themselves and think first of all for England, for English honour and English interests. For there is in our midst an organised conspiracy to drag us into the war should the attempts of the peace-makers fail. ╥Conspiracy╙ we say because it is disloyal to Parliament, which is the constitutional guardian of the national interests in times of crisis. The conspirators prefer the confidence of selected newspaper editors to that of the representatives of the people. The objects of the conspirators are now openly avowed. We are to join in, not under certain conditions or in defence of this or that British interest which may happen to be threatened, but in any case. We are to do so for three reasons. The first is that we are bound in our own interest to maintain the balance of power in Europe. The second is that we are the protectors of the neutrality of Belgium. The third, that we are in honour bound to stand by our friends. Each of these reasons must be considered separately and tried not by tests of self-interest alone but also by the highest standards of British honour. For we seek no peace except with honour intact.
