It is a little hard to be taken up seriously over a foot-note to a. reader's letter; which was only. meant as a means of getting out, jas best we might, of the predieament in which 2 misplaced line had put us, But if we must be serious, We have no low that we do not ab all share the build the biggest navy in the: world, If the League of Nations. were 'a reality, it would lead the supersession of all private alliances, but it does not, as witness the Little Entente, France's eovenforts with Poland and Rumania, and. the lately disclosed France-Belgian Entente, It is difficult to see-what. practical return to the world the: enthusiasm of our correspondent to-day for the international pacts which are so fashionable, And if, spondent says, this marks us as "out of joint with the times" there are plenty of others who think as we do, and majorities are not always proved right facts. The world is still suffering from the throes of the late war, and naturally clutches at any project which promises to make war impossible, But is it possible to believe that the League of Natioss and the Kellogg Pact will do this? As soon as nations feel themselves strong enough to fight, and if they really wish to do so, they will hava no particular difficulty in. getting: round the stipulations of either:
And will all the other nations combine their forces to [suppress the culprits? Not unless it is to their own direct interest 30. The hollowness of the Kellogg Pact in particular is shown by the fact that the country which ave birth to the idea only ratifies, with a considerable struggle and meanwhile actively prepares ty Iment borrowed from Russia and still weighing like a deadly blight on all Nationalist action, in spite of Russia and her works having been abjured. At best, this system means endless talk and waste of time; too often it means sheer obstruction and even danger to public peace in the Wuhan affair, The Five [Council Government inaugurate? ist autumn was meant to sub [stitute a simpler and more efficient instrument; but intrigue jand jealousy succeeded in keeping the committee system. a3 potent as ever. No'better wish could be expressed for the forthcoming Third Party Congress than that it might deal effec-ively with this most important: question and concentrate pow. in the hands of a few, to hold office. say, for a year at the end of which they would give an count of their stewardship snather Congress.
'To revert to the particular question in Hunan there can little hesitation in wishing that Nanking may succeed in upholding its authority, 'Though no ly an ideal Governmen', that it could hardly be short a time, it is, after all, the [Central Government of China fands for million sterling and more that it Jeosts annually, and we do not recall achievement of the Leagues ch might not have been accom plished as well by other means. For Great Britain the League: appears to us a positive danger, inasmuch as, with her huge and [scattered empire, it is essential fur her to be peculiarly wary what international obligations she enters into, since in the nature of things they are likely to weigh far more heavily upon her than upon others, The naval disarmament conferences, are a case in point. Great Britain 8 already cut down her army and haw since the war more drastically ian any other nation and. the average "Englishman looks with very real apprehension on tha possibility of further. sacrifices, Which, as it seems to him, his country alone would make, If our Cabinet: they ors would put the energy that now expend in chasing Will. be th'awisps at Geneva into develop the resources, the solidarity ind the defences of the League of Nations actually existing in the British Empire itself, they would be doing far greater service to th own countrymen and, we think, for: the cause of world peace.
The Hatless Brigade igns are not wanting £ a revival of the Hatless Brigade, For several years past there have been a least two stalwarts, and not of the youngest generation, who Scorned all headgear, whether in un or snow or rain. Gradually, in recent weeks their numbers have forced, until the hat respectable number.
strong young men, of what. has come to be known as the 100 per cent. type, may be seen breasting their way along our crowded street with enviable heads of hair bar to every breeze. What does one to become a member of the THatle Brigade? Merely to leave one's bhat at home seems altogether too tame. There must surely be a brotherhood, entered by solemn initiation and bound by secret oaths. How interesting to attend the ceremony of introduction of new candidates. But why men should tess has still to be properly If it is for the sake of fresh air, then why not go the whole hog and leave off clothes as well? If to make the hair grow, th fears that del awaits. the neophyte. With regard for makers of lotions, exper that in the m t both General ind General Yen raphed their support of Nanking, not, they said, that they knew exactly, what the dispute was about, jeause they upheld all cost, There m: 5 be danger in that course under some conditions, but it is clearly the only sound one for China today. Tu its relations with provin governments, we do think, and have said so more than once, that Nanking is bron? to draw the strings of contralfzation a little too tight. An-cent Chinese custom and the vastness of the country enjoin a large measure of local autonamy. But in respect of the right to move troops about and make and unmake high provincial officials, there must be one authority and no more to say the word." This question, ilks any others, has still to be settled by general accept an it is a thorny one, crisis has shown, But tone other thing has also been shown by these events and it is very welcome, that is, the general feeling that at all costs further civil war must not be. who shall be bald and who and, within reason of course, noth.
hat either can do seems to make any difference, There appears only. one way of solving the mystery, offer oneself as a candidate for the Brigade.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.