Undeclared Wars.

Formerly, to make war required a big national decision, culminating in a momentous Declaration. The solemn process tended to make people think, perhaps hesitate. But it is easier to drift into undeclared war, particularly where one Power is militarily weak. A series of actions and retaliations—each side all the time protesting its moral right, before a League of Nations that is physically impotent—provides a treacherous drifting process into deep water. Lack of order in China—whom even Sir John Simon terms “a difficult neighbour”—leads to action by Japan; and while China illustrates one kind of lack of order, Germany seems to be bent on illustrating another and more militant kind. Undeclared warfare that escapes the old restraints, and is unchecked by the new League methods, is an evident danger to civilisation. The temper of Europe, says the British Prime Minister, is “visibly degenerating.” Internationalism is not stronger, but weaker. The British embargo on arms export finds no seconder.