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diff --git a/17018-8.txt b/17018-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..30e98cc --- /dev/null +++ b/17018-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15701 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Letters of Walter H. Page, +Volume II, by Burton J. Hendrick + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Life and Letters of Walter H. Page, Volume II + +Author: Burton J. Hendrick + +Release Date: November 6, 2005 [EBook #17018] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF *** + + + + +Produced by Rick Niles, Charlie Kirschner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[Illustration: Sir Edward Grey (now Viscount Grey of Fallodon), +Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1905-1916] + + + + + THE + LIFE AND LETTERS OF + WALTER H. PAGE + + BY + + BURTON J. HENDRICK + + VOLUME + II + + GARDEN CITY NEW YORK + DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY + 1924 + + + + + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES + AT + THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N.Y. + + + + +CONTENTS + +VOLUME II + + + CHAPTER PAGE + XIV. THE "LUSITANIA" AND AFTER 1 + XV. THE AMBASSADOR AND THE LAWYERS 53 + XVI. DARK DAYS FOR THE ALLIES 81 + XVII. CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND, 1915 103 + XVIII. A PERPLEXED AMBASSADOR 128 + XIX. WASHINGTON IN THE SUMMER OF 1916 148 + XX. "PEACE WITHOUT VICTORY" 189 + XXI. THE UNITED STATES AT WAR 215 + XXII. THE BALFOUR MISSION TO THE UNITED STATES 248 + XXIII. PAGE--THE MAN 295 + XXIV. A RESPITE AT ST. IVES 321 + XXV. GETTING THE AMERICAN TROOPS TO FRANCE 349 + XXVI. LAST DAYS IN ENGLAND 374 + XXVII. THE END 404 + APPENDIX 407 + INDEX 425 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Sir Edward Grey _Frontispiece_ + + FACING PAGE + + Col. Edward M. House. From a painting by P.A. + Laszlo 88 + + The Rt. Hon. Herbert Henry Asquith, Prime Minister + of Great Britain, 1908-1916 89 + + Herbert C. Hoover, in 1914 104 + + A facsimile page from the Ambassador's letter of + November 24, 1916, resigning his Ambassadorship 105 + + Walter H. Page, at the time of America's entry into + the war, April, 1917 216 + + Resolution passed by the two Houses of Parliament, + April 18, 1917, on America's entry into the war 217 + + The Rt. Hon. David Lloyd George, Prime Minister + of Great Britain, 1916-- 232 + + The Rt. Hon. Arthur James Balfour (now the Earl of + Balfour), Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, + 1916-1919 233 + + Lord Robert Cecil, Minister of Blockade, 1916-1918, + Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, + 1918 344 + + General John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of + the American Expeditionary Force in the Great + War 345 + + Admiral William Sowden Sims, Commander of + American Naval Forces operating in European + waters during the Great War 360 + + A silver model of the _Mayflower_, the farewell gift + of the Plymouth Council to Mr. Page 361 + + + + +THE + +LIFE AND LETTERS + +OF + +WALTER H. PAGE + + + + +THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF + +WALTER H. PAGE + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE "LUSITANIA"--AND AFTER + + +I + +The news of the _Lusitania_ was received at the American Embassy at four +o'clock on the afternoon of May 7, 1915. At that time preparations were +under way for a dinner in honour of Colonel and Mrs. House; the first +_Lusitania_ announcement declared that only the ship itself had been +destroyed and that all the passengers and members of the crew had been +saved; there was, therefore, no good reason for abandoning this dinner. + +At about seven o'clock, the Ambassador came home; his manner showed that +something extraordinary had taken place; there were no outward signs of +emotion, but he was very serious. The first news, he now informed Mrs. +Page, had been a mistake; more than one thousand men, women, and +children had lost their lives, and more than one hundred of these were +American citizens. It was too late to postpone the dinner but that +affair was one of the most tragic in the social history of London. The +Ambassador was constantly receiving bulletins from his Chancery, and +these, as quickly as they were received, he read to his guests. His +voice was quiet and subdued; there were no indications of excitement in +his manner or in that of his friends, and hardly of suppressed emotion. +The atmosphere was rather that of dumb stupefaction. The news seemed to +have dulled everyone's capacity for thought and even for feeling. If any +one spoke, it was in whispers. Afterward, in the drawing room, this same +mental state was the prevailing one; there was little denunciation of +Germany and practically no discussion as to the consequences of the +crime; everyone's thought was engrossed by the harrowing and +unbelievable facts which the Ambassador was reading from the little +yellow slips that were periodically brought in. An irresistible +fascination evidently kept everybody in the room; the guests stayed +late, eager for every new item. When they finally left, one after +another, their manner was still abstracted and they said their +good-nights in low voices. There were two reasons for this behaviour. +The first was that the Ambassador and his guests had received the +details of the greatest infamy which any supposedly civilized state had +perpetrated since the massacre of Saint Bartholomew. The second was the +conviction that the United States would at once declare war on Germany. + +On this latter point several of the guests expressed their ideas and one +of the most shocked and outspoken was Colonel House. For a month the +President's personal representative had been discussing with British +statesmen possible openings for mediation, but all his hopes in this +direction now vanished. That President Wilson would act with the utmost +energy Colonel House took for granted. This act, he evidently believed, +left the United States no option. "We shall be at war with Germany +within a month," he declared. + +The feeling that prevailed in the Embassy this evening was the one that +existed everywhere in London for several days. Emotionally the event +acted like an anæsthetic. This was certainly the condition of all +Americans associated with the American Embassy, especially Page +himself. A day or two after the sinking the Ambassador went to Euston +Station, at an early hour in the morning, to receive the American +survivors. The hundred or more men and women who shambled from the train +made a listless and bedraggled gathering. Their grotesque clothes, torn +and unkempt--for practically none had had the opportunity of obtaining a +change of dress--their expressionless faces, their lustreless eyes, +their uncertain and bewildered walk, faintly reflected an experience +such as comes to few people in this world. The most noticeable thing +about these unfortunates was their lack of interest in their +surroundings; everything had apparently been reduced to a blank; the +fact that practically none made any reference to their ordeal, or could +be induced to discuss it, was a matter of common talk in London. And +something of this disposition now became noticeable in Page himself. He +wrote his dispatches to Washington in an abstracted mood; he went +through his duties almost with the detachment of a sleep-walker; like +the _Lusitania_ survivors, he could not talk much at that time about the +scenes that had taken place off the coast of Ireland. Yet there were +many indications that he was thinking about them, and his thoughts, as +his letters reveal, were concerned with more things than the tragedy +itself. He believed that his country was now face to face with its +destiny. What would Washington do? + +Page had a characteristic way of thinking out his problems. He performed +his routine work at the Chancery in the daytime, but his really serious +thinking he did in his own room at night. The picture is still a vivid +one in the recollection of his family and his other intimates. Even at +this time Page's health was not good, yet he frequently spent the +evening at his office in Grosvenor Gardens, and when the long day's +labours were finished, he would walk rather wearily to his home at No. 6 +Grosvenor Square. He would enter the house slowly--and his walk became +slower and more tired as the months went by--go up to his room and cross +to the fireplace, so apparently wrapped up in his own thoughts that he +hardly greeted members of his own family. A wood fire was kept burning +for him, winter and summer alike; Page would put on his dressing gown, +drop into a friendly chair, and sit there, doing nothing, reading +nothing, saying nothing--only thinking. Sometimes he would stay for an +hour; not infrequently he would remain till two, three, or four o'clock +in the morning; occasions were not unknown when his almost motionless +figure would be in this same place at daybreak. He never slept through +these nights, and he never even dozed; he was wide awake, and his mind +was silently working upon the particular problem that was uppermost in +his thoughts. He never rose until he had solved it or at least until he +had decided upon a course of action. He would then get up abruptly, go +to bed, and sleep like a child. The one thing that made it possible for +a man of his delicate frame, racked as it was by anxiety and over work, +to keep steadily at his task, was the wonderful gift which he possessed +of sleeping. + +Page had thought out many problems in this way. The tension caused by +the sailing of the _Dacia_, in January, 1915, and the deftness with +which the issue had been avoided by substituting a French for a British +cruiser, has already been described. Page discovered this solution on +one of these all-night self-communings. It was almost two o'clock in the +morning that he rose, said to himself, "I've got it!" and then went +contentedly to bed. And during the anxious months that followed the +_Lusitania_, the _Arabic_, and those other outrages which have now +taken their place in history, he spent night after night turning the +matter over in his mind. But he found no way out of the humiliations +presented by the policy of Washington. + +"Here we are swung loose in time," he wrote to his son Arthur, a few +days after the first _Lusitania_ note had been sent to Germany, "nobody +knows the day or the week or the month or the year--and we are caught on +this island, with no chance of escape, while the vast slaughter goes on +and seems just beginning, and the degradation of war goes on week by +week; and we live in hope that the United States will come in, as the +only chance to give us standing and influence when the reorganization of +the world must begin. (Beware of betraying the word 'hope'!) It has all +passed far beyond anybody's power to describe. I simply go on day by day +into unknown experiences and emotions, seeing nothing before me very +clearly and remembering only dimly what lies behind. I can see only one +proper thing: that all the world should fall to and hunt this wild beast +down. + +"Two photographs of little Mollie[1] on my mantelpiece recall persons +and scenes and hopes unconnected with the war: few other things can. +Bless the baby, she couldn't guess what a sweet purpose she serves." + + * * * * * + +The sensations of most Americans in London during this crisis are almost +indescribable. Washington's failure promptly to meet the situation +affected them with astonishment and humiliation. Colonel House was +confident that war was impending, and for this reason he hurried his +preparations to leave England; he wished to be in the United States, at +the President's side, when the declaration was made. With this feeling +about Mr. Wilson, Colonel House received a fearful shock a day or two +after the _Lusitania_ had gone down: while walking in Piccadilly, he +caught a glimpse of one of the famous sandwich men, bearing a poster of +an afternoon newspaper. This glaring broadside bore the following +legend: "We are too proud to fight--Woodrow Wilson." The sight of that +placard was Colonel House's first intimation that the President might +not act vigorously. He made no attempt to conceal from Page and other +important men at the American Embassy the shock which it had given him. +Soon the whole of England was ringing with these six words; the +newspapers were filled with stinging editorials and cartoons, and the +music halls found in the Wilsonian phrase materials for their choicest +jibes. Even in more serious quarters America was the subject of the most +severe denunciation. No one felt these strictures more poignantly than +President Wilson's closest confidant. A day or two before sailing home +he came into the Embassy greatly depressed at the prevailing revulsion +against the United States. "I feel," Colonel House said to Page, "as +though I had been given a kick at every lamp post coming down +Constitution Hill." A day or two afterward Colonel House sailed for +America. + + +II + +And now came the period of distress and of disillusionment. Three +_Lusitania_ notes were sent and were evasively answered, and Washington +still seemed to be marking time. The one event in this exciting period +which gave Page satisfaction was Mr. Bryan's resignation as Secretary of +State. For Mr. Bryan personally Page had a certain fondness, but as head +of the State Department the Nebraska orator had been a cause of endless +vexation. Many of Page's letters, already printed, bear evidence of the +utter demoralization which existed in this branch of the Administration +and this demoralization became especially glaring during the _Lusitania_ +crisis. No attempt was made even at this momentous period to keep the +London Embassy informed as to what was taking place in Washington; +Page's letters and cablegrams were, for the most part, unacknowledged +and unanswered, and the American Ambassador was frequently obliged to +obtain his information about the state of feeling in Washington from Sir +Edward Grey. It must be said, in justice to Mr. Bryan, that this +carelessness was nothing particularly new, for it had worried many +ambassadors before Page. Readers of Charles Francis Adams's +correspondence meet with the same complaints during the Civil War; even +at the time of the _Trent_ crisis, when for a fortnight Great Britain +and the United States were living on the brink of war, Adams was kept +entirely in the dark about the plans of Washington[2]. The letters of +John Hay show a similar condition during his brief ambassadorship to +Great Britain in 1897-1898[3]. + +But Mr. Bryan's incumbency was guilty of diplomatic vices which were +peculiarly its own. The "leaks" in the State Department, to which Page +has already referred, were constantly taking place; the Ambassador would +send the most confidential cipher dispatches to his superior, cautioning +the Department that they must be held inviolably secret, and then he +would pick up the London newspapers the next morning and find that +everything had been cabled from Washington. To most readers, the +informal method of conducting foreign business, as it is disclosed in +these letters, probably comes as something of a shock. Page is here +discovered discussing state matters, not in correspondence with the +Secretary of State, but in private unofficial communications to the +President, and especially to Colonel House--the latter at that time not +an official person at all. All this, of course, was extremely irregular +and, in any properly organized State Department, it would have been even +reprehensible. But the point is that there was no properly organized +State Department at that time, and the impossibility of conducting +business through the regular channels compelled Page to adopt other +means. "There is only one way to reform the State Department," he +informed Colonel House at this time. "That is to raze the whole +building, with its archives and papers, to the ground, and begin all +over again." + +This state of affairs in Washington explains the curious fact that the +real diplomatic history of the United States and Great Britain during +this great crisis is not to be found in the archives of the State +Department, for the official documents on file there consist of the most +routine telegrams, which are not particularly informing, but in the +Ambassador's personal correspondence with the President, Colonel House, +and a few other intimates. The State Department did not have the first +requisite of a properly organized foreign office, for it could not be +trusted with confidential information. The Department did not tell Page +what it was doing, but it apparently told the whole world what Page was +doing. It is an astonishing fact that Page could not write and cable the +most important details, for he was afraid that they would promptly be +given to the reporters. + + * * * * * + +"I shall not send another confidential message to the State Department," +Page wrote to Colonel House, September 15, 1914; "it's too dangerous. +Time and time again now the Department has leaked. Last week, I sent a +dispatch and I said in the body of it, '_this is confidential and under +no condition to be given out or made public, but to be regarded as +inviolably secret_.' The very next morning it was telegraphed from +Washington to the London newspapers. Bryan telegraphed me that he was +sure it didn't get out from the Department and that he now had so fixed +it that there could be no leak. He's said that at least four times +before. The Department swarms with newspaper men, I hear. But whether it +does or not the leak continues. I have to go with my tail between my +legs and apologize to Sir Edward Grey and to do myself that shame and to +do my very best to keep his confidence--against these unnecessary odds. +The only way to be safe is to do the job perfunctorily, to answer the +questions the Department sends and to do nothing on your own account. +That's the reason so many of our men do their jobs in that way--or _one_ +reason and a strong one. We can never have an alert and energetic and +powerful service until men can trust the Department and until they can +get necessary information from it. I wrote the President that of course +I'd go on till the war ended and all the questions growing out of it +were settled, and that then he must excuse me, if I must continue to be +exposed to this danger and humiliation. In the meantime, I shall send +all my confidential matter in private letters to him." + + * * * * * + +Page did not regard Mr. Bryan's opinions and attitudes as a joke: to him +they were a serious matter and, in his eyes, Bryan was most interesting +as a national menace. He regarded the Secretary as the extreme +expression of an irrational sentimentalism that was in danger of +undermining the American character, especially as the kind of thought +he represented was manifest in many phases of American life. In a moment +of exasperation, Page gave expression to this feeling in a letter to his +son: + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + London, June 6, 1915. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + ... We're in danger of being feminized and fad-ridden--grape juice + (God knows water's good enough: why grape juice?); pensions; + Christian Science; peace cranks; efficiency-correspondence schools; + aid-your-memory; women's clubs; co-this and co-t'other and coddling + in general; Billy Sunday; petticoats where breeches ought to be and + breeches where petticoats ought to be; white livers and soft heads + and milk-and-water;--I don't want war: nobody knows its horrors or + its degradations or its cost. But to get rid of hyphenated + degenerates perhaps it's worth while, and to free us from 'isms and + soft folk. That's the domestic view of it. As for being kicked by a + sauerkraut caste--O Lord, give us backbone! + + Heartily yours, + W.H.P. + +In the bottom of this note, Page has cut a notch in the paper and +against it he has written: "This notch is the place to apply a match to +this letter." + + * * * * * + +"Again and ever I am reminded," Page also wrote in reference to Bryan's +resignation, "of the danger of having to do with cranks. A certain +orderliness of mind and conduct seems essential for safety in this short +life. Spiritualists, bone-rubbers, anti-vivisectionists, all sort of +anti's in fact, those who have fads about education or fads against it, +Perfectionists, Daughters of the Dove of Peace, Sons of the Roaring +Torrent, itinerant peace-mongers--all these may have a real genius +among them once in forty years; but to look for an exception to the +common run of yellow dogs and damfools among them is like opening +oysters with the hope of finding pearls. It's the common man we want and +the uncommon common man when we can find him--never the crank. This is +the lesson of Bryan." + + * * * * * + +At one time, however, Mr. Bryan's departure seemed likely to have +important consequences for Page. Colonel House and others strongly urged +the President to call him home from London and make him Secretary of +State. This was the third position in President Wilson's Cabinet for +which Page had been considered. The early plans to make him Secretary of +the Interior or Secretary of Agriculture have already been described. Of +all cabinet posts, however, the one that would have especially attracted +him would have been the Department of State. But President Wilson +believed that the appointment of an Ambassador at one of the belligerent +capitals, especially of an Ambassador whose sympathies for the Allies +were so pronounced as were Page's, would have been an "un-neutral" act, +and, therefore, Colonel House's recommendation was not approved. + + _From Edward M. House_ + + Roslyn, Long Island, + June 25th, 1915. + + DEAR PAGE: + + The President finally decided to appoint Lansing to succeed Mr. + Bryan. In my opinion, he did wisely, though I would have preferred + his appointing you. + + The argument against your appointment was the fact that you are an + Ambassador at one of the belligerent capitals. The President did + not think it would do, and from what I read, when your name was + suggested I take it there would have been much criticism. I am + sorry--sorrier than I can tell you, for it would have worked + admirably in the general scheme of things. + + However, I feel sure that Lansing will do the job, and that you + will find your relations with him in every way satisfactory. + + The President spent yesterday with me and we talked much of you. He + is looking well and feeling so. I read the President your letter + and he enjoyed it as much as I did. + + I am writing hastily, for I am leaving for Manchester, + Massachusetts, where I shall be during July and August. + + Your sincere friend, + E.M. HOUSE. + + +III + +But, in addition to the _Lusitania_ crisis, a new terror now loomed on +the horizon. Page's correspondence reveals that Bryan had more reasons +than one for his resignation; he was now planning to undertake a +self-appointed mission to Europe for the purpose of opening peace +negotiations entirely on his own account. + + _From Edward M. House_ + + Manchester, Massachusetts, + August 12th, 1915. + + DEAR PAGE: + + The Bryans have been stopping with the X's. X writes me that Bryan + told him that he intended to go to Europe soon and try peace + negotiations. He has Lloyd George in mind in England, and it is + then his purpose to go to Germany. + + I take it he will want credentials from the President which, of + course, he will not want to give, but just what he will feel + obliged to give is another story. I anticipated this when he + resigned. I knew it was merely a matter of time when he would take + this step. + + He may find encouragement in Germany, for he is in high favour now + in that quarter. It is his purpose to oppose the President upon the + matter of "preparedness," and, from what we can learn, it will not + be long before there will be open antagonism between the + Administration and himself. + + It might be a good thing to encourage his going to Europe. He would + probably come back a sadder and wiser man. I take it that no one in + authority in England would discuss the matter seriously with him, + and, in France, I do not believe he could even get a