The hermetic isolation which during the world war divided Europe into two separate worlds made this doubly urgent.

But it is inevitable in regard to confidential reports that they must be accepted, for various reasons, with a certain amount of scepticism.
Those persons who write and talk, not from any material, but from political interests, from political devotion and sympathy, are, from the nature of the case, above suspicion of reporting, for their own personal reasons, more optimistically than is justified.

But they are apt to be deceived.

Nations, too, are subject to feelings, and the feelings of the masses must not be taken as expressing the tendencies of the leading influences.

France was tired of war, but how far the leading statesmen were influenced by that condition, not to be compared to our own war-weariness, was not proved.
In persons who make this _metier_ their profession, the wish is often present, alongside the comprehensible mistakes they make, to give pleasure and satisfaction by their reports, and not run any risk of losing a lucrative post.