454 Appendix V 



declared neutrality; that she cannot now resort to force or to anything 

 more than expostulation. These are idle words. It is a maxim in law 

 that an immoral agreement canont be enforced; it is not binding either in 

 law or equity. It is null and void. Neither is a dishonourable agreement 

 binding in honour. Insist, with Mr. Asquith's Government, that the 

 language his Foreign Secretary shall use to Italy shall be this : ' When 

 we agreed that you should take possession of Tripoli, we thought that the 

 Sultan, its legal owner, would be willing to part with a province, useless 

 to him, for money; we thought that the Sultan's subjects there would be 

 glad to transfer their allegiance from him to you; we thought that things 

 would go easily, that it would be a walk over for you ; above all, we thought 

 that you would behave like a civilized people, not like wild beasts, in your 

 conduct of the war. We see we were mistaken, that you are without 

 honour, without civilization, without Christian decency. We will have no 

 farther part in this affair. We will not continue to be your accomplice; 

 we summon you to recall your fleet and evacuate the ports you have seized. 

 We insist that this war shall cease." This, translated into the polite 

 phraseology of diplomacy, would suffice; Italy would give in. If she does 

 not give in, insist that England shall make common cause with Turkey and 

 mobilize the British Fleet. We have no right to remain neutral. There 

 is a saying of the late Lord Salisbury which I was reading only yesterday 

 in Mr. Holland's " Life of the Duke of Devonshire," and which applies 

 well to the case : " Those," said Lord Salisbury, " who have the absolute 

 power of preventing lamentable events, and, knowing what is taking place, 

 refuse to exercise that power, are responsible for what happens." 



As you were good enough to ask my opinion, this is what I send you, 

 believing it to be the right and reasonable way, and I shall esteem it a 

 favour if you will read my letter in its entirety to the meeting and invite 

 a decision on it. Also I shall be glad to help you in any way I can to 

 carry on an agitation on the lines suggested, including a subscription 

 towards expenses. I believe I could raise a very handsome sum from 

 among my Mohammedan friends. 



Believe me, very truly yours, 



Wilfrid Scawen Blunt. 



