"Still, if you had been _au fait_ with diplomatic history thirty years ago, Mr.Mervin Brown, you would know that she was on the point of ending her alliance with us and establishing one with Germany.

It was only owing to the genius of one English statesman that at the last moment she almost reluctantly renewed her alliance with us.

She is in the same state of doubt concerning our destiny to-day.

She has seen our last two Governments forget that we are an Imperial Power and endeavour to apply the principles of sheer commercialism to the conduct of a great nation.

She may have opened her eyes a thousand years later than we did, but she is awake enough now to know that this will not do.