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THE WELSH OUTLOOK The Editor does not necessarily identify himself with the opinions of contributors to The Welsh Outlook." Editorial responsibility is limited to the views expressed in the Notes of the Month," and in the unsigned article immediately following. NOTES OF THE MONTH Although the Spa Conference The Spa seems to have come to some kind of Conference. agreed decision on the two important issues of German disarmament and the delivery of coal to the Allies, it cannot be said to have been a great success judged by actual facts and results. From another point of view, however^ it has been a clear advance on all the conferences which have been held since the Armistice up to the present time. The two sides have met round a table, equals in dis- cussion; and the old method of dictation to an enemy, brought in merely to hear his fate, has been abandoned in favour of a civilized method of diplomacy, it has been demonstrated clearly that the British Prime Minister will not be controlled in all questions by French mili- tarism and greed; the occupation of the Ruhr has again been put off, and the longer it is delayed the less likely it is ever to happen; and it has demonstrated that the danger to a resumption of decent relations on both sides is the continuous butting in of the extremists; and, above all. it has shown that the Treaty of Versailles must be revised. Still more heartening was the Prime Minis- ter's sincere eulogy of Herr Fehrenbach in the House of Commons on his return, and his welcome assertion (in connection with the question of the occupation of the Ruhr district) that no military force can make the German miner work. Europe has hitherto behaved as if Marshal Foch and Sir Henry Wilson were some miracle working archangels, and they had only to be called in with a dramatic gesture and all difficulties would disappear. But Spa, even more than all the previous conferences, has demonstrated the immediate and overwhelming necessity of bringing a real League of Nations into existence. What is wanted more than anything else at the moment in the Councils of Europe is a good ballast of sound, disinterested, neutral opinion. This would give sound statesmanship a chance, and lessen the in- fluence of extremism. But it is not only Spa that has AUGUST, 1920. demonstrated this. The Syrian and Russian situation at the moment shew clearly that, without the League, nothing will save us from complete disaster in Europe and Asia. The attitude of the British and French Governments towards ihe League makes us despair of the future. The early years of the war gave The British the world a wonderful demonstration Empire. of the solidarity and security of the British Empire. Nothing it seemed could affect the stability of this wonderful Federation of free nationr. But when we look at the condition of India, of Egypt, of Ireland, at the moment, and regard the strength and popularity of separatist movements in other parts of the Empire, it makes us wonder, after all, whether the fabric is as secure as we once thought. And now that the danger of the war is over, many of our responsible (or should we say irresponsible) politicians seem to make merry over the signs of disruption, as was seen in the recent Amritsar debate in both Houses and in the Irish debate on the 22nd inst. It would be well for us to remember at the moment that our Empire is not of necessity an eternal institution. The appointment of Dr. T. H. Professor Parry Williams to the Chair of Parry Williams. Welsh at Aberystwyth University College, brings to a close an episode which brought no credit on those responsible for the governance of the College. We have already expressed our views on the events of the controversy in connection with the appointment, and no good would now be achieved by reviving it. We congratulate the College first on its new Professor, and also Dr. Parry Williams, and express a hope that he will prove as good a teacher as a scholar. The present occupants of the Welsh Chairs at our University Colleges are a real credit to the nation.