e House
can be said to be, in coming to a decision on the matter. First of all,
let me say, very shortly, that we have consistently worked with a single
mind, with all the earnestness in our power, to preserve peace. The
House may be satisfied on that point. We have always done it. During
these last years, as far as his Majesty's Government are concerned, we
would have no difficulty in proving that we have done so. Throughout the
Balkan crisis, by general admission, we worked for peace. The
co-operation of the great powers of Europe was successful in working for
peace in the Balkan crisis. It is true that some of the powers had great
difficulty in adjusting their points of view. It took much time and
labor and discussion before they could settle their differences, but
peace was secured, because peace was their main object, and they were
willing to give time and trouble rather than accentuate differences
rapidly.

In the present crisis it has not been possible to secure the peace of
Europe; because there has been little time, and there has been a
disposition--at any rate in some quarters on which I will not dwell--to
force things rapidly to an issue, at any rate to the great risk of
peace, and, as we now know, the result of that is that the policy of
peace as far as the great powers generally are concerned is in danger. I
do not want to dwell on that, and to comment on it, and to say where the
blame seems to us to lie, which powers were most in favor of peace,
which were most disposed to risk war or endanger peace, because I would
like the House to approach this crisis in which we are now from the
point of view of British interests, British honor, and British
obligations, free from all passion as to why peace has not been
preserved.

We shall publish papers as soon as we can regarding what took place last
week when we were working for peace, and when those papers are published
I have no doubt that to every human being they will make it clear how
strenuous and genuine and whole-hearted our efforts for peace were, and
that they will enable people to form their own judgment as to what
forces were at work which operated against peace.

I come first, now, to the question of British obligations. I have
assured the House--and the Prime Minister has assured the House more
than once--that if any crisis such as this arose we should come before
the House of Commons and be able to say to the House that it was free to
decide what