hearing. + + Please let me have your impressions upon this subject. + + I wish I could be near you to-day for there are so many things I + could tell that I cannot write. + + Your friend, + E.M. House. + + + _To Edward M. House_ + + American Embassy, London [Undated]. + + DEAR HOUSE: + + Never mind about Bryan. Send him over here if you wish to get rid + of him. He'll cut no more figure than a tar-baby at a Negro + camp-meeting. If he had come while he was Secretary, I should have + jumped off London Bridge and the country would have had one + ambassador less. But I shall enjoy him now. You see some peace + crank from the United States comes along every week--some crank or + some gang of cranks. There've been two this week. Ever since the + Daughters of the Dove of Peace met at The Hague, the game has + become popular in America; and I haven't yet heard that a single + one has been shot--so far. I think that some of them are likely + soon to be hanged, however, because there are signs that they may + come also from Germany. The same crowd that supplies money to buy + labour-leaders and the press and to blow up factories in the United + States keeps a good supply of peace-liars on tap. It'll be fun to + watch Bryan perform and never suspect that anybody is lying to him + or laughing at him; and he'll go home convinced that he's done the + job and he'll let loose doves all over the land till they are as + thick as English sparrows. Not even the President could teach him + anything permanently. He can do no harm on this side the world. + It's only your side that's in any possible danger; and, if I read + the signs right, there's a diminishing danger there. + + No, there's never yet come a moment when there was the slightest + chance of peace. Did the Emperor not say last year that peace would + come in October, and again this year in October? Since he said it, + how can it come? + + The ambitions and the actions of men, my friend, are determined by + their antecedents, their surroundings, and their opportunities--the + great deeds of men before them whom consciously or unconsciously + they take for models, the codes they are reared by, and the chances + that they think they see. These influences shaped Alexander and + Cæsar, and they shaped you and me. Now every monarch on the + Continent has behind him the Napoleonic example. "Can I do that?" + crosses the mind of every one. Of course every one thinks of + himself as doing it beneficently--for the good of the world. + Napoleon, himself, persuaded himself of his benevolent intentions, + and the devil of it was he persuaded other people also. Now the + only monarch in Europe in our time who thought he had a chance is + your friend in Berlin. When he told you last year (1914) that of + course he didn't want war, but that he was "ready," that's what he + meant. A similar ambition, of course, comes into the mind of every + professional soldier of the continent who rises to eminence. In + Berlin you have both--the absolute monarch and the military class + of ambitious soldiers and their fighting machine. Behind these men + walks the Napoleonic ambition all the time, just as in the United + States we lie down every night in George Washington's feather-bed + of no entangling alliances. + + Then remember, too, that the German monarchy is a cross between the + Napoleonic ambition and its inheritance from Frederick the Great + and Bismarck. I suppose the three damnedest liars that were ever + born are these three--old Frederick, Napoleon, and Bismarck--not, I + take it, because they naturally loved lying, but because the game + they played constantly called for lying. There was no other way to + play it: they _had_ to fool people all the time. You have abundant + leisure--do this: Read the whole career of Napoleon and write down + the startling and exact parallels that you will find there to what + is happening to-day. The French were united and patriotic, just as + the Germans now are. When they invaded other people's territory, + they said they were attacked and that the other people had brought + on war. They had their lying diplomats, their corruption funds; + they levied money on cities and states; they took booty; and they + were God's elect. It's a wonderful parallel--not strangely, because + the game is the same and the moral methods are the same. Only the + tools are somewhat different--the submarine, for example. Hence the + _Lusitania_ disaster (not disavowed, you will observe), the + _Arabic_ disaster, the propaganda, underground and above, in the + United States. And there'll be more. The Napoleonic Wars were + about eleven years long. I fancy that we shall have war and wars + from this attempt to dominate Europe, for perhaps as long a period. + The Balkans can't be quieted by this war only, nor Russia and Italy + perhaps. And Germany may have a series of earthquakes + herself--internal explosions. Then Poland and perhaps some of the + Scandinavian States. Nobody can tell. + + I cannot express my admiration of the President's management, so + far at least, of his colossal task of leading us right. He has + shown his supreme wisdom up to this point and I have the + profoundest confidence in his judgment. But I hope he doesn't fool + himself about the future; I'm sure he doesn't. I see no possible + way for us to keep out, because I know the ignorance and falseness + of the German leaders. They'll drown or kill more Americans--on the + sea and in America. They _may_ at last even attack one of our own + passenger ships, or do something that will dramatically reveal them + to the whole American people. Then, of course, the tune will be + called. It's only a question of time; and I am afraid the war will + last long enough to give them time. An early peace is all that can + prevent them from driving us at last into war; and I can see no + chance of an early peace. You had as well prepare as fast as the + condition of public opinion will permit. + + There could be no better measure of the immeasurable moral advance + that the United States has made over Europe than the incredulity of + our people. They simply can't comprehend what the Napoleonic legend + can do, nor the low political morality of the Continent--of Berlin + in particular. Hence they don't believe it. We have gone on for 100 + years working might and main to better our condition and the + condition of people about us--the greatest effort made by the + largest number of people since the world began to further the mood + and the arts of peace. There is no other such chapter in human + history as our work for a hundred years. Yet just a hundred years + ago the Capitol at Washington was burned by--a political oligarchy + in the freest country of Europe--as damnable an atrocity as you + will find in history. The Germans are a hundred years behind the + English in political development and political morality. + + So, let Willum J. come. He can't hurt Europe--nor help it; and you + can spare him. Let all the Peace-gang come. You can spare _them_, + too; and they can do no harm here. Let somebody induce Hoke Smith + to come, too. You have hit on a great scheme--friendly deportation. + + And Bryan won't be alone. Daughters of the Dove of Peace and Sons + of the Olive Branch come every week. The latest Son came to see me + to-day. He said that the German Chancellor told him that he wanted + peace--wants it now and wants it bad, and that only one thing stood + in the way--if England would agree not to take Belgium, Germany + would at once make peace! This otherwise sensible American wanted + me to take him to see Sir Edward to tell him this, and to suggest + to him to go over to Holland next week to meet the German + Chancellor and fix it up. A few days ago a pious preacher chap + (American) who had come over to "fix it all up," came back from + France and called on me. He had seen something in France--he was + excited and he didn't quite make it clear what he had seen; but he + said that if they'd only let him go home safely and quickly he'd + promise not to mention peace any more--did I think the American + boats _entirely_ safe?--So, you see, I do have some fun even in + these dark days. + + Yours heartily, + W.H. PAGE. + + +IV + +This letter discloses that Page was pinning his faith in President +Wilson, and that he still had confidence in the President's +determination to uphold the national honour. Page was not one of those +who thought that the United States should declare war immediately after +the _Lusitania_. The President's course, in giving Germany a chance to +make amends, and to disavow the act, met with his approval, and he +found, also, much to admire in Mr. Wilson's first _Lusitania_ note. His +judgment in this matter was based first of all upon the merits of the +case; besides this, his admiration for Mr. Wilson as a public man was +strong. To think otherwise of the President would have been a great +grief to the Ambassador and to differ with his chief on the tremendous +issue of the war would have meant for Page the severance of one of the +most cherished associations of his life. The interest which he had shown +in advocating Wilson's presidential candidacy has already been set +forth; and many phases of the Wilson administration had aroused his +admiration. The President's handling of domestic problems Page regarded +as a masterpiece in reconciling statesmanship with practical politics, +and his energetic attitude on the Panama Tolls had introduced new +standards into American foreign relations. Page could not sympathize +with all the details of the Wilsonian Mexican policy, yet he saw in it a +high-minded purpose and a genuine humanitarianism. But the outbreak of +war presented new aspects of Mr. Wilson's mind. The President's attitude +toward the European struggle, his conception of "neutrality," and his +failure to grasp the meaning of the conflict, seemed to Page to show a +lack of fundamental statesmanship; still his faith in Wilson was +deep-seated, and he did not abandon hope that the President could be +brought to see things as they really were. Page even believed that he +might be instrumental in his conversion. + +But in the summer and autumn of 1915 one agony followed another. The +"too proud to fight" speech was in Page's mind nothing less than a +tragedy. The president's first _Lusitania_ note for a time restored the +Ambassador's confidence; it seemed to show that the President intended +to hold Germany to that "strict accountability" which he had threatened. +But Mr. Wilson's course now presented new difficulties to his +Ambassador. Still Page believed that the President, in his own way and +in his own time, would find a path out of his dilemma that would protect +the honour and the safety of the United States. If any of the Embassy +subordinates became impatient over the procedure of Washington, he did +not find a sympathetic listener in the Ambassador. The whole of London +and of Europe might be resounding with denunciations of the White House, +but Page would tolerate no manifestations of hostility in his presence. +"The problem appears different to Washington than it does to us," he +would say to his confidants. "We see only one side of it; the President +sees all sides. If we give him all the facts, he will decide the thing +wisely." Englishmen with whom the Ambassador came into contact soon +learned that they could not become flippant or critical about Mr. Wilson +in his presence; he would resent the slightest hostile remark, and he +had a way of phrasing his rebukes that usually discouraged a second +attempt. About this time Page began to keep closely to himself, and to +decline invitations to dinners and to country houses, even those with +which he was most friendly. The reason was that he could not meet +Englishmen and Englishwomen, or even Americans who were resident in +England, on his old easy familiar terms; he knew the ideas which +everybody entertained about his country, and he knew also what they were +saying, when he was not among them; the restraint which his presence +necessarily put upon his friends produced an uncongenial atmosphere, and +the Ambassador therefore gave up, for a time, those distractions which +had ordinarily proved such a delightful relief from his duties. For the +first time since he had come to England he found himself a solitary man. +He even refused to attend the American Luncheon Club in London because, +in speeches and in conversation, the members did not hesitate to assail +the Wilson policies. + +Events, however, eventually proved too strong for the most devoted +supporter of President Wilson. After the _Arabic_ and the _Hesperian_, +Page's official intimates saw signs that the Ambassador was losing +confidence in his old friend. He would discuss Mr. Wilson occasionally, +with those secretaries, such as Mr. Laughlin, in whom his confidence was +strongest; his expressions, however, were never flippant or violent. +That Page could be biting as well as brilliant in his comments on public +personages his letters abundantly reveal, yet he never exercised his +talent for sarcasm or invective at the expense of the White House. He +never forgot that Mr. Wilson was President and that he was Ambassador; +he would still defend the Administration; and he even now continued to +find consolation in the reflection that Mr. Wilson was living in a +different atmosphere and that he had difficulties to confront of which a +man in London could know nothing. The Ambassador's emotion was rather +one of disappointment and sorrow, mingled with anxiety as to the plight +into which his country was being led. As to his duty in this situation, +however, Page never hesitated. In his relations with his Embassy and +with the British world he maintained this non-critical attitude; but in +his letters to President Wilson and Colonel House, he was describing the +situation, and expressing his convictions, with the utmost freedom and +frankness. In both these attitudes Page was consistent and absolutely +loyal. It was his duty to carry out the Wilson instructions and he had +too high a conception of the Ambassadorial office to show to the world +any unfavourable opinions he may have held about his country's course. +His duty to his post made it just as imperative that he set forth to the +President the facts exactly as they were. And this the Ambassador now +proceeded to do. For the mere ornamental dignities of an Ambassadorship +Page cared nothing; he was wasting his health in his duties and +exhausting his private resources; much as he loved the English and +congenial as were his surroundings, the fear of being recalled for +"disloyalty" or insubordination never influenced him. The letters which +he now wrote to Colonel House and to President Wilson himself are +probably without parallel in the diplomatic annals of this or of any +other country. In them he told the President precisely what Englishmen +thought of him and of the extent to which the United States was +suffering in European estimation from the Wilson policy. His boldness +sometimes astounded his associates. One day a friend and adviser of +President Wilson's came into the Ambassador's office just as Page had +finished one of his communications to Washington. + +"Read that!" the Ambassador said, handing over the manuscript to his +visitor. + +As the caller read, his countenance displayed the progressive stages of +his amazement. When he had finished, his hands dropped helplessly upon +his knees. + +"Is that the way you write to the President?" he gasped. + +"Of course," Page replied, quietly. "Why not? Why shouldn't I tell him +the truth? That is what I am here for." + +"There is no other person in the world who dare talk to him like that!" +was the reply. + +This is unquestionably the fact. That President Wilson did not like +people about him whose views were opposed to his own is now no secret, +and during the period when his policy was one of the great issues of the +world there was probably no one except Page who intruded upon his +solitude with ideas that so abruptly disagreed with the opinions of the +White House. The letters which Page wrote Colonel House were intended, +of course, for the President himself, and practically all of them +Colonel House read aloud to the head of the nation. The two men would +closet themselves in the old cabinet room on the second floor of the +White House--that same room in which Lincoln had met his advisers during +Civil War days; and here Colonel House would quietly read the letters in +which Page so mercilessly portrayed the situation as it appeared in +English and European eyes. The President listened impassively, giving no +sign of approval or disapproval, and hardly, at times, of much interest. +In the earlier days, when Page's letters consisted of pictures of +English life and English men, and colourful descriptions of England +under the stress of war, the President was vastly entertained; he would +laugh loudly at Page's wit, express his delight at his graphic and +pungent style and feel deeply the horrors of war as his Ambassador +unfolded them. "I always found Page compelling on paper," Mr. Wilson +remarked to Mr. Laughlin, during one of the latter's visits to +Washington. "I could never resist him--I get more information from his +letters than from any other single source. Tell him to keep it up." It +was during this period that the President used occasionally to read +Page's letters to the Cabinet, expressing his great appreciation of +their charm and historical importance. "The President quoted from one of +the Ambassador's letters to the Cabinet to-day," a member of the Cabinet +wrote to Mrs. Page in February, 1915. "'Some day,' the President said, +'I hope that Walter Page's letters will be published. They are the best +letters I have ever read. They make you feel the atmosphere in England, +understand the people, and see into the motives of the great actors.'" +The President repeated this statement many times, and his letters to +Page show how greatly he enjoyed and profited from this correspondence. +But after the sinking of the _Lusitania_ and the _Arabic_ his attitude +toward Page and his letters changed. + +He now found little pleasure or satisfaction in the Page communications. +When Mr. Wilson found that one of his former confidants had turned out +to be a critic, that man instantaneously passed out of his life. And +this was now Page's fate; the friendship and associations of forty years +were as though they had never been. Just why Mr. Wilson did not recall +his Ambassador is a question that has puzzled Page's friends. He would +sometimes refer to him as a man who was "more British than the British," +as one who had been taken completely captive by British blandishments, +but he never came to the point of dismissing him. Perhaps he did not +care to face the public scandal that such an act would have caused; but +a more plausible reason is that Page, despite the causes which he had +given for irritation, was indispensable to him. Page's early letters had +furnished the President ideas which had taken shape in Wilson's +policies, and, disagreeable as the communications now became, there are +evidences that they influenced the solitary statesman in the White +House, and that they had much to do in finally forcing Mr. Wilson into +the war. The alternative question, as to why Page did not retire when he +found himself so out of sympathy with the President, will be +sufficiently answered in subsequent chapters; at present it may be said +that he did resign and only consented to remain at the urgent request of +Washington. In fact, all during 1915 and 1916, there seemed to be a fear +in Washington that Page would definitely abandon the London post. On one +occasion, when the newspapers published rumours to this effect, Page +received an urgent despatch from Mr. Lansing. The message came at a +time--the date was October 26, 1915--when Page was especially +discouraged over the Washington policy. "Representatives of the press," +said Mr. Lansing, "have repeated rumours that you are planning to +resign. These have been brought to the President's attention, and both +he and I have denied them. Still these rumours persist, and they cause +both the President and me great anxiety. We cannot believe that they are +well founded. + +"In view of the fact that they are so persistent, we have thought it +well to inform you of them and to tell you how earnestly we hope that +they are baseless. We trust that you will set both our minds at rest." + +If Page had ever had any compunction about addressing the President in +blunt phrases these expressions certainly convinced him that he was a +free agent. + +Yet Page himself at times had his doubts as to the value of this +correspondence. He would frequently discuss the matter with Mr. +Laughlin. "That's a pretty harsh letter," he would say. "I don't like to +talk that way to the President, yet it doesn't express half what I +feel." + +"It's your duty to tell the President the real state of affairs," Mr. +Laughlin would urge. + +"But do you suppose it does any good?" Page would ask. + +"Yes, it's bound to, and whether it does or not, it's your business to +keep him informed." + +If in these letters Page seems to lay great stress on the judgment of +Great Britain and Europe on American policy, it must be remembered that +that was his particular province. One of an Ambassador's most important +duties is to transmit to his country the public opinion of the country +to which he is accredited. It was Page's place to tell Washington what +Great Britain thought of it; it was Washington's business to formulate +policy, after giving due consideration to this and other matters. + + _To Edward M. House_ + + July 21, 1915. + + DEAR HOUSE: + + I enclose a pamphlet in ridicule of the President. I don't know who + wrote it, for my inquiries so far have brought no real information. + I don't feel like sending it to him. I send it to you--to do with + as you think best. This thing alone is, of course, of no + consequence. But it is symptomatic. There is much feeling about the + slowness with which he acts. One hundred and twenty people + (Americans) were drowned on the _Lusitania_ and we are still + writing notes about it--to the damnedest pirates that ever blew up + a ship. Anybody who knows the Germans knows, of course, that they + are simply playing for time, that they are not going to "come + down," that Von Tirpitz is on deck, that they'd just as lief have + war with us as not--perhaps had rather--because they don't want any + large nation left fresh when the war ends. They'd like to have the + whole world bankrupt. There is a fast growing feeling here, + therefore, that the American Government is pusillanimous--dallies + with 'em, is affected by the German propaganda, etc., etc. Of + course, such a judgment is not fair. It is formed without knowing + the conditions in the United States. But I think you ought to + realize the strength of this sentiment. No doubt before you receive + this, the President will send something to Germany that will amount + to an ultimatum and there will be at least a momentary change of + sentiment here. But looking at the thing in a long-range way, we're + bound to get into the war. For the Germans will blow up more + American travellers without notice. And by dallying with them we do + not change the ultimate result, but we take away from ourselves the + spunk and credit of getting in instead of being kicked and cursed + in. We've got to get in: they won't play the game in any other way. + I have news direct from a high German source in Berlin which + strongly confirms this.... + + It's a curious thing to say. But the only solution that I see is + another _Lusitania_ outrage, which would force war. + + W.H.P. + + P.S. The London papers every day say that the President will send a + strong note, etc. And the people here say, "Damn notes: hasn't he + written enough?" Writing notes hurts nobody--changes nothing. The + Washington correspondents to the London papers say that Burleson, + the Attorney-General, and Daniels are Bryan men and are holding the + President back. + + * * * * * + +The prophecy contained in this letter was quickly fulfilled. A week or +two after Colonel House had received it, the _Arabic_ was sunk with loss +of American life. + +Page was taking a brief holiday