Thus, by the teaching of a long catalogue of events, two facts of importance had been clearly brought home to us at the opening of the twentieth century. The first was that, in spite of the apparent or nominal division of Europe into two mutually antagonistic leagues, the nations composing these leagues constantly display many tendencies towards unity. And this fact often haunts us. Speaking in March 1911 with reference to the Triple and Dual Alliances, our Foreign minister said, "Gradually, in the last five years at any rate, things which might have brought these groups into opposition to each other, have been disappearing." The second fact was that the European peoples generally appeared to be animated from time to time by a common policy of resentment against us, an antagonism which our policy of isolation obviously could not cure and probably fostered. This was a dangerous and even an intolerable situation. A fresh international epoch must begin for England.
It was February 1902 which marked definitely the inauguration of this new era. From that date another destiny, filling generations of the future, opens before the eyes of the English people.
In February 1902 Lord Lansdowne announced in the House of Lords that the time had at last come for "a new departure." We must finally put away and abjure for ever "any old formula or old-fashioned superstition as to the desirability of pursuing a policy of isolation for
