1 PEACEFUL CHANGE OR WAR? 17when the time comes? Will Britain reinforce France throughout Europe if
Germany and Italy again come close together?’^53
Hoare’s contribution on the topic of collective security was not with-
out its critics in Geneva and even in Great Britain. Some Britons asked
themselves what was new in the foreign secretary’s speech in terms of
Britain’s commitment to collective action. Birchall noted that in a pre-
vious speech given in the House of Commons, Hoare had stated that
he stood for collective action ‘with the added emphasis, “and when I say
collective action I mean collective action.”’ Meanwhile in Geneva, the
question being asked was as follows. ‘If collective action proves impossi-
ble, what will Britain do?’. According to Birchall this question remained
‘unanswered’ and had given rise to the speculation that Britain would
‘gradually lose interest in the...[League]...and retire to comparative iso-
lation, making such preparation for the evil days to come as she is able
to do.’^54 In respect to the foreign secretary’s discussion of the need to
address the question of the removal of the causes of war and his proposal
in that regard for an inquiry into the prospect of making certain changes
to the economic status quo, most observers in Britain responded favour-
ably to Hoare’s insistence in that context that demands for change would
not be considered when made in the shadow of menaces of war.^55 The
Daily Telegraph, drew attention to Hoare’s caveat, after having stated
that the proposed inquiry at least offered an opportunity for those pow-
ers who nourished a feeling of grievance to publicly present their case.
The newspaper noted that although Hoare’s offer of an inquiry did not
carry with it the suggestion that there would be ‘any approaching trans-
fers of territory, nor even that any ultimate change of sovereignty must
follow,’ it did at least open ‘the field for investigation when conditions
allow “calm, dispassionate consideration,”’ thereby giving a ‘friendly hint
that claims are heard best when they are not shouted in war-like tones.’^56
The Morning Post welcomed the fact that the proposed inquiry would
not be commenced at a time when bellicose noises were being emit-
ted by Rome. At the same time, it expressed its dismay at the fact that
(^53) Birchall, ‘Britain Demands League Act Against Aggression and Pledges Her Support,’ 1.
(^54) Ibid., 3.
(^55) Ibid.
(^56) Ferdinand Kuhn, ‘Britain Is United Behind the League: Few Notes of Dissent Mingle
with Widespread Praise of Statement by Hoare,’ New York Times, September 12, 1935, 2,
and Daily Telegraph (London), 1935, quoted ibid.