with his son Frank in Rowsley, +Derbyshire, when this news came. It was telegraphed from the Embassy. + +"That settles it," he said to his son. "They have sunk the _Arabic_. +That means that we shall break with Germany and I've got to go back to +London." + + _To Edward M. House_ + + American Embassy, London, August 23, 1915. + + DEAR HOUSE: + + The sinking of the _Arabic_ is the answer to the President and to + your letter to me. And there'll be more such answers. You said to + me one day after you had got back from your last visit to Berlin: + "They are impossible." I think you told the truth, and surely you + know your German and you know your Berlin--or you did know them + when you were here. + + The question is not what we have done for the Allies, not what any + other neutral country has done or has failed to do--such + comparisons, I think, are far from the point. The question is when + the right moment arrives for us to save our self-respect, our + honour, and the esteem and fear (or the contempt) in which the + world will hold us. + + Berlin has the Napoleonic disease. If you follow Napoleon's + career--his excuses, his evasions, his inventions, the wild French + enthusiasm and how he kept it up--you will find an exact parallel. + That becomes plainer every day. Europe may not be wholly at peace + in five years--may be ten. + + Hastily and heartily, + W.H.P. + + I have your note about Willum J.... Crank once, crank always. My + son, never tie up with a crank. + + W.H.P. + + + _To Edward M. House_ + + London, September 2nd, 1915. + + DEAR HOUSE: + + You write me about pleasing the Allies, the big Ally in particular. + That doesn't particularly appeal to me. We don't owe them + anything. There's no obligation. I'd never confess for a moment + that we are under any obligation to any of them nor to anybody. I'm + not out to "please" anybody, as a primary purpose: that's not my + game nor my idea--nor yours either. As for England in particular, + the account was squared when she twice sent an army against us--in + her folly--especially the last time when she burnt our Capitol. + There's been no obligation since. The obligation is on the other + foot. We've set her an example of what democracy will do for men, + an example of efficiency, an example of freedom of opportunity. The + future is ours, and she may follow us and profit by it. Already we + have three white English-speaking men to every two in the British + Empire: we are sixty per cent. of the Anglo-Saxons in the world. If + there be any obligation to please, the obligation is on her to + please us. And she feels and sees it now. + + My point is not that, nor is it what we or any other neutral nation + has done or may do--Holland or any other. This war is the direct + result of the over-polite, diplomatic, standing-aloof, + bowing-to-one-another in gold lace, which all European nations are + guilty of in times of peace--castes and classes and uniforms and + orders and such folderol, instead of the proper business of the + day. Every nation in Europe knew that Germany was preparing for + war. If they had really got together--not mere Hague Sunday-school + talk and resolutions--but had really got together for business and + had said to Germany, "The moment you fire a shot, we'll all fight + against you; we have so many millions of men, so many men-of-war, + so many billions of money; and we'll increase all these if you do + not change your system and your building-up of armies"--then there + would have been no war. + + My point is not sentimental. It is: + + (1) We must maintain our own self-respect and safety. If we submit + to too many insults, _that_ will in time bring Germany against us. + We've got to show at some time that we don't believe, either, in + the efficacy of Sunday-School resolves for peace--that we are + neither Daughters of the Dove of Peace nor Sons of the Olive + Branch, and + + (2) About nagging and forever presenting technical legal points as + lawyers do to confuse juries--the point is the point of efficiency. + If we do that, we can't carry our main points. I find it harder and + harder to get answers now to important questions because we ask so + many unimportant and nagging ones. + + I've no sentiment--perhaps not enough. My gushing days are gone, if + I ever had 'em. The cutting-out of the "100 years of peace" + oratory, etc., etc., was one of the blessings of the war. But we + must be just and firm and preserve our own self-respect and keep + alive the fear that other nations have of us; and we ought to have + the courage to make the Department of State more than a bureau of + complaints. We must learn to say "No" even to a Gawdamighty + independent American citizen when he asks an improper or + impracticable question. Public Opinion in the United States + consists of something more than the threats of Congressmen and the + bleating of newspapers; it consists of the judgment of honourable + men on courageous and frank actions--a judgment that cannot be made + up till action is taken. + + Heartily yours, + W.H.P. + + + _To Edward M. House_ + + American Embassy, London, Sept. 8, 1915. + + (This is not prudent. It is only true--nothing more.) + + DEAR HOUSE: + + I take it for granted that Dumba[4] is going, of course. But I must + tell you that the President is being laughed at by our best friends + for his slowness in action. I hardly ever pick up a paper without + seeing some sarcastic remark. I don't mean they expect us to come + into the war. They only hoped we would be as good as our + word--would regard another submarine attack on a ship carrying + Americans as an unfriendly act and would send Bernstorff home. Yet + the _Arabic_ and now the _Hesperian_ have had no effect in action. + Bernstorff's personal _note to Lansing[5], even as far as it goes, + does not bind his Government_. + + The upshot of all this is that the President is fast losing in the + minds of our best friends here all that he gained by his courageous + stand on the Panama tolls. They feel that if he takes another + insult--keeps taking them--and is satisfied with Bernstorff's + personal word, which is proved false in four days--he'll take + anything. And the British will pay less attention to what we say. + That's inevitable. If the American people and the President accept + the _Arabic_ and the _Hesperian_ and do nothing to Dumba till the + Government here gave out his letter, which the State Department had + (and silently held) for several days--then nobody on this side the + world will pay much heed to anything we say hereafter. + + This, as I say, doesn't mean that these (thoughtful) people wish or + expect us to go to war. They wish only that we'd prove ourselves as + good as the President's word. That's the conservative truth; we're + losing influence more rapidly than I supposed it were possible. + + Dumba's tardy dismissal will not touch the main matter, which is + the rights of neutrals at sea, and keeping our word in action. + + Yours sincerely, + W.H.P. + + P.S. They say it's Mexico over again--watchful waiting and nothing + doing. And the feeling grows that Bryan has really conquered, since + his programme seems to prevail. + + _To Edward M. House_ + + London, Tuesday night, Sept. 8, 1915. + + DEAR HOUSE: + + The Germans seem to think it a good time to try to feel about for + peace. They have more to offer now than they may have again. That's + all. A man who seriously talks peace now in Paris or in London on + any terms that the Germans will consider, would float dead that + very night in the Seine or in the Thames. The Germans have for the + time being "done-up" the Russians; but the French have shells + enough to plough the German trenches day and night (they've been at + it for a fortnight now); Joffre has been to see the Italian + generalissimo; and the English destroy German submarines now almost + as fast as the Germans send them out. I am credibly told that + several weeks ago a group of Admiralty men who are in the secret + had a little dinner to celebrate the destruction of the 50th + submarine. + + While this is going on, you are talking on your side of the water + about a change in German policy! The only change is that the number + of submarines available becomes smaller and smaller, and that they + wish to use Uncle Sam's broad, fat back to crawl down on when they + have failed. + + Consequently, they are laughing at Uncle Sam here--it comes near to + being ridicule, in fact, for seeming to jump at Bernstorff's + unfrank assurances. And, as I have telegraphed the President, + English opinion is--well, it is very nearly disrespectful. Men say + here (I mean our old friends) that with no disavowal of the + _Lusitania_, the _Falaba_, the _Gulflight_, or the _Arabic_ or of + the _Hesperian_, the Germans are "stuffing" Uncle Sam, that Uncle + Sam is in the clutches of the peace-at-any-price public opinion, + that the United States will suffer any insult and do nothing. I + hardly pick up a paper that does not have a sarcastic paragraph or + cartoon. We are on the brink of convincing the English that we'll + not act, whatever the provocation. By the English, I do not mean + the lighter, transitory public opinion, but I mean the thoughtful + men who do not wish us or expect us to fire a gun. They say that + the American democracy, since Cleveland's day, has become a mere + agglomeration of different races, without national unity, national + aims, and without courage or moral qualities. And (I deeply regret + to say) the President is losing here the high esteem he won by his + Panama tolls repeal. They ask, why on earth did he raise the issue + if under repeated provocation he is unable to recall Gerard or to + send Bernstorff home? The _Hesperian_ follows the _Arabic_; other + "liners" will follow the _Hesperian_, if the Germans have + submarines. And, when Sackville-West[6] was promptly sent home for + answering a private citizen's inquiry about the two political + parties, Dumba is (yet awhile) retained in spite of a far graver + piece of business. There is a tone of sad disappointment here--not + because the most thoughtful men want us in the war (they don't), + but because for some reason, which nobody here understands, the + President, having taken a stand, seems unable to do anything. + + All this is a moderate interpretation of sorrowful public opinion + here. And the result will inevitably be that they will pay far less + heed to anything we may hereafter say. In fact men now say here + every day that the American democracy has no opinion, can form no + opinion, has no moral quality, and that the word of its President + never gets as far as action even of the mildest form. The + atmosphere is very depressing. And this feeling has apparently got + beyond anybody's control. I've even heard this said: "The voice of + the United States is Mr. Wilson's: its actions are controlled by + Mr. Bryan." + + So, you see, the war will go on a long long time. So far as English + opinion is concerned, the United States is useful to make + ammunition and is now thought of chiefly in this connection. Less + and less attention is paid to what we say. Even the American + telegrams to the London papers have a languid tone. + + Yet recent revelations have made it clearer than ever that the same + qualities that the English accuse us of having are in them and that + these qualities are directly to blame for this war. I recall that + when I was in Germany a few weeks, six years ago, I became + convinced that Germany had prepared to fight England; I didn't + know when, but I did know that was what the war-machine had in + mind. Of course, I had no opportunities to find out anything in + particular. You were told practically that same thing by the + Kaiser, before the war began. "We are ready," said he. Of course + the English feared it and Sir Edward put his whole life into his + effort to prevent it. The day the war began, he told me with tears + that it seemed that his life had been wasted--that his life work + had gone for naught.--Nobody could keep from wondering why England + didn't-- + + (Here comes a parenthesis. Word came to me a little while ago that + a Zeppelin was on its way to London. Such a remark doesn't arouse + much attention. But just as I had finished the fifth line above + this, Frank and Mrs. Page came in and challenged me to play a game + of cards before we should go to bed. We sat down, the cards were + dealt, and bang! bang!--with the deep note of an explosion. A + third, a fourth shot. We went into the street. There the Zeppelin + was revealed by a searchlight--sailing along. I think it had + probably dropped its bombs; but the aircraft guns were cracking + away at it. Some of them shot explosive projectiles to find the + range. Now and then one such explosive would almost reach the + Zeppelin, but it was too high for them and it sailed away, the air + guns doing their ineffectual best. I couldn't see whether airplanes + were trying to shoot it or not. The searchlight revealed the + Zeppelin but nothing else.--While we were watching this battle in + the air, the maids came down from the top of the house and went + into the cellar. I think they've already gone back. You can't + imagine how little excitement it caused. It produces less fright + than any other conceivable engine of war. + + We came back as soon as the Zeppelin was out of sight and the + firing had ceased; we played our game of cards; and here I am + writing you the story-all within about half an hour.--There was a + raid over London last night, too, wherein a dozen or two women and + children and a few men were killed. I haven't the slightest idea + what harm this raid to-night has done. For all I know it may not be + all done. But of all imaginable war-experiences this seems the most + futile. It interrupted a game of cards for twenty minutes!) + + Now--to go on with my story: I have wondered ever since the war + began why the Allies were not better prepared--especially England + on land. England has just one _big_ land gun--no more. Now it has + turned out, as you have doubtless read, that the British Government + were as good as told by the German Government that Germany was + going to war pretty soon--this in 1912 when Lord Haldane[7] was + sent to make friends with Germany. + + The only answer he brought back was a proposition that England + should in any event remain neutral--stand aside while Germany + whipped Russia and France. This insulting proposal was kept secret + till the other day. Now, why didn't the British Cabinet inform the + people and get ready? They were afraid the English people wouldn't + believe it and would accuse them of fomenting war. The English + people were making money and pursuing their sports. Probably they + wouldn't have believed it. So the Liberal Cabinet went on in + silence, knowing that war was coming, but not exactly when it was + coming, and they didn't make even a second big gun. + + Now here was the same silence in this "democracy" that they now + complain of in ours. Rather an interesting and discouraging + parallel--isn't it? Public opinion has turned Lord Haldane out of + office because he didn't tell the public what he declares they + wouldn't have believed. If the English had raised an army in 1912, + and made a lot of big guns, Austria would not have trampled Serbia + in the earth. There would have been no war now; and the strong + European Powers might have made then the same sort of protective + peace-insurance combine that they will try to make after this war + is ended. Query: A democracy's inability to _act_--how much is this + apparently inherent quality of a democracy to blame for this war + and for--other things? + + When I am asked every day "Why the United States doesn't _do_ + something--send Dumba and Bernstorff home?"--Well, it is not the + easiest question in the world to answer. + + Yours heartily, + W.H.P. + + P.S. This is the most comical of all worlds: While I was writing + this, it seems the maids went back upstairs and lighted their + lights without pulling their shades down--they occupy three rooms, + in front. The doorbell rang furiously. Here were more than half a + dozen policemen and special constables--must investigate! "One + light would be turned on, another would go out; another one + on!"--etc., etc. Frank tackled them, told 'em it was only the maids + going to bed, forgetting to pull down the shades. Spies and + signalling were in the air! So, in the morning, I'll have to send + over to the Foreign Office and explain. The Zeppelin did more + "frightfulness" than I had supposed, after all. Doesn't this strike + you as comical? + + W.H.P. + + Friday, September 10, 1915. + + P.S. The news is just come that Dumba is dismissed. That will clear + the atmosphere--a little, but only a little. Dumba committed a + diplomatic offence. The German Government has caused the death of + United States citizens, has defied us, has declared it had changed + its policy and yet has gone on with the same old policy. Besides, + Bernstorff has done everything that Dumba did except employ + Archibald, which was a mere incident of the game. The President + took a strong stand: they have disregarded it--no apology nor + reparation for a single boat that has been sunk. Now the English + opinion of the Germans is hardly a calm, judicial opinion--of + course not. There may be facts that have not been made known. There + must be good reasons that nobody here can guess, why the President + doesn't act in the long succession of German acts against us. _But + I tell you with all solemnity that British opinion and the British + Government have absolutely lost their respect for us and their + former high estimate of the President. And that former respect is + gone for good unless he acts now very quickly_[8]. They will pay + nothing more than formal and polite attention to anything we may + hereafter say. This is not resentful. They don't particularly care + for us to get into the war. Their feeling (I mean among our best + old friends) is not resentful. It is simply sorrowful. They had the + highest respect for our people and our President. The Germans defy + us; we sit in silence. They conclude here that we'll submit to + anything from anybody. We'll write strong notes--nothing more. + + I can't possibly exaggerate the revulsion of feeling. Members of + the Government say (in private, of course) that we'll submit to any + insult. The newspapers refuse to publish articles which attempt to + make the President's silence reasonable. "It isn't defensible," + they say, "and they would only bring us thousands of insulting + letters from our readers." I can't think of a paper nor of a man + who has a good word to say for us--except, perhaps, a few Quaker + peace-at-any-price people. And our old friends are disappointed and + sorrowful. They feel that we have dropped out of a position of + influence in the world. + + I needn't and can't write more. Of course there are more important + things than English respect. But the English think that every Power + has lost respect for us--the Germans most of all. And (unless the + President acts very rigorously and very quickly) we'll have to get + along a long time without British respect. + + W.H.P. + + P.S. The last Zeppelin raid--which interrupted the game of + cards--killed more than twenty persons and destroyed more than + seven million dollars' worth of private business property--all + non-combatants! + + W.H.P. + + + _To Edward M. House_ + + 21st of September, 1915. + + DEAR HOUSE: + + The insulting cartoon that I enclose (destroy it without showing + it) is typical of, I suppose, five hundred that have appeared here + within a month. This represents the feeling and opinion of the + average man. They say we wrote brave notes and made courageous + demands, to none of which a satisfactory reply has come, but only + more outrages and no guarantee for the future. Yet we will not even + show our displeasure by sending Bernstorff home. We've simply + "gone out," like a snuffed candle, in the regard and respect of the + vast volume of British opinion. (The last _Punch_ had six + ridiculing allusions to our "fall.") + + It's the loneliest time I've had in England. There's a tendency to + avoid me. + + They can't understand here the continued declaration in the United + States that the British Government is trying to take our trade--to + use its blockade and navy with the direct purpose of giving British + trade profit out of American detentions. Of course, the Government + had no such purpose and has done no such thing--with any such + purpose. It isn't thinking about trade but only about war. + + The English think they see in this the effect on our Government and + on American opinion of the German propaganda. I have had this + trade-accusation investigated half a dozen times--the accusation + that this Government is using its military power for its own trade + advantage to our detriment: it simply isn't true. They stop our + cargoes, not for their advantage, but wholly to keep things from + the enemy. Study our own trade reports. + + In a word, our importers are playing (so the English think) + directly into the hands of the Germans. So matters go on from bad + to worse. + + Bryce[9] is very sad. He confessed to me yesterday the utter + hopelessness of the two people's ever understanding one another. + + The military situation is very blue--very blue. The general feeling + is that the long war will begin next March and end--nobody dares + predict. + + W.H.P. + + P.S. There's not a moral shadow of a doubt (1) that the commander + of the submarine that sunk the _Arabic_ is dead--although he makes + reports to his government! nor (2) that the _Hesperian_ was + torpedoed. The State Department has a piece of the torpedo. + + +V + +The letters which Page sent directly to the President were just as +frank. "Incidents occur nearly every day," he wrote to President Wilson +in the autumn of 1915, "which reveal the feeling that the Germans have +taken us in. Last week one of our naval men, Lieutenant McBride, who has +just been ordered home, asked the Admiralty if he might see the piece of +metal found on the deck of the _Hesperian_. Contrary to their habit, the +British officer refused. 'Take my word for it,' he said. 