38 The Great War tory to decide the merits of the rival charges made after war began as to the responsibility for it; what is necessary to record now is that in this period it was England, still giving no official indication of her future course, who sought to find a way to bridge the ever-growing gap between Russian and Austrian purposes. Meanwhile the probable course of England com- manded the attention of the whole world. What were her commitments to her partners of the Triple Entente? Was she bound to join in a general war? For this answer the whole world waited, and neither in Paris nor in Berlin was there any actual proof of British intention. A few weeks before when George V visited Paris and the Anglo-French friendship was emphasized by unprecedented demonstrations on either side, the press of the world had been filled with rumors that the earlier understanding had been transformed into a far closer and more vital agreement. But this was denied, then reaffirmed, and the fact was that the question remained wholly unsettled. What the British press thought was perhaps best indicated by the comments of the London Times and the Manchester Guardian, reflecting different and conflicting political and national views. For " The Thunderer " war was a duty if France and Russia were involved. England's future on the sea, her colonial world were imperiled. For the Guard- ian there was no occasion for war, but even this