Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/175

 ormed.

In March, 1918, it was moved in the House of Commons :

"That, in the opinion of this House, a Standing Com- mittee of Foreign Affairs should be appointed, repre- sentative of all parties and groups in the House, in order that a regular channel of communication may be estab- lished between the Foreign Secretary and the House of Commons, which will afford him frequent opportunities of giving information on questions of Foreign policy and which, by allowing Members to acquaint themselves more fully with current international problems, will enable this House to exercise closer supervision over the general conduct of Foreign Affairs. ..."

Mr. Balfour expressed himself quite in length on this motion and further elaborated the ideas which he had put forward in 1914. In a speech delivered March 19th, he gave what is probably the most complete and persuasive exposition of the value of traditional methods in diplomacy:

"... A Foreign Office and a Diplomatic Service are great instruments for preventing, as far as can be pre- vented, and diminishing, even when you cannot prevent, friction between States which are, or which ought to be, friendly. How is the task of peace-maker because that is largely the task which falls to diplomatists and to the Foreign Office, which controls diplomatists to be pur- sued if you are to shout your grievances from the house- top whenever they occur? The only result is that you embitter public feeling, that the differences