'She was +torpedoed. Why do you wish to investigate? Your country will do +nothing--will accept any excuse, any insult and--do nothing.' When +McBride told me this, I went at once to the Foreign Office and made a +formal request that this metal should be shown to our naval attaché, who +(since Symington is with the British fleet and McBride has been ordered +home) is Lieutenant Towers. Towers was sent for and everything that the +Admiralty knows was shown to him and I am sending that piece of metal by +this mail. But to such a pass has the usual courtesy of a British naval +officer come. There are many such instances of changed conduct. They are +not hard to endure nor to answer and are of no consequence in themselves +but only for what they denote. They're a part of war's bitterness. But +my mind runs ahead and I wonder how Englishmen will look at this subject +five years hence, and it runs afield and I wonder how the Germans will +regard it. A sort of pro-German American newspaper correspondent came +along the other day from the German headquarters; and he told me that +one of the German generals remarked to him: 'War with America? Ach no! +Not war. If trouble should come, we'd send over a platoon of our +policemen to whip your little army.' (He didn't say just how he'd send +'em.)" + + + _To the President_ + + American Embassy, London, Oct. 5, 1915. + + DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: + + I have two letters that I have lately written to you but which I + have not sent because they utterly lack good cheer. After reading + them over, I have not liked to send them. Yet I should fail of my + duty if I did not tell you bad news as well as good. + + The high esteem in which our Government was held when the first + _Lusitania_ note to Germany was sent seems all changed to + indifference or pity--not hatred or hostility, but a sort of + hopeless and sad pity. That ship was sunk just five months ago; the + German Government (or its Ambassador) is yet holding conversations + about the principle involved, making "concessions" and promises for + the future, and so far we have done nothing to hold the Germans to + accountability[10]. In the meantime their submarine fleet has been + so reduced that probably the future will take care of itself and we + shall be used as a sort of excuse for their failure. This is what + the English think and say; and they explain our failure to act by + concluding that the peace-at-any-price sentiment dominates the + Government and paralyzes it. They have now, I think, given up hope + that we will ever take any action. So deeply rooted (and, I fear, + permanent) is this feeling that every occurrence is made to fit + into and to strengthen this supposition. When Dumba was dismissed, + they said: "Dumba, merely the abject tool of German intrigue. Why + not Bernstorff?" When the Anglo-French loan[11] was oversubscribed, + they said: "The people's sympathy is most welcome, but their + Government is paralyzed." Their respect has gone--at least for the + time being. + + It is not that they expect us to go to war: many, in fact, do not + wish us to. They expected that we would be as good as our word and + hold the Germans to accountability. Now I fear they think little of + our word. I shudder to think what our relations might be if Sir + Edward Grey were to yield to another as Foreign Minister, as, of + course, he must yield at some time. + + The press has less to say than it had a few weeks ago. _Punch_, for + instance, which ridiculed and pitied us in six cartoons and + articles in each of two succeeding numbers, entirely forgets us + this week. But they've all said their say. I am, in a sense, + isolated--lonely in a way that I have never before been. I am not + exactly avoided, I hope, but I surely am not sought. They have a + polite feeling that they do not wish to offend me and that to make + sure of this the safest course is to let me alone. There is no + mistaking the great change in the attitude of men I know, both in + official and private life. + + It comes down and comes back to this--that for five months after + the sinking of the _Lusitania_ the Germans are yet playing with us, + that we have not sent Bernstorff home, and hence that we will + submit to any rebuff or any indignity. It is under these + conditions--under this judgment of us--that we now work--the + English respect for our Government indefinitely lessened and + instead of the old-time respect a sad pity. I cannot write more. + + Heartily yours, + WALTER H. PAGE. + + +"I have authoritatively heard," Page writes to President Wilson in early +September, "of a private conversation between a leading member of the +Cabinet and a group of important officials all friendly to us in which +all sorrowfully expressed the opinion that the United States will submit +to any indignity and that no effect is now to be hoped for from its +protests against unlawful submarine attacks or against anything else. +The inactivity of our Government, or its delay, which they assume is the +same as inactivity, is attributed to domestic politics or to the lack of +national, consciousness or unity. + +"No explanation has appeared in the British press of our Government's +inactivity or of any regret or promise of reparation by Germany for the +sinking of the _Lusitania_, the _Falaba_, the _Gulflight_, the +_Nebraskan_, the _Arabic_, or the _Hesperian_, nor any explanation of a +week's silence about the Dumba letter; and the conclusion is drawn that, +in the absence of action by us, all these acts have been practically +condoned. + +"I venture to suggest that such explanations be made public as will +remove, if possible, the practically unanimous conclusion here that our +Government will permit these and similar future acts to be explained +away. I am surprised almost every hour by some new evidence of the loss +of respect for our Government, which, since the sinking of the _Arabic_, +has become so great as to warrant calling it a complete revulsion of +English feeling toward the United States. There is no general wish for +us to enter the war, but there is genuine sorrow that we are thought to +submit to any indignity, especially after having taken a firm stand. I +conceive I should be lacking in duty if I did not report this rapid and +unfortunate change in public feeling, which seems likely to become +permanent unless facts are quickly made public which may change it." + + * * * * * + +There are many expressions of such feelings in Page's letters of this +time. They brought only the most perfunctory acknowledgment from the +White House. On January 3, 1916, Page sent the President a mass of +clippings from the British press, all criticizing the Wilson +Administration in unrestrained terms. In his comment on these, he writes +the President: + +"Public opinion, both official and unofficial, is expressed by these +newspaper comments, with far greater restraint than it is expressed in +private conversation. Ridicule of the Administration runs through the +programmes of the theatres; it inspires hundreds of cartoons; it is a +staple of conversation at private dinners and in the clubs. The most +serious class of Englishmen, including the best friends of the United +States, feel that the Administration's reliance on notes has reduced our +Government to a third-or fourth-rate power. There is even talk of +spheres of German influence in the United States as in China. No +government could fall lower in English opinion than we shall fall if +more notes are sent to Austria or to Germany. The only way to keep any +shred of English respect is the immediate dismissal without more +parleying of every German and Austrian official at Washington. Nobody +here believes that such an act would provoke war. + +"I can do no real service by mincing matters. My previous telegrams and +letters have been purposely restrained as this one is. We have now come +to the parting of the ways. If English respect be worth preserving at +all, it can be preserved only by immediate action. Any other course than +immediate severing of diplomatic relations with both Germany and Austria +will deepen the English opinion into a conviction that the +Administration was insincere when it sent the _Lusitania_ notes and that +its notes and protests need not be taken seriously on any subject. And +English opinion is allied opinion. The Italian Ambassador[12] said to +me, 'What has happened? The United States of to-day is not the United +States I knew fifteen years ago, when I lived in Washington.' French +officers and members of the Government who come here express themselves +even more strongly than do the British. The British newspapers to-day +publish translations of ridicule of the United States from German +papers." + + + _To the President_ + + London, + January 5, 1916. + + DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: + + I wish--an impossible thing of course--that some sort of guidance + could be given to the American correspondents of the English + newspapers. Almost every day they telegraph about the visits of the + Austrian Chargé or the German Ambassador to the State Department to + assure Mr. Lansing that their governments will of course make a + satisfactory explanation of the latest torpedo-act in the + Mediterranean or to "take one further step in reaching a + satisfactory understanding about the _Lusitania_." They usually go + on to say also that more notes are in preparation to Germany or to + Austria. The impression made upon the European mind is that the + German and Austrian officials in Washington are leading the + Administration on to endless discussion, endless notes, endless + hesitation. Nobody in Europe regards their pledges or promises as + worth anything at all: the _Arabic_ follows the _Lusitania_, the + _Hesperian_ follows the _Arabic_, the _Persia_ follows the + _Ancona_. "Still conferences and notes continue," these people say, + "proving that the American Government, which took so proper and + high a stand in the _Lusitania_ notes, is paralyzed--in a word is + hoodwinked and 'worked' by the Germans." And so long as these + diplomatic representatives are permitted to remain in the United + States, "to explain," "to parley" and to declare that the + destruction of American lives and property is disavowed by their + governments, atrocities on sea and land will of course continue; + and they feel that our Government, by keeping these German and + Austrian representatives in Washington, condones and encourages + them and their governments. + + This is a temperate and even restrained statement of the English + feeling and (as far as I can make out) of the whole European + feeling. + + It has been said here that every important journal published in + neutral or allied European countries, daily, weekly, or monthly, + which deals with public affairs, has expressed a loss of respect + for the United States Government and that most of them make + continuous severe criticisms (with surprise and regret) of our + failure by action to live up to the level of our _Lusitania_ notes. + I had (judiciously) two American journalists, resident here--men of + judgment and character--to inquire how true this declaration is. + After talking with neutral and allied journalists here and with men + whose business it is to read the journals of the Continent, they + reported that this declaration is substantially true--that the + whole European press (outside Germany and its allies) uses the same + tone toward our Government that the English press uses--to-day, + disappointment verging on contempt; and many of them explain our + keeping diplomatic intercourse with Germany by saying that we are + afraid of the German vote, or of civil war, or that the + peace-at-any-price people really rule the United States and have + paralyzed our power to act--even to cut off diplomatic relations + with governments that have insulted and defied us. + + Another (similar) declaration is that practically all men of public + influence in England and in the European allied and neutral + countries have publicly or privately expressed themselves to the + same effect. The report that I have about this is less definite + than about the newspapers, for, of course, no one can say just what + proportion of men of public influence have so expressed themselves; + but the number who have so expressed themselves is overwhelming. + + In this Kingdom, where I can myself form some opinion more or less + accurate, and where I can check or verify my opinion by various + methods--I am afraid, as I have frequently already reported, that + the generation now living will never wholly regain the respect for + our Government that it had a year ago. I will give you three little + indications of this feeling; it would be easy to write down + hundreds of them: + + (One) The governing class: Mr. X [a cabinet member] told Mrs. Page + a few nights ago that for sentimental reasons only he would be + gratified to see the United States in the war along with the + Allies, but that merely sentimental reasons were not a sufficient + reason for war--by no means; that he felt most grateful for the + sympathetic attitude of the large mass of the American people, that + he had no right to expect anything from our Government, whose + neutral position was entirely proper. Then he added; "But what I + can't for the life of me understand is your Government's failure + to express its disapproval of the German utter disregard of its + _Lusitania_ notes. After eight months, it has done nothing but + write more notes. My love for America, I must confess, is offended + at this inaction and--puzzled. I can't understand it. You will + pardon me, I am sure." + + (Two) "Middle Class" opinion: A common nickname for Americans in + the financial and newspaper districts of London is "Too-prouds." + + (Three) The man in the street: At one of the moving picture shows + in a large theatre a little while ago they filled in an interval by + throwing on the screen the picture of the monarch, or head of + state, and of the flag of each of the principal nations. When the + American picture appeared, there was such hissing and groaning as + caused the managers hastily to move that picture off the screen. + + Some time ago I wrote House of some such incidents and expressions + as these; and he wrote me that they were only part and parcel of + the continuous British criticism of their own Government--in other + words, a part of the passing hysteria of war. This remark shows how + House was living in an atmosphere of illusion. + + As the matter stands to-day our Government has sunk lower, as + regards British and European opinion, than it has ever been in our + time, not as a part of the hysteria of war but as a result of this + process of reasoning, whether it be right or wrong: + + We said that we should hold the Germans to strict accountability on + account of the _Lusitania_. We have not settled that yet and we + still allow the German Ambassador to discuss it after the + _Hesperian_ and other such acts showed that his _Arabic_ pledge was + worthless. + + The _Lusitania_ grows larger and larger in European memory and + imagination. It looks as if it would become the great type of war + atrocities and barbarities. I have seen pictures of the drowned + women and children used even on Christmas cards. And there is + documentary proof in our hands that the warning, which was really + an advance announcement, of that disaster was paid for by the + German Ambassador and charged to his Government. It is the + _Lusitania_ that has caused European opinion to regard our foreign + policy as weak. It is not the wish for us to go to war. No such + general wish exists. + + I do not know, Mr. President, who else, if anybody, puts these + facts before you with this complete frankness. But I can do no less + and do my duty. + + No Englishman--except two who were quite intimate friends--has + spoken to me about our Government for months, but I detect all the + time a tone of pity and grief in their studied courtesy and in + their avoidance of the subject. And they talk with every other + American in this Kingdom. It is often made unpleasant for Americans + in the clubs and in the pursuit of their regular business and + occupations; and it is always our inaction about the _Lusitania_. + Our controversy with the British Government causes little feeling + and that is a sort of echo of the _Lusitania_. They feel that we + have not lived up to our promises and professions. + + That is the whole story. + + Believe me always heartily, + WALTER H. PAGE. + + * * * * * + +This dismissal of Dumba and of the Attachés has had little more effect +on opinion here than the dismissal of the Turkish Ambassador[13]. +Sending these was regarded as merely kicking the dogs of the man who +had stolen our sheep. + + +VI + +One of the reasons why Page felt so intensely about American policy at +this time was his conviction that the severance of diplomatic relations, +in the latter part of 1915, or the early part of 1916, in itself would +have brought the European War to an end. This was a conviction from +which he never departed. Count Bernstorff was industriously creating the +impression in the United States that his dismissal would immediately +cause war between Germany and the United States, and there is little +doubt that the Administration accepted this point of view. But Page +believed that this was nothing but Prussian bluff. The severance of +diplomatic relations at that time, in Page's opinion, would have +convinced the Germans of the hopelessness of their cause. In spite of +the British blockade, Germany was drawing enormous quantities of food +supplies from the United States, and without these supplies she could +not maintain indefinitely her resistance. The severance of diplomatic +relations would naturally have been accompanied by an embargo suspending +trade between the United States and the Fatherland. Moreover, the +consideration that was mainly leading Germany to hope for success was +the belief that she could embroil the United States and Great Britain +over the blockade. A break with Germany would of course mean an end to +that manoeuvre. Page regarded all Mr. Wilson's attempts to make peace in +1914 and early 1915--before the _Lusitania_--as mistakes, for reasons +that have already been set forth. Now, however, he believed that the +President had a real opportunity to end the war and the unparalleled +suffering which it was causing. The mere dismissal of Bernstorff, in +the Ambassador's opinion, would accomplish this result. + +In a communication sent to the President on February 15, 1916, he made +this plain. + + + _To the President_ + + February 15, 7 P.M. + + The Cabinet has directed the Censor to suppress, as far as he can + with prudence, comment which is unfavourable to the United States. + He has taken this action because the public feeling against the + Administration is constantly increasing. Because the _Lusitania_ + controversy has been going on so long, and because the Germans are + using it in their renewed U-boat campaign, the opinion of this + country has reached a point where only prompt action can bring a + turn in the tide. Therefore my loyalty to you would not be complete + if I should refrain from sending, in the most respectful terms, the + solemn conviction which I hold about our opportunity and our duty. + + If you immediately refuse to have further parley or to yield one + jot or tittle of your original _Lusitania_ notes, and if you at + once break diplomatic relations with the German Empire, and then + declare the most vigorous embargo of the Central Powers, you will + quickly end the war. There will be an immediate collapse in German + credit. If there are any Allies who are wavering, such action will + hold them in line. Certain European neutrals--Sweden, Rumania, + Greece, and others--will put up a firm resistance to Germanic + influences and certain of them will take part with Great Britain + and France. There will be an end at once to the German propaganda, + which is now world-wide. The moral weight of our country will be a + determining influence and bring an early peace. The credit you + will receive for such a decision will make you immortal and even + the people of Germany will be forever grateful. + + It is my conviction that we would not be called upon to fire a gun + or to lose one human life. + + Above all, such an action will settle the whole question of + permanent peace. The absolute and grateful loyalty of the whole + British Empire, of the British Fleet, and of all the Allied + countries will be ours. The great English-speaking nations will be + able to control the details of the peace and this without any + formal alliance. There will be an incalculable saving of human life + and of treasure. Such an act will make it possible for Germany to + give in honourably and with good grace because the whole world will + be against her. Her bankrupt and blockaded people will bring such + pressure to bear that the decision will be hastened. + + The sympathies of the American people will be brought in line with + the Administration. + + If we settle the _Lusitania_ question by compromising in any way + your original demands, or if we permit it to drag on longer, + America can have no part in bringing the war to an end. The current + of allied opinion will run so strongly against the Administration + that no censorship and no friendly interference by an allied + government can stem the distrust of our Government which is now so + strong in Europe. + + We shall gain by any further delay only a dangerous, thankless, and + opulent isolation. The _Lusitania_ is the turning point in our + history. The time to act is now. + + PAGE. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: The Ambassador's granddaughter.] + +[Footnote 2: "A Cycle of Adams Letters, 1861-1865," edited by +Worthington Chauncey Ford. Vol. I, p. 84.] + +[Footnote 3: "The Life and Letters of John Hay," by William Roscoe +Thayer. Vol. II, p. 166.] + +[Footnote 4: On September 6th, certain documents seriously compromising +Dr. Constantin Dumba, Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, +were published in the British press. They disclosed that Dr. Dumba was +fomenting strikes in the United States and conducting other intrigues. +The American Government gave Dr. Dumba his passports on September 17th.] + +[Footnote 5: August 26th, Count Bernstorff gave a pledge to the United +States Government, that, in future, German submarines would not attack +liners without warning. This promise was almost immediately violated.] + +[Footnote 6: Sir Lionel Sackville-West was British Minister to the +United States from 1881 to 1888. In the latter year a letter was +published which he had written to an American citizen of British origin, +the gist of which was that the reëlection of President Cleveland would +be of advantage to British interests. For this gross interference in +American domestic affairs, President Cleveland immediately handed Sir +Lionel his passports. The incident ended his diplomatic career.] + +[Footnote 7: In this passage the Ambassador touches on one of the +bitterest controversies of the war. In order completely to understand +the issues involved and to obtain Lord Haldane's view, the reader should +consult the very valuable book recently published by Lord Haldane: +"Before the War." Chapter II tells the story of Lord Haldane's visit to +the Kaiser, and succeeding chapters give the reasons why the creation of +a huge British army in preparation for the war was not a simple matter.] + +[Footnote 8: The italics are Page's.] + +[Footnote 9: Viscount Bryce, author of "The American Commonwealth" and +British Ambassador to the United States, 1907-1913.] + +[Footnote 10: In a communication sent February 10, 1915, President +Wilson warned the German Government that he would hold it to a "strict +accountability" for the loss of American lives by illegal submarine +attack.] + +[Footnote 11: A reference to the Anglo-French loan for $500,000,000, +placed in the United States in the autumn of 1915.] + +[Footnote 12: The Marquis Imperiali.] + +[Footnote 13: Rustem Bey, the Turkish Ambassador to the United States, +was sent home early in the war, for publishing indiscreet newspaper and +magazine articles.] + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE AMBASSADOR AND THE LAWYERS + + +References in the foregoing letters show that Page was still having his +troubles over the blockade. In the latter part of 1915, indeed, the +negotiations with Sir Edward Grey on this subject had reached their +second stage. The failure of Washington to force upon Great Britain an +entirely new code of naval warfare--the Declaration of London--has +already been described. This failure had left both the British Foreign +Office and the American State Department in an unsatisfactory frame of +mind. The Foreign Office regarded Washington with suspicion, for the +American attempt to compel Great Britain to adopt a code of naval +warfare which was exceedingly unfavourable to that country and +exceedingly favourable to Germany, was susceptible of a sinister +interpretation. The British rejection of these overtures, on the other +hand, had evidently irritated the international lawyers at Washington. +Mr. Lansing now abandoned his efforts to revolutionize maritime warfare +and confined himself to specific protests and complaints. His +communications to the London Embassy dealt chiefly with particular ships +and cargoes. Yet his persistence in regarding all these problems from a +strictly legalistic point of view Page regarded as indicating a +restricted sense of statesmanship. + + _To Edward M. House_ + + London, August 4, 1915. + + MY DEAR HOUSE: + + ... The lawyer-way in which the Department goes on in its dealings + with Great Britain is losing us the only great international + friendship that we have any chance of keeping or that is worth + having. Whatever real principle we have to uphold with Great + Britain--that's all right. I refer only to the continuous series of + nagging incidents--always criticism, criticism, criticism of small + points--points that we have to yield at last, and never anything + constructive. I'll illustrate what I mean by a few incidents that I + can recall from memory. If I looked up the record, I should find a + very, very much larger list. + + (1) We insisted and