24 ACROSS A CONTINENT. 



ambitions, both expressed and implied, of those who 

 are, and must remain, our rivals in Asia, be in any way 

 fulfilled, my object in writing them will have been 

 obtained. 



Let the people of this country — and by the people of 

 this country I do not mean the select few who have 

 made a study of such questions — understand that a 

 policy of unsupported diplomatic protest will not 

 always prove efficient in retaining that position of 

 supremacy in Southern Asia which is vital to our 

 being, and let them be prepared, should it ever be 

 asked of them, to enforce respect for their legitimate 

 demands by a display of unmistakable intention. 

 There is a fund of wisdom in the five short words, si 

 vis pacem, loara helium, and it is a wisdom which we 

 shall do well to recognise. 



