Was it, however, needful to provide for such extreme eventualities?

When the question of imperial defence came up, the policy was rejected which wished to assure to Great Britain the help of the oversea dominions in every imaginable eventuality."

I would wager not a little that by searching in the retired quarters, some might be found who believe they are still governed by Napoleon III., and have never heard of the war with Prussia, except as a not improbable eventuality.

If the two nations joined handsa hardly probable eventuality at presentit would become difficult for us to maintain an independent position between them.