insisted and insisted, not once but half a + dozen times, at the very beginning of the war, on England's + adoption of the Declaration of London entire in spite of the fact + that Parliament had distinctly declined to adopt it. Of course we + had to give in--after we had produced a distinctly unfriendly + atmosphere and much feeling. + + (2) We denied the British right to put copper on the contraband + list--much to their annoyance. Of course we had at last to + acquiesce. They were within their rights. + + (3) We protested against bringing ships into port to examine them. + Of course we had to give in--after producing irritation. + + (4) We made a great fuss about stopped telegrams. We have no case + at all; but, even after acknowledging that we have no case, every + Pouch continues to bring telegrams with the request that I ask an + explanation why they were stopped. Such explanations are + practically refused. I have 500 telegrams. Periodically I wire the + state of the case and ask for more specific instructions. I never + get an answer to these requests. But the Department continues to + send the telegrams! We confessedly have no case here; and this + method can produce nothing but irritation. + + I could extend this list to 100 examples--of mere lawyer-like + methods--mere useless technicalities and objections which it is + obvious in the beginning cannot be maintained. A similar method is + now going on about cotton. Now this is not the way Sir Edward Grey + takes up business. It's not the way I've done business all my life, + nor that you have, nor other frank men who mean what they say and + do not say things they do not mean. The constant continuation of + this method is throwing away the real regard and confidence of the + British Government and of the British public--very fast, too. + + I sometimes wish there were not a lawyer in the world. I heard the + President say once that it took him twenty years to recover from + his legal habit of mind. Well, his Administration is suffering from + it to a degree that is pathetic and that will leave bad results for + 100 years. + + I suspect that in spite of all the fuss we have made we shall at + last come to acknowledge the British blockade; for it is pretty + nearly parallel to the United States blockade of the South during + our Civil War. The only difference is--they can't make the blockade + of the Baltic against the traffic from the Scandinavian neutral + states effective. That's a good technical objection; but, since + practically all the traffic between those States and Germany is in + our products, much of the real force of it is lost. + + If a protest is made against cotton being made contraband--it'll + amount to nothing and give only irritation. It will only play into + Hoke Smith[14]--German hands and accomplish nothing here. We make + as much fuss about points which we have silently to yield later as + about a real principle. Hence they all say that the State + Department is merely captious, and they pay less and less attention + to it and care less and less for American opinion--if only they can + continue to get munitions. We are reducing English regard to this + purely mercenary basis.... + + We are--under lawyers' quibbling--drifting apart very rapidly, to + our complete isolation from the sympathy of the whole world. + + Yours forever sincerely, + + W.H.P. + +Page refers in this letter to the "blockade"; this was the term which +the British Government itself used to describe its restrictive measures +against German commerce, and it rapidly passed into common speech. Yet +the truth is that Great Britain never declared an actual blockade +against Germany. A realization of this fact will clear up much that is +obscure in the naval warfare of the next two years. At the beginning of +the Civil War, President Lincoln laid an interdict on all the ports of +the Confederacy; the ships of all nations were forbidden entering or +leaving them: any ship which attempted to evade this restriction, and +was captured doing so, was confiscated, with its cargo. That was a +blockade, as the term has always been understood. A blockade, it is well +to keep in mind, is a procedure which aims at completely closing the +blockaded country from all commercial intercourse with the world. A +blockading navy, if the blockade is successful, or "effective," +converts the whole country into a beleaguered fortress, just as an army, +surrounding a single town, prevents goods and people from entering or +leaving it. Precisely as it is the purpose of a besieging army to starve +a particular city or territory into submission, so it is the aim of a +blockading fleet to enforce the same treatment on the nation as a whole. +It is also essential to keep in mind that the question of contraband has +nothing to do with a blockade, for, under this drastic method of making +warfare, everything is contraband. Contraband is a term applied to +cargoes, such as rifles, machine guns, and the like, which are needed in +the prosecution of war. + +That a belligerent nation has the right to intercept such munitions on +the way to its enemy has been admitted for centuries. Differences of +opinion have raged only as to the extent to which this right could be +carried--the particular articles, that is, that constituted contraband, +and the methods adopted in exercising it. But the important point to be +kept in mind is that where there is a blockade, there is no contraband +list--for everything automatically becomes contraband. The seizure of +contraband on the high seas is a war measure which is availed of only in +cases in which the blockade has not been established. + +Great Britain, when she declared war on Germany, did not follow +President Lincoln's example and lay the whole of the German coast under +interdict. Perhaps one reason for this inaction was a desire not unduly +to offend neutrals, especially the United States; but the more impelling +motive was geographical. The fact is that a blockade of the German +seacoast would accomplish little in the way of keeping materials out of +Germany. A glance at the map of northwestern Europe will make this fact +clear. In the first place the seacoast of Germany is a small affair. In +the North Sea the German coast is a little indentation, not more than +two hundred miles long, wedged in between the longer coastlines of +Holland and Denmark; in the Baltic it is somewhat more extensive, but +the entrances to this sea are so circuitous and treacherous that the +suggestion of a blockade here is not a practicable one. The greatest +ports of Germany are located on this little North Sea coastline or on +its rivers--Hamburg and Bremen. It might therefore be assumed that any +nation which successfully blockaded these North Sea ports would have +strangled the commerce of Germany. That is far from being the case. The +point is that the political boundaries of Germany are simply fictions, +when economic considerations are involved. Holland, on the west, and +Denmark, on the north, are as much a part of the German transportation +system as though these two countries were parts of the German Empire. +Their territories and the territories of Germany are contiguous; the +railroad and the canal systems of Germany, Holland, and Denmark are +practically one. Such ports as Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen are +just as useful to Germany for purposes of commerce as are Hamburg and +Bremen, and, in fact, a special commercial arrangement with Rotterdam +has made that city practically a port of Germany since 1868. These +considerations show how ineffective would be a blockade of the German +coast which did not also comprehend the coast of Holland and Denmark. +Germany could still conduct her commerce through these neighbouring +countries. And at this point the great difficulty arose. A blockade is +an act of war and can be applied only to a country upon which war has +been declared. Great Britain had declared war on Germany and could +therefore legally close her ports; she had not declared war on Holland +and Denmark, and therefore could not use the same measure against those +friendly countries. Consequently the blockade was useless to Great +Britain; and so, in the first six months of the war, the Admiralty fell +back upon the milder system of declaring certain articles contraband of +war and seizing ships that were suspected of carrying them to Germany. + +A geographical accident had apparently largely destroyed the usefulness +of the British fleet and had guaranteed Germany an unending supply of +those foodstuffs without which she could not maintain her resistance for +any extended period. Was Great Britain called upon to accept this +situation and to deny herself the use of the blockade in this, the +greatest struggle in her history? Unless the British fleet could stop +cargoes which were really destined to Germany but which were bound for +neutral ports, Great Britain could not win the war; if the British fleet +could intercept such cargoes, then the chances strongly favoured +victory. The experts of the Foreign Office searched the history of +blockades and found something which resembled a precedent in the +practices of the American Navy during the Civil War. In that conflict +Nassau, in the Bahamas, and Matamoros, in Mexico, played a part not +unlike that played by Rotterdam and Copenhagen in the recent struggle. +These were both neutral ports and therefore outside the jurisdiction of +the United States, just as Rotterdam and Copenhagen were outside the +jurisdiction of Great Britain. They were the ports of powers with which +the United States was at peace, and therefore they could not be +blockaded, just as Amsterdam and Copenhagen were ports of powers with +which Great Britain was now at peace. + +Trade from Great Britain to the Bahamas and Mexico was ostensibly trade +from one neutral port to another neutral port in the same sense as was +trade from the United States to Holland and Denmark. Yet the fact is +that the "neutrality" of this trade, in the Civil War, from Great +Britain to the Bahamas and Mexico, was the most transparent subterfuge; +such trade was not "neutral" in the slightest degree. It consisted +almost entirely of contraband of war and was intended for the armies of +the Confederate States, then in arms against the Federal Government. +What is the reason, our Government asked, that these gentle and +unwarlike inhabitants of the Bahamas have so suddenly developed such an +enormous appetite for percussion caps, rifles, cannon, and other +instruments of warfare? The answer, of course, lay upon the surface; the +cargoes were intended for reshipment into the Southern States, and they +were, in fact, immediately so reshipped. The American Government, which +has always regarded realities as more important than logic, brushed +aside the consideration that this trade was conducted through neutral +ports, unhesitatingly seized these ships and condemned both the ships +and their cargoes. Its action was without legal precedent, but our +American courts devised a new principle of international law to cover +the case--that of "continuous voyage" or "ultimate destination." Under +this new doctrine it was maintained that cargoes of contraband could be +seized anywhere upon the high seas, even though they were going from one +neutral port to another, if it could be demonstrated that this +contraband was really on its way to the enemy. The mere fact that it was +transshipped at an intermediate neutral port was not important; the +important point was the "ultimate destination." British shippers +naturally raged over these decisions, but they met with little sympathy +from their own government. Great Britain filed no protest against the +doctrine of "continuous voyage," but recognized its fundamental +soundness, and since 1865 this doctrine has been a part of international +law. + +Great Britain's good sense in acquiescing in our Civil War practices now +met its reward; for these decisions of American courts proved a godsend +in her hour of trial. The one neutral from which trouble was anticipated +was the United States. What better way to meet this situation than to +base British maritime warfare upon the decisions of American courts? +What more ideal solution of the problem than to make Chief Justice +Chase, of the United States Supreme Court, really the author of the +British "blockade" against Germany? The policy of the British Foreign +Office was to use the sea power of Great Britain to crush the enemy, but +to do it in a way that would not alienate American sympathy and American +support; clearly the one way in which both these ends could be attained +was to frame these war measures upon the pronouncements of American +prize courts. In a broad sense this is precisely what Sir Edward Grey +now proceeded to do. There was a difference, of course, which Great +Britain's enemies in the American Senate--such men as Senator Hoke +Smith, of Georgia, and Senator Thomas Walsh, of Montana--proceeded to +point out; but it was a difference of degree. Great Britain based her +blockade measures upon the American principle of "ultimate destination," +but it was necessary considerably to extend that doctrine in order to +meet the necessities of the new situation. President Lincoln had applied +this principle to absolute contraband, such as powder, shells, rifles, +and other munitions of war. Great Britain now proceeded to apply it to +that nebulous class of commodities known as "conditional contraband," +the chief of which was foodstuffs. If the United States, while a war was +pending, could evolve the idea of "ultimate destination" and apply it +to absolute contraband, could not Great Britain, while another war was +pending, carry it one degree further and make it include conditional +contraband? Thus reasoned the British Foreign Office. To this Mr. +Lansing replied that to stop foodstuffs on the way to Germany through a +neutral port was simply to blockade a neutral port, and that this was +something utterly without precedent. Seizing contraband is not an act of +war against the nation whose ships are seized; blockading a port is an +act of war; what right therefore had Great Britain to adopt measures +against Holland, Denmark, and Sweden which virtually amounted to a +blockade? + +This is the reason why Great Britain, in the pronouncement of March 1, +1915, and the Order in Council of March 11, 1915, did not describe these +measures as a "blockade." President Wilson described his attack on +Mexico in 1914 as "measures short of war," and now someone referred to +the British restrictions on neutral commerce as "measures short of +blockade." The British sought another escape from their predicament by +justifying this proceeding, not on the general principles of warfare, +but on the ground of reprisal. Germany declared her submarine warfare on +merchant ships on February 4, 1915; Great Britain replied with her +announcement of March 1st, in which she declared her intention of +preventing "commodities of any kind from reaching or leaving Germany." +The British advanced this procedure as a retaliation for the illegal +warfare which Germany had declared on merchant shipping, both that of +the enemy and of neutrals. "The British and French governments will +therefore hold themselves free to detain and take into port ships +carrying goods of presumed enemy destination, ownership, and origin." +This sentence accurately describes the purposes of a blockade--to cut +the enemy off from all commercial relations with the outside world; yet +the procedure Great Britain now proposed to follow was not that of a +blockade. When this interdict is classically laid, any ship that +attempts to run the lines is penalized with confiscation, along with its +cargo; but such a penalty was not to be exacted in the present instance. +Great Britain now proposed to purchase cargoes of conditional contraband +discovered on seized ships and return the ships themselves to their +owners, and this soon became the established practice. Not only did the +Foreign Office purchase all cotton which was seized on its way to +Germany, but it took measures to maintain the price in the markets of +the world. In the succeeding months Southern statesmen in both Houses of +Congress railed against the British seizure of their great staple, yet +the fact was that cotton was all this time steadily advancing in price. +When Senator Hoke Smith made a long speech advocating an embargo on the +shipment of munitions as a punishment to Great Britain for stopping +American cotton on the way to Germany, the acute John Sharp Williams, of +Mississippi, arose in the Senate and completely annihilated the Georgia +politician by demonstrating how the Southern planters were growing rich +out of the war. + +That the so-called "blockade" situation was a tortuous one must be +apparent from this attempt to set forth the salient facts. The basic +point was that there could be no blockade of Germany unless the neutral +ports of contiguous countries were also blockaded, and Great Britain +believed that she had found a precedent for doing this in the operations +of the American Navy in the Civil War. But it is obvious that the +situation was one which would provide a great feast for the lawyers. +That Page sympathized with this British determination to keep foodstuffs +out of Germany, his correspondence shows. Day after day the "protests" +from Washington rained upon his desk. The history of our foreign +relations for 1915 and 1916 is largely made up of an interminable +correspondence dealing with seized cargoes, and the routine of the +Embassy was an unending nightmare of "demands," "complaints," +"precedents," "cases," "notes," "detentions" of Chicago meats, of +Southern cotton, and the like. The American Embassy in London contains +hundreds of volumes of correspondence which took place during Page's +incumbency; more material has accumulated for those five years than for +the preceding century and a quarter of the Government's existence. The +greater part of this mass deals with intercepted cargoes. + +The following extract from a letter which Page wrote at this time gives +a fair idea of the atmosphere that prevailed in London while this +correspondence was engaging the Ambassador's mind: + + The truth is, in their present depressed mood, the United States is + forgotten--everything's forgotten but the one great matter in hand. + For the moment at least, the English do not care what we do or what + we think or whether we exist--except those critics of + things-in-general who use us as a target since they must take a + crack at somebody. And I simply cannot describe the curious effect + that is produced on men here by the apparent utter lack of + understanding in the United States of the phase the war has now + entered and of the mood that this phase has brought. I pick up an + American paper eight days old and read solemn evidence to show that + the British Government is interrupting our trade in order to + advance its own at our expense, whereas the truth is that the + British Government hasn't given six seconds' thought in six months + to anybody's trade--not even its own. When I am asked to inquire + why Pfister and Schmidt's telegram from New York to Schimmelpfenig + and Johann in Holland was stopped (the reason is reasonably + obvious), I try to picture to myself the British Minister in + Washington making inquiry of our Government on the day after Bull + Run, why the sailing boat loaded with persimmon blocks to make golf + clubs is delayed in Hampton Roads. + + I think I have neither heard nor read anything from the United + States in three months that didn't seem so remote as to suggest the + captain of the sailing ship from Hongkong who turned up at + Southampton in February and had not even heard that there was a + war. All day long I see and hear women who come to ask if I can + make inquiry about their sons and husbands, "dead or missing," with + an interval given to a description of a man half of whose body was + splashed against a brick wall last night on the Strand when a + Zeppelin bomb tore up the street and made projectiles of the + pavement; as I walk to and from the Embassy the Park is full of + wounded and their nurses; every man I see tells me of a new death; + every member of the Government talks about military events or of + Balkan venality; the man behind the counter at the cigar store + reads me part of a letter just come from his son, telling how he + advanced over a pile of dead Germans and one of them grunted and + turned under his feet-they (the English alone) are spending + $25,000,000 a day to keep this march going over dead Germans; then + comes a telegram predicting blue ruin for American importers and a + cheerless Christmas for American children if a cargo of German toys + be not quickly released at Rotterdam, and I dimly recall the + benevolent unction with which American children last Christmas sent + a shipload of toys to this side of the world--many of them for + German children--to the tune of "God bless us all"--do you wonder + we often have to pinch ourselves to find out if we are we; and + what year of the Lord is it? What is the vital thing--the killing + of fifty people last night by a Zeppelin within sight of St. Paul's + on one side and of Westminster Abbey on the other, or is it making + representations to Sir Edward Grey, who has hardly slept for a week + because his despatches from Sofia, Athens, Belgrade, and Salonika + come at all hours, each possibly reporting on which side a new + government may throw its army--to decide perhaps the fate of the + canal leading to Asia, the vast British Asiatic empire at stake--is + it making representations to Sir Edward while his mind is thus + occupied, that it is of the greatest importance to the United + States Government that a particular German who is somewhere in this + Kingdom shall be permitted to go to the United States because he + knows how to dye sealskins and our sealskins are yet undyed and the + winter is coming? There will be no new sealskins here, for every + man and woman must give half his income to keep the cigarman's son + marching over dead Germans, some of whom grunt and turn under his + feet. Dumba is at Falmouth to-day and gets just two lines in the + newspapers. Nothing and nobody gets three lines unless he or it in + some way furthers the war. Every morning the Washington despatches + say that Mr. Lansing is about to send a long note to England. + England won't read it till there comes a lull in the fighting or in + the breathless diplomatic struggle with the Balkans. London and the + Government are now in much the same mood that Washington and + Lincoln's administration were in after Lee had crossed the Potomac + on his way to Gettysburg. Northcliffe, the Lord of Yellow Journals, + but an uncommonly brilliant fellow, has taken to his bed from sheer + nervous worry. "The revelations that are imminent," says he, "will + shake the world--the incompetence of the Government, the losses + along the Dardanelles, the throwing away of British chances in the + Balkans, perhaps the actual defeat of the Allies." I regard Lord + Northcliffe less as an entity than as a symptom. But he is always + very friendly to us and he knows the United States better than any + Englishman that I know except Bryce. He and Bryce are both much + concerned about our Note's coming just "at this most distressing + time." "If it come when we are calmer, no matter; but now it cannot + receive attention and many will feel that the United States has hit + on a most unhappy moment--almost a cruel moment--to remind us of + our sins."