-5- #176, February 7, 3 p.m. from London.
 
      
 
 
British should introduce conscription, the Under Secretary 
      said that this suggestion of course was not a new one but had 
      been broached in French circles from time to time. He quite understood 
      their attitude in view of the probability that if a war did break 
      out involving both countries, the French would probably have 
      to suffer, as they did in the last war, appalling military casualties 
      on land before a British army would be ready. On the other hand, 
      as he has pointed out to the French Ambassador, the British carry 
      a much larger complement of men in their navy than the French 
      do; their air force is now not only larger but better than the 
      French; and there is no use in talking in Great Britain about 
      conscription being introduced now when there is not yet in existence 
      sufficient equipment to fit out a conscripted army. The Under 
      Secretary indicated that when a formal reply is made to the French 
      the suggestion in regard to British conscription will not be 
      mentioned.
 
      
 
 
Sir Alexander further said that the French reply was received 
      before the Prime Minister's important statement in the House 
      of Commons yesterday (my 173, February 6, 8 p.m.) and that he 
      felt that that statement,which