because France is a
great Power. As things are, and always have been, any nation can, and
does, make war on the most frivolous pretexts, often wars of
aggression and conquest on no pretext at all. How often has England
done so! What right, except conquest, have we to the whole of
Hindustan which we hold to-day? How would England, or any great
Power, have brooked interference such as is exercised in the case of
Greece now? No. As things are among civilized nations to-day, I see
not how the action of the powers in this case can be defended, except
on the score of expediency, for, in truth, the interference is most
unjust and arbitrary.

But what is wrong now would have been right had an international
court been previously convened, and had Turkey asked for arbitration.
What is taking place to-day, and the result, if the Powers are firm,
viz. the avoidance of a bloody war, and the risk of other nations
being drawn into it, Europe possibly in a few months in a blaze--all
this evil set aside, by the action of the many against the one, is
surely an example in favour of an international Court to settle
national disputes.

Arbitration _has_ made progress in nationalistic public favour during
the last few decades. But, alas! it is only when both disputants sue
for it that it is exercised. As I have said, my idea is that the
proposed Court being formed at the request of one of the parties,
judgment should be given. If neither applied, then let them fight it
out. But this last, I think, would be rare, and more, I think many
will agree with me, that when in a few years the advantages of the
Court would be recognized by all nationalities, and its members were
consequently many, they would with general sanction enact that _all_
national disputes should be laid before them for decision.

Such are my crude ideas on this all momentous subject. There is none
on earth with a tithe of its importance. Will international
arbitration ever be an accomplished fact? I think yes for the
following reasons:--

Much as it argues degradation in man, or want of even common sense
if he allows the present state of things to continue, it _has_ lasted
for all time, and may well, therefore, march yet awhile. But there
are forces at work which will compel him, sooner or later, to ponder
the subject. I think possibly the progress of Socialism will one day
cause the masses to refuse to fight, and lay down their lives for the
ambition, the purposes, of