--That's the substance of what they say. + + Overwork, or perhaps mainly the indescribable strain on the nerves + and vitality of men, caused by this experience, for which in fact + men are not built, puts one of our staff after another in bed. None + has been seriously sick: the malady takes some form of "grip." On + the whole we've been pretty lucky in spite of this almost regular + temporary breakdown of one man after another. I've so far escaped. + But I am grieved to hear that Whitlock is abed--"no physical + ailment whatever--just worn out," his doctor says. I have tried to + induce him and his wife to come here and make me a visit; but one + characteristic of this war-malady is the conviction of the victim + that he is somehow necessary to hold the world together. About + twice a week I get to the golf links and take the risk of the + world's falling apart and thus escape both illness and its + illusions. + +"I cannot begin to express my deep anxiety and even uneasiness about the +relations of these two great governments and peoples," Page wrote about +this time. "The friendship of the United States and Great Britain is +all that now holds the world together. It is the greatest asset of +civilization left. All the cargoes of copper and oil in the world are +not worth as much to the world. Yet when a shipper's cargo is held up he +does not think of civilization and of the future of mankind and of free +government; he thinks only of his cargo and of the indignity that he +imagines has been done him; and what is the American Government for if +not to protect his rights? Of course he's right; but there must be +somebody somewhere who sees things in their right proportion. The man +with an injury rushes to the Department of State--quite properly. He is +in a mood to bring England to book. Now comes the critical stage in the +journey of his complaint. The State Department hurries it on to me--very +properly; every man's right must be guarded and defended--a right to get +his cargo to market, a right to get on a steamer at Queenstown, a right +to have his censored telegram returned, any kind of a right, if he have +a right. Then the Department, not wittingly, I know, but humanly, almost +inevitably, in the great rush of overwork, sends his 'demands' to me, +catching much of his tone and apparently insisting on the removal of his +grievance as a right, without knowing all the facts in the case. The +telegrams that come to me are full of 'protests' and 'demands'--protest +and demand this, protest and demand that. A man from Mars who should +read my book of telegrams received during the last two months would find +it difficult to explain how the two governments have kept at peace. It +is this serious treatment of trifling grievances which makes us feel +here that the exactions and dislocations and necessary disturbances of +this war are not understood at home. + +"I assure you (and there are plenty of facts to prove it) that this +Government (both for unselfish and selfish reasons) puts a higher value +on our friendship than on any similar thing in the world. They will +go--they are going--the full length to keep it. But, in proportion to +our tendency to nag them about little things will the value set on our +friendship diminish and will their confidence in our sincerity decline." + + * * * * * + +The note which Lord Bryce and Lord Northcliffe so dreaded reached the +London Embassy in October, 1915. The State Department had spent nearly +six months in preparing it; it was the American answer to the so-called +blockade established by the Order in Council of the preceding March. +Evidently its contents fulfilled the worst forebodings: + + _To Edward M. House_ + + London, November 12, 1915. + + DEAR HOUSE: + + I have a great respect for the British Navy. Admiral Jellicoe now + has under his command 3,000 ships of all sorts-far and away the + biggest fleet, I think, that was ever assembled. For the first time + since the ocean was poured out, one navy practically commands all + the seas: nothing sails except by its grace. It is this fleet of + course that will win the war. The beginning of the end--however far + off yet the end may be--is already visible by reason of the + economic pressure on Germany. But for this fleet, by the way, + London would be in ruins, all its treasure looted; every French + seacoast city and the Italian peninsula would be as Belgium and + Poland are; and thousands of English women would be violated--just + as dead French girls are found in many German trenches that have + been taken in France. Hence I greatly respect the British fleet. + + We have a good navy, too, for its size, and a naval personnel as + good as any afloat. I hear--with much joy--that we are going to + make our navy bigger--as much bigger (God save the mark!) as Bryan + will permit. + + Now, whatever the future bring, since any fighting enterprise that + may ever be thrust on us will be just and justified, we must see to + it that we win, as doubtless we shall and as hitherto we always + have won. We must be dead sure of winning. Well, whatever fight may + be thrust on us by anybody, anywhere, at any time, for any + reason--if it only be generally understood beforehand that our + fleet and the British fleet shoot the same language, there'll be no + fight thrust upon us. The biggest bully in the world wouldn't dare + kick the sorriest dog we have. Here, therefore, is a Peace + Programme for you--the only basis for a permanent peace in the + world. There's no further good in having venerable children build + houses of sand at The Hague; there's no further good in peace + organizations or protective leagues to enforce peace. We had as + well get down to facts. So far as ensuring peace is concerned the + biggest fact in the world is the British fleet. The next biggest + fact is the American fleet, because of itself and still more + because of the vast reserve power of the United States which it + implies. If these two fleets perfectly understand one another about + the undesirability of wars of aggression, there'll be no more big + wars as long as this understanding continues. Such an understanding + calls for no treaty--it calls only for courtesy. + + And there is no other peace-basis worth talking about--by men who + know how the world is governed. + + Since I have lived here I have spent my days and nights, my poor + brain, and my small fortune all most freely and gladly to get some + understanding of the men who rule this Kingdom, and of the women + and the customs and the traditions that rule these men--to get + their trick of thought, the play of their ideals, the working of + their imagination, the springs of their instincts. It is impossible + for any man to know just how well he himself does such a difficult + task--how accurately he is coming to understand the sources and + character of a people's actions. Yet, at the worst, I do know + something about the British: I know enough to make very sure of the + soundness of my conclusion that they are necessary to us and we to + them. Else God would have permitted the world to be peopled in some + other way. And when we see that the world will be saved by such an + artificial combination as England and Russia and France and Japan + and Serbia, it calls for no great wisdom to see the natural way + whereby it must be saved in the future. + + For this reason every day that I have lived here it has been my + conscious aim to do what I could to bring about a condition that + shall make sure of this--that, whenever we may have need of the + British fleet to protect our shores or to prevent an aggressive war + anywhere, it shall he ours by a natural impulse and necessity--even + without the asking. + + I have found out that the first step toward that end is courtesy; + that the second step is courtesy, and the third step--such a fine + and high courtesy (which includes courage) as the President showed + in the Panama tolls controversy. We have--we and the + British--common aims and character. Only a continuous and sincere + courtesy--over periods of strain as well as of calm--is necessary + for as complete an understanding as will be required for the + automatic guidance of the world in peaceful ways. + + Now, a difference is come between us--the sort of difference that + handled as between friends would serve only to bind us together + with a sturdier respect. We send a long lawyer's Note, not + discourteous but wholly uncourteous, which is far worse. I am + writing now only of the manner of the Note, not of its matter. + There is not a courteous word, nor a friendly phrase, nor a kindly + turn in it, not an allusion even to an old acquaintance, to say + nothing of an old friendship, not a word of thanks for courtesies + or favours done us, not a hint of sympathy in the difficulties of + the time. There is nothing in its tone to show that it came from an + American to an Englishman: it might have been from a Hottentot to a + Fiji-Islander. + + I am almost sure--I'll say quite sure--that this uncourteous manner + is far more important than its endless matter. It has greatly hurt + our friends, the real men of the Kingdom. It has made the masses + angry--which is of far less importance than the severe sorrow that + our discourtesy of manner has brought to our friends--I fear to all + considerate and thoughtful Englishmen. + + Let me illustrate: When the Panama tolls controversy arose, Taft + ceased to speak the language of the natural man and lapsed into + lawyer's courthouse zigzagging mutterings. Knox wrote a letter to + the British Government that would have made an enemy of the most + affectionate twin brother--all mere legal twists and turns, as + agreeable as a pocketful of screws. Then various bovine + "international lawyers" wrote books about it. I read them and + became more and more confused the further I went: you always do. It + took me some time to recover from this word-drunk debauch and to + find my own natural intelligence again, the common sense that I was + born with. Then I saw that the whole thing went wrong from the + place where that Knox legal note came in. Congressmen in the + backwoods quoted cryptic passages from it, thought they were saying + something, and proceeded to make their audiences believe that + somehow England had hit us with a club--or would have hit us but + for Knox. That pure discourtesy kept us apart from English sympathy + for something like two years. + + Then the President took it up. He threw the legal twaddle into the + gutter. He put the whole question in a ten-minutes' speech to + Congress, full of clearness and fairness and high courtesy. It won + even the rural Congressmen. It was read in every capital and the + men who conduct every government looked up and said, "This is a + real man, a brave man, a just man." You will recall what Sir Edward + Grey said to me: "The President has taught us all a lesson and set + us all a high example in the noblest courtesy." + + This one act brought these two nations closer together than they + had ever been since we became an independent nation. It was an act + of courtesy.... + + My dear House, suppose the postman some morning were to leave at + your door a thing of thirty-five heads and three appendices, and + you discovered that it came from an old friend whom you had long + known and greatly valued--this vast mass of legal stuff, without a + word or a turn of courtesy in it--what would you do? He had a + grievance, your old friend had. Friends often have. But instead of + explaining it to you, he had gone and had his lawyers send this + many-headed, much-appendiced ton of stuff. It wasn't by that method + that you found your way from Austin, Texas, to your present + eminence and wisdom. Nor was that the way our friend found his way + from a little law-office in Atlanta, where I first saw him, to the + White House. + + More and more I am struck with this--that governments are human. + They are not remote abstractions, nor impersonal institutions. Men + conduct them; and they do not cease to be men. A man is made up of + six parts of human nature and four parts of facts and other + things--a little reason, some prejudice, much provincialism, and of + the particular fur or skin that suits his habitat. When you wish to + win a man to do what _you_ want him to do, you take along a few + well-established facts, some reasoning and such-like, but you take + along also three or four or five parts of human nature--kindliness, + courtesy, and such things--sympathy and a human touch. + + If a man be six parts human and four parts of other things, a + government, especially a democracy, is seven, or eight, or nine + parts human nature. It's the most human thing I know. The best way + to manage governments and nations--so long as they are disposed to + be friendly--is the way we manage one another. I have a + confirmation of this in the following comment which came to me + to-day. It was made by a friendly member of Parliament. + + "The President himself dealt with Germany. Even in his severity he + paid the Germans the compliment of a most courteous tone in his + Note. But in dealing with us he seems to have called in the lawyers + of German importers and Chicago pork-packers. I miss the high + Presidential courtesy that we had come to expect from Mr. Wilson." + + An American banker here has told me of the experience of an + American financial salesman in the city the day after our Note was + published. His business is to make calls on bankers and other + financial men, to sell them securities. He is a man of good address + who is popular with his clients. The first man he called on, on + that day, said: "I don't wish to be offensive to you. But I have + only one way to show my feeling of indignation toward the United + States, and that is, to have nothing more to do with Americans." + + The next man said: "No, nothing to-day, I thank you. No--nor + to-morrow either; nor the next day. Good morning." + + After four or five such greetings, the fellow gave it up and is now + doing nothing. + + I don't attach much importance to such an incident as this, except + as it gives a hint of the general feeling. These financial men + probably haven't even read our Note. Few people have. But they have + all read the short and sharp newspaper summary which preceded it in + the English papers. But what such an incident does indicate is the + prevalence of a state of public feeling which would prevent the + Government from yielding any of our demands even if the Government + so wished. It has now been nearly a week since the Note was + published. I have seen most of the neutral ministers. Before the + Note came they expressed great eagerness to see it: it would + champion their cause. Since it came not one of them has mentioned + it to me. The Secretary of one of them remarked, after being + invited to express himself: "It is too--too--long!" And, although I + have seen most of the Cabinet this week, not a man mentioned it to + me. People seem studiously to avoid it, lest they give offense. + + I have, however, got one little satisfaction. An American--a + half-expatriated loafer who talks "art"--you know the + intellectually affected and degenerate type--screwed his courage up + and told me that he felt ashamed of his country. I remarked that I + felt sure the feeling was mutual. That, I confess, made me feel + better. + + As nearly as I can make out, the highwater mark of English + good-feeling toward us in all our history was after the President's + Panama tolls courtesy. The low-water mark, since the Civil War, I + am sure, is now. The Cleveland Venezuela message came at a time of + no nervous strain and did, I think, produce no long-lasting + effect. A part of the present feeling is due to the English + conviction that we have been taken in by the Germans in the + submarine controversy, but a large part is due to the lack of + courtesy in this last Note--the manner in which it was written even + more than its matter. As regards its matter, I have often been over + what I conceive to be the main points with Sir Edward Grey--very + frankly and without the least offense. He has said: "We may have to + arbitrate these things," as he might say, "We had better take a cab + because it is raining." It is easily possible--or it was--to + discuss anything with this Government without offense. I have, in + fact, stood up before Sir Edward's fire and accused him of stealing + a large part of the earth's surface, and we were just as good + friends afterward as before. But I never drew a lawyer's indictment + of him as a land-thief: that's different. + + I suppose no two peoples or governments ever quite understand one + another. Perhaps they never will. That is too much to hope for. But + when one government writes to another it ought to write (as men do) + with some reference to the personality of the other and to their + previous relations, since governments are more human than men. Of + course I don't know who wrote the Note. Hence I can talk about it + freely to you without implying criticism of anybody in particular. + But the man who wrote it never saw the British Government and + wouldn't know it if he met it in the road. To him it is a mere + legal entity, a wicked, impersonal institution against which he has + the task of drawing an indictment--not the task of trying to + persuade it to confess the propriety of a certain course of + conduct. In his view, it is a wicked enemy to start with--like the + Louisiana lottery of a previous generation or the Standard Oil + Company of our time. + + One would have thought, since we were six months in preparing it, + that a draft of the Note would have been sent to the man on the + ground whom our Government keeps in London to study the situation + at first hand and to make the best judgment he can about the most + effective methods of approach on delicate and difficult matters. If + that had been done, I should have suggested a courteous short Note + saying that we are obliged to set forth such and such views about + marine law and the rights of neutrals, to His Majesty's Government; + and that the contention of the United States Government was + herewith sent--etc., etc.--Then this identical Note (with certain + court-house, strong, shirt-sleeve adjectives left out) could have + come without arousing any feeling whatsoever. Of course I have no + personal vanity in saying this to you. I am sure I outgrew that + foible many years ago. But such a use of an ambassador--of any + ambassador--is obviously one of the best and most natural uses he + could be put to; and all governments but ours do put their + ambassadors to such a use: that's what they have 'em for. + + _Per contra_: a telegram has just come in saying that a certain + Lichtenstein in New York had a lot of goods stopped by the British + Government, which (by an arrangement made with their attorney here) + agreed to buy them at a certain price: will I go and find out why + the Government hasn't yet paid Lichtenstein and when he may expect + his money? Is it an ambassadorial duty to collect a private bill + for Lichtenstein, in a bargain with which our Government has had + nothing to do? I have telegraphed the Department, quite calmly, + that I don't think it is. I venture to say no ambassador ever had + such a request as that before from his Government. + + My dear House, I often wonder if my years of work here--the kind of + high good work I've tried to do--have not been thrown away. I've + tried to take and to busy myself with a long-range view of great + subjects. The British Empire and the United States will be here + long after we are dead, and their relations will continue to be one + of the most important matters--perhaps the most important + matter--in the world. Well, now think of Lichtenstein's bill! + + To get back where I started--I fear, therefore, that, when I next + meet the Admiral of the Grand Fleet (with whom I used to discuss + everything quite freely before he sailed away to the war), he may + forget to mention that we may have his 3,000 ships at our need. + + Since this present difference is in danger of losing the healing + influence of a kindly touch--has become an uncourteous monster of + 35 heads and 3 appendices--I see no early end of it. The British + Foreign Office has a lot of lawyers in its great back offices. They + and our lawyers will now butt and rebut as long as a goat of them + is left alive on either side. The two governments--the two human, + kindly groups--have retired: they don't touch, on this matter, now. + The lawyers will have the time of their lives, each smelling the + blood of the other. + + If more notes must come--as the English papers report over and over + again every morning and every afternoon--the President might do + much by writing a brief, human document to accompany the + Appendices. If it be done courteously, we can accuse them of + stealing sheep and of dyeing the skins to conceal the theft-without + provoking the slightest bad feeling; and, in the end, they'll pay + another _Alabama_ award without complaint and frame the check and + show it to future ambassadors as Sir Edward shows the _Alabama_ + check to me sometimes. + + And it'll be a lasting shame (and may bring other Great Wars) if + lawyers are now permitted to tear the garments with which Peace + ought to be clothed as soon as she can escape from her present rags + and tatters. + + Yours always heartily, + + W.H.P. + + P.S. My dear House: Since I have--in weeks and months past--both + telegraphed and written the Department (and I presume the President + has seen what I've sent) about the feeling here, I've written this + letter to you and not to the President nor Lansing. I will not run + the risk of seeming to complain--nor even of seeming to seem to + complain. But if you think it wise to send or show this letter to + the President, I'm willing you should. This job was botched: + there's no doubt about that. We shall not recover for many a long, + long year. The identical indictment could have been drawn with + admirable temper and the way laid down for arbitration and for + keeping our interpretation of the law and precedents intact--all + done in a way that would have given no offense. + + The feeling runs higher and higher every day--goes deeper and + spreads wider. + + Now on top of it comes the _Ancona_[15]. The English press, + practically unanimously, makes sneering remarks about our + Government. After six months it has got no results from the + _Lusitania_ controversy, which Bernstorff is allowed to prolong in + secret session while factories are blown up, ships supplied with + bombs, and all manner of outrages go on (by Germans) in the United + States. The English simply can't understand why Bernstorff is + allowed to stay. They predict that nothing will come of the + _Ancona_ case, nor of any other case. Nobody wants us to get into + the war--nobody who counts--but they are losing respect for us + because we seem to them to submit to anything. + + We've simply dropped out. No English person ever mentions our + Government to me. But they talk to one another all the time about + the political anæmia of the United States Government. They think + that Bernstorff has the State Department afraid of him and that the + Pacifists dominate opinion--the Pacifists-at-any-price. I no longer + even have a chance to explain any of these things to anybody I + know. + + It isn't the old question we used to discuss of our having no + friend in the world when the war ends. It's gone far further than + that. It is now whether the United States Government need be + respected by anybody. + + W.H.P. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 14: Senator Hoke Smith, of Georgia, was at this time--and +afterward--conducting bitter campaign against the British blockade and +advocating an embargo as a retaliation.] + +[Footnote 15: Torpedoed off Sardinia on Nov. 7, 1915, by the Austrians. +There was a large toss of life, including many Americans.