has shown her hand. She is resolved to
crush France, and to trample upon the rights of those who happen to
stand in her way. Yesterday it was Luxemburg. Today it may be Belgium or
Holland, or she may treat us as she has treated our French friends, and
assail us without a declaration of war. She will find the empire ready.
Here at home and in the far-off dominions the sure instinct of our
peoples teaches them that the ruin of France or of the Low Countries
would be the prelude to our own. We can no more tolerate a German
hegemony in Europe than we can tolerate the hegemony of any other power.
As our fathers fought Spain and France in the days of their greatest
strength to defeat their pretense to Continental supremacy, and their
menace to the narrow seas, which are the bulwark of our independence, so
shall we be ready, with the same unanimity and the same stubborn
tenacity of purpose, to fight any other nation which shows by her acts
that she is advancing a like claim and confronting us with a like
threat. If any individual member of the Cabinet dissents from this view,
the sooner he quits the Government the better. Mr. Asquith may find it
no disadvantage to take fresh blood into his Administration, as M.
Viviani has undoubtedly strengthened the French Government by the
admission of M. Delcasse and M. Clemenceau. The controversy between
Austria-Hungary and Servia, and that between Austria-Hungary and Russia,
have passed away from the eyes of the nation. These are fixed on the
German attack upon the French Republic and upon Luxemburg. In that
conflict the nation know their duty. With the blessing of Heaven they
will do it to the uttermost.

* * * * *

PEACE OF EUROPE CANNOT BE PRESERVED.

Sir Edward Grey's Speech in House of Commons, Aug. 3.

Last week I stated that we were working for peace not only for this
country, but to preserve the peace of Europe. Today events move so
rapidly that it is exceedingly difficult to state with technical
accuracy the actual state of affairs, but it is clear that the peace of
Europe cannot be preserved. Russia and Germany, at any rate, have
declared war upon each other.

Before I proceed to state the position of his Majesty's Government I
would like to clear the ground so that, before I come to state to the
House what our attitude is with regard to the present crisis, the House
may know exactly under what obligations the Government is, or th