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +DARK DAYS FOR THE ALLIES + + + _To Edward M. House_ + + June 30, 1915. + + MY DEAR HOUSE: + + There's a distinct wave of depression here--perhaps I'd better say + a period of setbacks has come. So far as we can find out only the + Germans are doing anything in the war on land. The position in + France is essentially the same as it was in November, only the + Germans are much more strongly entrenched. Their great plenty of + machine guns enables them to use fewer men and to kill more than + the Allies. The Russians also lack ammunition and are yielding more + and more territory. The Allies--so you hear now--will do well if + they get their little army away from the Dardanelles before the + German-Turks eat 'em alive, and no Balkan state comes in to help + the Allies. Italy makes progress-slowly, of course, over almost + impassable mountains--etc., etc. Most of this doleful recital I + think is true; and I find more and more men here who have lost hope + of seeing an end of the war in less than two or three years, and + more and more who fear that the Germans will never be forced out of + Belgium. And the era of the giant aeroplane seems about to come--a + machine that can carry several tons and several men and go great + distances--two engines, two propellers, and the like. It isn't at + all impossible, I am told, that these machines may be the things + that will at last end the war--possibly, but I doubt it. + + At any rate, it is true that a great wave of discouragement is + come. All these events and more seem to prove to my mind the rather + dismal failure the Liberal Government made--a failure really to + grasp the problem. It was a dead failure. Of course they are waking + up now, when they are faced with a certain dread lest many soldiers + prefer frankly to die rather than spend another winter in + practically the same trenches. You hear rumours, too, of great + impending military scandals--God knows whether there be any truth + in them or not. + + In a word, while no Englishman gives up or will ever give + up--that's all rot--the job he has in hand is not going well. He's + got to spit on his hands and buckle up his belt two holes tighter + yet. And I haven't seen a man for a month who dares hope for an end + of the fight within any time that he can foresee. + + I had a talk to-day with the Russian Ambassador[16]. He wished to + know how matters stood between the United States and Great Britain. + I said to him: "I'll give you a task if you have leisure. Set to + and help me hurry up your distinguished Ally in dealing with our + shipping troubles." + + The old man laughed--that seemed a huge joke to him; he threw up + his hands and exclaimed--"My God! He is slow about his own + business--has always been slow--can't be anything else." + + After more such banter, the nigger in his wood-pile poked his head + out: "Is there any danger," he asked, "that munitions may be + stopped?" + + The Germans have been preparing northern France for German + occupation. No French are left there, of course, except women and + children and old men. They must be fed or starved or deported. The + Germans put them on trains--a whole village at a time--and run + them to the Swiss frontier. Of course the Swiss pass them on into + France. The French have their own and--the Germans will have + northern France without any French population, if this process goes + on long enough. + + The mere bang! bang! frightful era of the war is passed. The + Germans are settling down to permanent business with their great + organizing machine. Of course they talk about the freedom of the + seas and such mush-mush; of course they'd like to have Paris and + rob it of enough money to pay what the war has cost them, and + London, too. But what they really want for keeps is + seacoast--Belgium and as much of the French coast as they can win. + That's really what they are out gunning for. Of course, somehow at + some time they mean to get Holland, too, and Denmark, if they + really need it. Then they'll have a very respectable seacoast--the + thing that they chiefly lack now. + + More and more people are getting their nerves knocked out. I went + to a big hospital on Sunday, twenty-five miles out of London. They + showed me an enormous, muscular Tommy sitting by himself in a chair + under the trees. He had had a slight wound which quickly got well. + But his speech was gone. That came back, too, later. But then he + wouldn't talk and he'd insist on going off by himself. He's just + knocked out--you can't find out just how much gumption he has left. + That's what the war did for him: it stupefied him. Well, it's + stupefied lots of folks who have never seen a trench. That's what's + happened. Of all the men who started in with the game, I verily + believe that Lloyd George is holding up best. He organized British + finance. Now he's organizing British industry. + + It's got hot in London--hotter than I've ever known it. It gets + lonelier (more people going away) and sadder--more wounded coming + back and more visible sorrow. We seem to be settling down to + something that is more or less like Paris--so far less, but it may + become more and more like it. And the confident note of an earlier + period is accompanied by a dull undertone of much less + cheerfulness. The end is--in the lap of the gods. + + W.H.P. + + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + American Embassy, London, + + July 25, 1915. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + ... Many men here are very active in their thought about the future + relations of the United States and Great Britain. Will the war + bring or leave them closer together? If the German machine be + completely smashed (and it may not be completely smashed) the + Japanese danger will remain. I do not know how to estimate that + danger accurately. But there is such a danger. And, if the German + wild beast ever come to life again, there's an eternal chance of + trouble with it. For defensive purposes it may become of the very + first importance that the whole English-speaking world should stand + together--not in entangling alliance, but with a much clearer + understanding than we have ever yet had. I'll indicate to you some + of my cogitations on this subject by trying to repeat what I told + Philip Kerr[17] a fortnight ago--one Sunday in the country. I can + write this to you without seeming to parade my own opinions.--Kerr + is one of "The Round Table," perhaps the best group of men here for + the real study and free discussion of large political subjects. + Their quarterly, _The Round Table_, is the best review, I dare + say, in the world. Kerr is red hot for a close and perfect + understanding between Great Britain and the United States. I told + him that, since Great Britain had only about forty per cent. of the + white English-speaking people and the United States had about sixty + per cent., I hoped in his natural history that the tail didn't wag + the dog. I went on: + + "You now have the advantage of us in your aggregation of three + centuries of accumulated wealth--the spoil of all the world--and in + the talent that you have developed for conserving it and adding to + it and in the institutions you have built up to perpetuate it--your + merchant ships, your insurance, your world-wide banking, your + mortgages on all new lands; but isn't this the only advantage you + have? This advantage will pass. You are now shooting away millions + and millions, and you will have a debt that is bound to burden + industry. On our side, we have a more recently mixed race than + yours; you've begun to inbreed. We have also (and therefore) more + adaptability, a greater keenness of mind in our masses; we are + Old-World men set free--free of classes and traditions and all that + they connote. Your so-called democracy is far behind ours. Your + aristocracy and your privileges necessarily bring a social and + economic burden. Half your people look backward. + + "Your leadership rests on your wealth and on the power that you've + built on your wealth." + + When he asked me how we were to come closer together--"closer + together, with your old-time distrust of us and with your + remoteness?"--I stopped him at "remoteness." + + "That's the reason," I said. "Your idea of our 'remoteness.' + 'Remoteness' from what? From you? Are you not betraying the only + real difficulty of a closer sympathy by assuming that you are the + centre of the world? When you bring yourself to think of the + British Empire as a part of the American Union--mind you, I am not + saying that you would be formally admitted--but when you are + yourselves in close enough sympathy with us to wish to be admitted, + the chief difficulty of a real union of thought will be gone. You + recall Lord Rosebery's speech in which he pictured the capital of + the British Empire being moved to Washington if the American + Colonies had been retained under the Crown? Well, it was the Crown + that was the trouble, and the capital of English-speaking folk has + been so moved and you still remain 'remote.' Drop 'remote' from + your vocabulary and your thought and we'll actually be closer + together." + + It's an enormous problem--just how to bring these countries closer + together. Perhaps nothing can do it but some great common danger or + some great common adventure. But this is one of the problems of + your lifetime. England can't get itself clean loose from the + continent nor from continental mediævalism; and with that we can + have nothing to do. Men like Kerr think that somehow a great push + toward democracy here will be given by the war. I don't quite see + how. So far the aristocracy have made perhaps the best showing in + defence of English liberty. They are paying the bills of the war; + they have sent their sons; these sons have died like men; and their + parents never whimper. It's a fine breed for such great uses as + these. There was a fine incident in the House of Lords the other + day, which gave the lie to the talk that one used to hear here + about "degeneracy." Somebody made a perfectly innocent proposal to + complete a list of peers and peers' sons who had fallen in the + war--a thing that will, of course, be done, just as a similar list + will be compiled of the House of Commons, of Oxford and Cambridge + Universities. But one peer after another objected vigorously lest + such a list appear immodest. "We are but doing our duty. Let the + matter rest there." + + In a time like this the aristocracy proves its worth. In fact, all + aristocracies grew chiefly out of wars, and perhaps they are better + for wars than a real democracy. Here, you see, you run into one of + those contradictions in life and history which make the world so + hard to change.... + + You know there are some reasons why peace, whenever it may come, + will bring problems as bad as the problems of the war itself. I can + think of no worse task than the long conferences of the Allies with + their conflicting interests and ambitions. Then must come their + conferences with the enemy. Then there are sure to be other + conferences to try to make peace secure. And, of course, many are + going to be dissatisfied and disappointed, and perhaps out of these + disappointments other wars may come. The world will not take up its + knitting and sit quietly by the fire for many a year to come.... + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + +One happiness came to Mr. and Mrs. Page in the midst of all these war +alarums. On August 4, 1915, their only daughter, Katharine, was married +to Mr. Charles G. Loring, of Boston, Massachusetts. The occasion gave +the King an opportunity of showing the high regard in which Page and his +family were held. It had been planned that the wedding should take place +in Westminster Abbey, but the King very courteously offered Miss Page +the Royal chapel in St. James's Palace. This was a distinguished +compliment, as it was the first time that any marriage, in which both +bride and bridegroom were foreigners, had ever been celebrated in this +building, which for centuries has been the scene of royal weddings. The +special place which his daughter had always held in the Ambassador's +affections is apparent in the many letters that now followed her to her +new home in the United States. The unique use Page made of the initials +of his daughter's name was characteristic. + + + _To Mrs. Charles G. Loring_ + + London, September 1, 1915. + + MY DEAR K.A. P-TAIN: + + Here's a joke on your mother and Frank: We three (and Smith) went + up to Broadway in the car, to stay there a little while and then to + go on into Wales, etc. The hotel is an old curiosity shop; you sit + on Elizabethan chairs by a Queen Anne table, on a drunken floor, + and look at the pewter platters on the wall or do your best to look + at them, for the ancient windows admit hardly any light. "Oh! + lovely," cries Frank; and then he and your mother make out in the + half-darkness a perfectly wonderful copper mug on the mantelpiece; + and you go out and come in the ramshackle door (stooping every + time) after you've felt all about for the rusty old iron latch, and + then you step down two steps (or fall), presently to step up two + more. Well, for dinner we had six kinds of meat and two meat pies + and potatoes and currants! My dinner was a potato. I'm old and + infirm and I have many ailments, but I'm not so bad off as to be + able to live on a potato a day. And since we were having a + vacation, I didn't see the point. So I came home where I have seven + courses for dinner, all good; and Mrs. Leggett took my place in the + car. That carnivorous company went on. They've got to eat six + kinds of meat and two meat pies and--currants! I haven't. Your + mother calls me up on the phone every morning--me, who am living + here in luxury, seven courses at every dinner--and asks anxiously, + "And how _are_ you, dear?" I answer: "Prime, and how are _you_?" We + are all enjoying ourselves, you see, and I don't have to eat six + kinds of meat and two meat pies and--currants! They do; and may + Heaven save 'em and get 'em home safe! + + [Illustration: Col. Edward M. House. From a painting by P.A. + Laszlo] + + [Illustration: The Rt. Hon. Herbert Henry Asquith, Prime Minister + of Great Britain, 1908-1916] + + It's lovely in London now--fine, shining days and showers at night + and Ranelagh beautiful, and few people here; but I don't deny its + loneliness--somewhat. Yet sleep is good, and easy and long. I have + neither an ocean voyage nor six kinds of meat and two meat pies and + currants. I congratulate myself and write to you and mother. + + You'll land to-morrow or next day--good; I congratulate you. Salute + the good land for me and present my respectful compliments to + vegetables that have taste and fruit that is not sour--to the + sunshine, in fact, and to everything that ripens and sweetens in + its glow. + + And you're now (when this reaches you) fixing up your home--your + _own_ home, dear Kitty. Bless your dear life, you left a home + here--wasn't it a good and nice one?--left it very lonely for the + man who has loved you twenty-four years and been made happy by your + presence. But he'll love you twenty-five more and on and + on--always. So you haven't lost that--nor can you. And it's very + fit and right that you should build your own nest; that adds + another happy home, you see. And I'm very sure it will be very + happy always. Whatever I can do to make it so, now or ever, you + have only to say. But--your mother took your photograph with her + and got it out of the bag and put it on the bureau as soon as she + went to her room--a photograph taken when you were a little girl. + + Hodson[18] came up to see me to-day and with tears of gratitude in + his voice told me of the present that you and Chud had made him. He + is very genuinely pleased. As for the rest, life goes on as usual. + + I laugh as I think of all your new aunts and cousins looking you + over and wondering if you'll fit, and then saying to one another as + they go to bed: "She is lovely--isn't she?" I could tell 'em a + thing or two if I had a whack at 'em. + + And you'll soon have all your pretty things in place in your pretty + home, and a lot more that I haven't seen. I'll see 'em all before + many years--and you, too! Tell me, did Chud get you a dinner book? + Keep your record of things: you'll enjoy it in later years. And + you'll have a nice time this autumn--your new kinsfolk, your new + friends and old and Boston and Cambridge. If you run across Mr. + Muffin, William Roscoe Thayer, James Ford Rhodes, President + Eliot--these are my particular old friends whose names occur at the + moment. + + My love to you and Chud too, + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + +The task of being "German Ambassador to Great Britain" was evidently not +without its irritations. + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + September 15, 1915. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + Yesterday was my German day. When the boy came up to my room, I + told him I had some official calls to make. "Therefore get out my + oldest and worst suit." He looked much confused; and when I got up + both my worst and best suits were laid out. Evidently he thought he + must have misunderstood me. I asked your mother if she was ready to + go down to breakfast. "Yes."--"Well, then I'll leave you." She + grunted something and when we both got down she asked: "What _did_ + you say to me upstairs?" I replied: "I regard the incident as + closed." She looked a sort of pitying look at me and a minute or + two later asked: "What on earth is the matter with you? Can't you + hear at all?" I replied: "No. Therefore let's talk." She gave it + up, but looked at me again to make sure I was all there. + + I stopped at the barber shop, badly needing a shave. The barber got + his brush and razor ready. I said: "Cut my hair." He didn't talk + for a few minutes, evidently engaged in deep thought. + + When I got to my office, a case was brought to me of a runaway + American who was caught trying to send news to Germany. "Very + good," said I, "now let it be made evident that it shall appear + therefore that his innocence having been duly established he shall + be shot." + + "What, sir?" + + "That since it must be evident that his guilt is genuine therefore + see that he be acquitted and then shot." + + Laughlin and Bell and Stabler were seen in an earnest conference in + the next room for nearly half an hour. + + Shoecraft brought me a letter. "This is the most courteous + complaint about the French passport bureau we have yet had. I + thought you'd like to see this lady's letter. She says she knows + you." + + "Do not answer it, then." + + He went off and conferred with the others. + + Hodson spoke of the dog he sold to Frank. "Yes," said I, "since he + was a very nice dog, therefore he was worthless." + + "Sir?" + + And he went off after looking back at me in a queer way. + + The day went on in that fashion. When I came out to go to lunch, + the stairs down led upward and I found myself, therefore, stepping + out of the roof on to the sidewalk--the house upside down. Smith + looked puzzled. "Home, Sir?" + + "No. Go the other way." After he had driven two or three blocks, I + told him to turn again and go the other way--home! + + Your mother said almost as soon as I got into the door--"What was + the matter with you this morning?" + + "Oh, nothing. You forget that I am the German Ambassador." + + Now this whole narrative is a lie. Nothing in it occurred. If it + were otherwise it wouldn't be German. + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + + _To Mrs. Charles G. Loring_ + + London, 6 Grosvenor Square. + Sunday, September 19, 1915. + + DEAR KITTY: + + You never had a finer autumnal day in the land of the free than + this day has been in this old kingdom--fresh and fair; and so your + mother said to herself and me: "Let's go out to the Laughlins' to + lunch," and we went. There never was a prettier drive. We found out + among other things that you pleased Mrs. Laughlin very much by your + letter. Her garden changes every week or so, and it never was + lovelier than it is now.--Then we came back home and dined alone. + Well, since we can't have you and Chud and Frank, I don't care if + we do dine alone sometimes for some time to come. Your mother's + monstrous good company, and sometimes three is a crowd. And now is + a good time to be alone. London never was so dull or deserted since + I've known it, nor ever so depressed. The military (land) + operations are not cheerful; the hospitals are all full; I see more + wounded soldiers by far than at any previous time; the Zeppelins + came somewhere to this island every night for a week--one of them, + on the night of the big raid, was visible from our square for + fifteen or twenty minutes--in general it is a dull and depressing + time. I have thought that since you were determined to run off with + a young fellow, you chose a pretty good time to go away. I'm afraid + there'll be no more of what we call "fun" in this town as long as + we stay here. + + Worse yet: in spite of the Coalition Government and everybody's + wish to get on smoothly and to do nothing but to push the war, + since Parliament convened there's been a great row, which doesn't + get less. The labour men give trouble; people blame the + politicians: Lloyd George is saving the country, say some; Lloyd + George ought to be hanged, say others. Down with Northcliffe! They + seem likely to burn him at the stake--except those who contend that + he has saved the nation. Some maintain that the cabinet is too + big--twenty-two. More say that it has no leadership. If you favour + conscription, you are a traitor: if you don't favour it, you are + pro-German. It's the same sort of old quarrel they had before the + war, only it is about more subjects. In fact, nobody seems very + clearly to know what it's about. Meantime the Government is + spending money at a rate that nobody ever dreamed of before. Three + million pounds a day--some days five million. The Germans, + meantime are taking Russia; the Allies are not taking the + Dardanelles; in France the old deadlock continues. Boston at its + worst must be far more cheerful than this. + + Affectionately and with my love to Chud, + + W.H.P. + + + _To the President_ + + London, September 26, 1915. + + DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: + + The suppression of facts about the military situation is more + rigorous than ever since the military facts have become so + discouraging. The volume of pretty well authenticated news that I + used to hear privately has become sensibly diminished. Rumours that + reach me by the back door, in all sorts of indirect ways, are not + fewer, but fewer of them are credible. There is great confusion, + great fear, very great depression--far greater, I think, than + England has felt, certainly since the Napoleonic scare and probably + since the threat of the Armada. Nobody, I think, supposes that + England herself will be conquered: confidence in the navy is + supreme. But the fear of a practical defeat of the Allies on the + continent is become general. Russia may have to pay a huge + indemnity, going far to reimburse Germany for the cost of the war; + Belgium may be permanently held unless Germany receive an indemnity + to evacuate, and her seaports may be held anyhow; the Germans may + reach Constantinople before the Allies, and Germany may thus hold, + when the war ends, an open way to the East; and France may have to + pay a large sum to regain her northern territory now held by the + Germans. These are not the convictions of men here, but they have + distinctly become the fears; and many men's mind are beginning to + adjust themselves to the possible end of the war, as a draw, with + these results. Of course such an end would be a real German + victory and--another war as soon as enough men grow up to fight it. + + When the more cheerful part of public opinion, especially when any + member of the Government, affects to laugh at these fears, the + people say: "Well, make known the facts that you base your hope on. + Precisely how many men have volunteered? Is the voluntary system a + success or has it reached its limit? Precisely what is the + situation in the Dardanelles? Are the allied armies strong enough + to make a big drive to break through the German line in France? + Have they big guns and ammunition enough? What are the facts about + the chance in the Dardanelles? What have we done with reference to + the Balkan States?" Thus an angry and ominous political situation + is arising. The censorship on war news apparently becomes severer, + and the general fear spreads and deepens. The air, of course, + becomes heavily charged with such rumours as these: that if the + Government continue its policy of secrecy, Lloyd George will + resign, seeing no hope of a real victory: that, if he do resign, + his resignation will disrupt the Government--cause a sort of + earthquake; that the Government will probably fall and Lloyd George + will be asked to form another one, since he is, as the public sees + it, the most active and efficient man in political life; that, if + all the Balkan States fail the Allies, Sir Edward Grey will be + reckoned a failure and must resign; and you even now hear talk of + Mr. Balfour's succeeding him. + + It is impossible to say what basis there is for these and other + such rumours, but they show the general very serious depression and + dissatisfaction. Of that there is no doubt. Nor is there any doubt + about grave differences in the Cabinet about conscription nor of + grave fear in the public mind about the action of labour unions in + hindering the utmost production of ammunition, nor of the + increasing feeling that the Prime Minister doesn't lead the nation. + Except Lloyd George and the Chancellor of the Exchequer[19] the + Cabinet seems to suffer a sort of paralysis. Lord Kitchener's + speech in the House of Lords, explaining the military situation, + reads like a series of month-old bulletins and was a great + disappointment. Mr. Asquith's corresponding speech in the House + seemed to lack complete frankness. The nation feels that it is + being kept in the dark, and all the military information that it + gets is discouraging. Sir Edward Grey, as philosophic and enduring + a man as I know, seems much more depressed than I have ever known + him to be; Bryce is very very far from cheerful; Plunkett[20], whom + also you know, is in the dumps--it's hard to find a cheerful or a + hopeful man. + + The secrecy of official life has become so great and successful + that prophecy of political changes must be mere guess work. But, + unless good news come from the Dardanelles in particular, I have a + feeling that Asquith may resign--be forced out by the gradual + pressure of public opinion; that Lloyd George will become Prime + Minister, and that (probably) Sir Edward Grey may resign. Yet I + cannot take the prevailing military discouragement at its face + value. The last half million men and the last million pounds will + decide the contest, and the Allies will have these. This very + depression strengthens the nation's resolution to a degree that + they for the moment forget. The blockade and the armies in the + field will wear Germany down--not absolutely conquer her, but wear + her down--probably in another year. + + In the meantime our prestige (if that be the right word), in + British judgment, is gone. As they regard it, we have permitted + the Germans to kill our citizens, to carry on a world-wide underhand + propaganda from our country (as well as in it), for which they have + made no apology and no reparation but only vague assurances for the + future now that their submarine fleet has been almost destroyed. + They think that we are credulous to the point of simplicity to + accept any assurances that Bernstorff may give--in a word, that the + peace-at-any-price sentiment so dominates American opinion and the + American Government that we will submit to any indignity or + insult--that we will learn the Germans' real character when it is + too late to save our honour or dignity. There is no doubt of the + definiteness or depth of this opinion. + + And I am afraid that this feeling will show itself in our future + dealings with this government. The public opinion of the nation as + well as the Government accepts their blockade as justified as well + as necessary. They will not yield on that point, and they will + regard our protests as really inspired by German influence--thus + far at least: that the German propaganda has organized and + encouraged the commercial objection in the United States, and that + this propaganda and the peace-at-any-price sentiment demand a stiff + controversy with England to offset the stiff controversy with + Germany; and, after all, they ask, what does a stiff controversy + with the United States amount to? I had no idea that English + opinion could so quickly become practically indifferent as to what + the United States thinks or does. And as nearly as I can make it + out, there is not a general wish that we should go to war. The + prevalent feeling is not a selfish wish for military help. In fact + they think that, by the making of munitions, by the taking of + loans, and by the sale of food we can help them more than by + military and naval action. Their feeling is based on their + disappointment at our submitting to what they regard as German + dallying with us and to German insults. They believe that, if we + had sent Bernstorff home when his government made its + unsatisfactory reply to our first _Lusitania_ note, Germany would + at once have "come down"; opportunist Balkan States would have come + to the help of the Allies; Holland and perhaps the Scandinavian + States would have got some consideration at Berlin for their losses + by torpedoes; that more attention would have been paid by Turkey to + our protest against the wholesale massacre of the Armenians; and + that a better settlement with Japan about Pacific islands and + Pacific influence would have been possible for the English at the + end of the war. Since, they argue, nobody is now afraid of the + United States, her moral influence is impaired at every capital; + and I now frequently hear the opinion that, if the war lasts + another year and the Germans get less and less use of the United + States as a base of general propaganda in all neutral countries, + especially all American countries, they are likely themselves to + declare war on us as a mere defiance of the whole world and with + the hope of stirring up internal trouble for our government by the + activity of the Germans and the Irish in the United States, which + may hinder munitions and food and loans to the Allies. + + I need not remark that the English judgment of the Germans is + hardly judicial. But they reply to this that every nation has to + learn the real, incredible character of the Prussian by its own + unhappy experience. France had so to learn it, and England, Russia, + and Belgium; and we (the United States), they say, fail to profit + in time by the experience of these. After the Germans have used us + to the utmost in peace, they will force us into war--or even flatly + declare war on us when they think they can thus cause more + embarrassment to the Allies, and when they conclude that the time + is come to make sure that no great nation shall emerge from the war + with a clear commercial advantage over the others; and in the + meantime they will prove to the world by playing with us that a + democracy is necessarily pacific and hence (in their view) + contemptible. I felt warranted the other day to remark to Lord + Bryce on the unfairness of much of the English judgment of us (he + is very sad and a good deal depressed). "Yes," he said, "I have + despaired of one people's ever really understanding another even + when the two are as closely related and as friendly as the + Americans and the English." + + You were kind enough to inquire about my health in your last note. + If I could live up to the popular conception here of my labours and + responsibilities and delicate duties (which is most flattering and + greatly exaggerated), I should be only a walking shadow of a man. + But I am most inappreciately well. I imagine that in some year to + come, I may enjoy a vacation, but I could not enjoy it now. Besides + since civilization has gone backward several centuries, I suppose + I've gone back with it to a time when men knew no such thing as a + vacation. (Let's forgive House for his kindly, mistaken + solicitude.) The truth is, I often feel that I do not know + myself--body or soul, boots or breeches. This experience is making + us all here different from the men we were--but in just what + respects it is hard to tell. We are not within hearing of the guns + (except the guns that shoot at Zeppelins when they come); but the + war crowds itself in on us sensibly more and more. There are more + wounded soldiers on the streets and in the parks. More and more + families one knows lose their sons, more and more women their + husbands. Death is so common that it seems a little thing. Four + persons have come to my house to-day (Sunday) in the hope that I + may find their missing kinsmen, and two more have appealed to me on + the telephone and two more still have sent me notes. Since I began + this letter, Mrs. Page insisted on my going out on the edge of the + city to see an old friend of many years who has just lost both his + sons and whose prospective son-in-law is at home wounded. The first + thing he said was: "Tell me, what is America going to do?" As we + drove back, we made a call on a household whose nephew is + "missing."--"Can't you possibly help us hear definitely about him?" + + This sort of thing all day every day must have some effect on any + man. Then--yesterday morning gave promise of a calm, clear day. I + never know what sensational experience awaits me around the next + corner. Then there was put on my desk the first page of a reputable + weekly paper which was filled with an open letter to me written by + the editor and signed. After the usual description of my + multitudinous and delicate duties, I was called on to insist that + my government should protest against Zeppelin raids on London + because a bomb might kill me! Humour doesn't bubble much now on + this side the world, for the censor had forbidden the publication + of this open letter lest it should possibly cause American-German + trouble! Then the American correspondents came in to verify a + report that a news agency is said to have had that I was deluged + with threatening letters!--More widows, more mothers looking for + lost sons!... Once in a while--far less often than if I lived in a + sane and normal world--I get a few hours off and go to a lonely + golf club. Alas! there is seldom anybody there but now and then a + pair of girls and now and then a pair of old fellows who have + played golf for a century. Yet back in London in the War Office I + hear they indulge in disrespectful hilarity at the poor game I + play. Now how do they know? (You'd better look to your score with + Grayson: the English have spies in America. A major-general in + their spy-service department told Mrs. Page that they knew all + about Archibaldi[21] before he got on the ship in New York.) + + All this I send you not because it is of the slightest permanent + importance (except the English judgment of us) but because it will + prove, if you need proof, that the world is gone mad. Everything + depends on fighting power and on nothing else. A victory will save + the Government. Even distinctly hopeful military news will. And + English depression will vanish with a turn of the military tide. If + it had been Bernstorff instead of Dumba--_that_ would have affected + even the English judgment of us. Tyrrell[22] remarked to me--did I + write you? "Think of the freaks of sheer, blind Luck; a man of + considerable ability like Dumba caught for taking a risk that an + idiot would have avoided, and a fool like Bernstorff escaping!" + Then he added: "I hope Bernstorff will be left. No other human + being could serve the English as well as he is serving them." So, + you see, even in his depression the Englishman has some humour + left--e.g., when that old sea dog Lord Fisher heard that Mr. + Balfour was to become First Lord of the Admiralty, he cried out: + "Damn it! he won't do: Arthur Balfour is too much of a gentleman." + So John Bull is now, after all, rather pathetic--depressed as he + has not been depressed for at least a hundred years. The nobility + and the common man are doing their whole duty, dying on the + Bosphorus or in France without a murmur, or facing an insurrection + in India; but the labour union man and the commercial class are + holding hack and hindering a victory. And there is no great + national leader. + + Sincerely yours, + WALTER H. PAGE. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 16: Count Beckendorff.] + +[Footnote 17: Afterward private secretary to Premier Lloyd George.] + +[Footnote 18: A messenger in the American Embassy.] + +[Footnote 19: The Rt. Hon. Reginald McKenna.] + +[Footnote 20: Sir Horace Plunkett.] + +[Footnote 21: It was Archibald's intercepted baggage that furnished the +documents which caused Dumba's dismissal.] + +[Footnote 22: Sir William Tyrrell, private secretary to Sir Edward +Grey.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND, 1915 + + + To Edward M. House + London, December 7, 1915. + + MY DEAR HOUSE: + + I hear you are stroking down the Tammany tiger--an easier job than + I have with the British lion. You can find out exactly who your + tiger is, you know the house he lives in, the liquor he drinks, the + company he goes with. The British lion isn't so easy to find. At + times in English history he has dwelt in Downing Street--not so + now. So far as our struggle with him is concerned, he's all over + the Kingdom; for he is public opinion. The governing crowd in usual + times and on usual subjects can here overrun public opinion--can + make it, turn it, down it, dodge it. But it isn't so now--as it + affects us. Every mother's son of 'em has made up his mind that + Germany must and shall be starved out, and even Sir Edward's scalp + isn't safe when they suspect that he wishes to be lenient in that + matter. They keep trying to drive him out, on two counts: (1) he + lets goods out of Germany for the United States "and thereby + handicaps the fleet"; and (2) he failed in the Balkans. Sir Edward + is too much of a gentleman for this business of rough-riding over + all neutral rights and for bribing those Balkan bandits. + + I went to see him to-day about the _Hocking_, etc. He asked me: "Do + _you know_ that the ships of this line are really owned, in good + faith, by Americans?" + + "I'll answer your question," said I, "if I may then ask you one. + No, I don't know of my own knowledge. Now, _do you know_ that they + are _not_ owned by Americans?" + + He had to confess that he, of his own knowledge, didn't know. + + "Then," I said, "for the relief of us both, I pray you hurry up + your prize court." + + When we'd got done quarrelling about ships and I started to go, he + asked me how I liked Wordsworth's war poems. "The best of all war + poems," said he, "because they don't glorify war but have to do + with its philosophy." Then he told me that some friend of his had + just got out a little volume of these war poems selected from + Wordsworth; "and I'm going to send you a copy." + + "Just in time," said I, "for I have a copy of 'The Life and Letters + of John Hay'[23] that I'm sending to you." + + He's coming to dine with me in a night or two: he'll do anything + but discuss our Note with me. And he's the only member of the + Government who, I think, would like to meet our views; and he + can't. To use the language of Lowell about the campaign of Governor + Kent--these British are hell-bent on starving the Germans out, and + neutrals have mighty few rights till that job's done. + + The worst of it is that the job won't be done for a very long time. + I've been making a sort of systematic round of the Cabinet to see + what these fellows think about things in general at this stage of + the game. Bonar Law (the Colonies) tells me that the news from the + Balkans is worse than the public or the newspapers know, and that + still worse news will come. Germany will have it all her own way in + that quarter. + + "And take Egypt and the canal?" + + "I didn't say _that_," he replied. But he showed that he fears even + that. + + [Illustration: Herbert C. Hoover, in 1914] + + [Illustration: A facsimile page from the Ambassador's letter of + November 24. 1916, resigning his Ambassadorship] + + I could go on with a dozen of 'em; but I sat down to write you a + Christmas letter, and nothing else. The best news I have for you is + not news at all, but I conceive it to be one of the best hopes of + the future. In spite of Irishmen past, present, and to come; in + spite of Germans, whose fuss will soon be over; in spite of + lawyers, who (if left alone) would bankrupt empires as their + clients and think they'd won a victory; I'm going to leave things + here in a year and a half so that, if wise men wish to lay a plan + for keeping the peace of the world, all they need to do will be to + say first to Uncle Sam: "This fellow or that must understand that + he can't break loose like a wild beast." If Uncle Sam agrees (and + has a real navy himself), he'll wink at John Bull, and John will + follow after. You see our blackleg tail-twisters have the whole + thing backward. They say we truckle to the British. My plan is to + lead the British--not for us to go to them but to have them come to + us. We have three white men to every two white men in their whole + Empire; and, when peace comes, we'll be fairly started on the road + to become as rich as the war will leave them. There are four clubs + in London which have no other purpose than this; and the best + review[24] in the world exists chiefly for this purpose. All we + need to do is to be courteous (we can do what we like if we do it + courteously). Our manners, our politicians, and our newspapers are + all that keep the English-speaking white man, under our lead, from + ruling the world, without any treaty or entangling alliance + whatsoever. If, when you went to Berlin to talk to your gentle and + timid friend, the Emperor, about disarmament before the war--if + about 200 American dreadnaughts and cruisers, with real grog on + 'em, had come over to make a friendly call, in the North Sea, on + the 300 English dreadnaughts and cruisers--just a friendly call, + admirals on admirals--the "Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Save the + King"--and if General Bell, from the Philippines, had happened in + London just when Kitchener happened to be home from Egypt--_then, + there wouldn't have been this war now_. Nothing need have been + said--no treaty, no alliance, nothing. For then 100 or more British + naval ships would have joined the Panama naval procession and any + possible enemy would have seen that combined fleet clean across the + Pacific. + + Now this may all be a mere Christmas fancy--a mere yarn about what + might have been--because we wouldn't have sent ships here in our + old mood; the crew would have missed one Sunday School. But it's + _this kind_ of thing that does the trick. But this means the + practice of courtesy, and we haven't acquired the habit. Two years + or more ago the training ships from Annapolis with the cadets + aboard anchored down the Thames and stayed several weeks and let + the boys loose in England. They go on such a voyage every two years + to some country, you know. The English didn't know that fact and + they took the visit as a special compliment. Their old admirals + were all greatly pleased, and I hear talk about that yet. We ought + to have two or three of our rear-admirals here on their fleet now. + Symington, of course, is a good fellow; but he's a mere commander + and attaché--not an admiral--in other words, not any particular + compliment or courtesy to the British Navy. (As soon as the war + began, a Japanese admiral turned up here and he is here now.) We + sent over two army captains as military observers. The Russians + sent a brigadier-general. We ought to have sent General Wood. You + see the difference? There was no courtesy in our method. It would + be the easiest and prettiest job in the world to swallow the whole + British organization, lock, stock, and barrel--King, Primate, + Cabinet, Lords, and Commons, feathers and all, and to make 'em + follow our _courteous_ lead anywhere. The President had them in + this mood when the war started and for a long time after--till the + _Lusitania_ seemed to be forgotten and till the lawyers began to + write his Notes. He can get 'em back, after the war ends, by + several acts of courtesy--if we could get into the habit of doing + such things as sending generals and admirals as compliments to + them. The British Empire is ruled by a wily use of courtesies and + decorations. If I had the President himself to do the + correspondence, if I had three or four fine generals and admirals + and a good bishop or two, a thoroughbred senator or two and now and + then a Supreme Court Justice to come on proper errands and be + engineered here in the right way--we could do or say anything we + liked and they'd do whatever we'd say. I'd undertake to underwrite + the whole English-speaking world to keep peace, under our + leadership. Instead whereof, every move we now make is to _follow_ + them or to _drive_ them. The latter is impossible, and the former + is unbecoming to us. + + But to return to Christmas.--I could go on writing for a week in + this off-hand, slap-dash way, saying wise things flippantly. But + Christmas--that's the thing now. Christmas! What bloody irony it is + on this side the world! Still there will be many pleasant and + touching things done. An Englishman came in to see me the other day + and asked if I'd send $1,000 to Gerard[25] to use in making the + English prisoners in Germany as happy as possible on Christmas + Day--only I must never tell anybody who did it. A lady came on the + same errand--for the British prisoners in Turkey, and with a less + but still a generous sum. The heroism, the generosity, the + endurance and self-restraint and courtesy of these people would + melt a pyramid to tears. Of course there are yellow dogs among 'em, + here and there; but the genuine, thoroughbred English man or woman + is the real thing--one of the realest things in this world. So + polite are they that not a single English person has yet mentioned + our Note to me--not one. + + But every one I've met for two days has mentioned the sending of + Von Papen and Boy-Ed[26] home--not that they expect us to get into + the war, but because they regard this action as maintaining our + self-respect. + + Nor do they neglect other things because of the war. I went to the + annual dinner of the Scottish Corporation the other night-an + organization which for 251 years has looked after Scotchmen + stranded in London; and they collected $20,000 then and there. + There's a good deal of Christmas in 'em yet. One fellow in a little + patriotic speech said that the Government is spending twenty-five + million dollars a day to whip the Germans.--"Cheap work, very cheap + work. We can spend twice that if necessary. Why, gentlemen, we + haven't exhausted our pocket-change yet." + + Somehow I keep getting away from Christmas. It doesn't stay put. + It'll be a memorable one here for its sorrows and for its grim + determination--an empty chair at every English table. But nowhere + in the world will it be different except in the small neutral + states here and in the lands on your side the world. + + How many Christmases the war may last, nobody's wise enough to + know. That depends absolutely on Germany. The Allies announced + their terms ten months ago, and nothing has yet happened to make + them change them. That would leave the Germans with Germany and a + secure peace--no obliteration or any other wild nonsense, but only + a secure peace. Let 'em go back home, pay for the damage they've + done, and then stay there. I do hope that the actual fighting will + be ended by Christmas of next year. Of course it _may_ end with + dramatic suddenness at any time, this being the only way, perhaps, + for the Kaiser to save his throne. Or it may go on for two or three + years. My guess is that it'll end next year--a guess subject to + revision, of course, by events that can't be foreseen. + + But as I said before--to come back to Christmas. Mrs. Page and I + send you and Mrs. House our affectionate good wishes and the hope + that you keep very well and very happy in your happy, prosperous + hemisphere. We do, I thank you. We haven't been better for + years--never before so busy, never, I think, so free from care. We + get plenty to eat (such as it is in this tasteless wet zone), at a + high cost, of course; we have comfortable beds and shoes (we spend + all our time in these two things, you know); we have good company, + enough to do (!!), no grievances nor ailments, no ill-will, no + disappointments, a keen interest in some big things--all the chips + are blue, you know; we don't feel ready for halos, nor for other + uncomfortable honours; we deserve less than we get and are content + with what the gods send. This, I take it, is all that Martin[27] + would call a comfortable mood for Christmas; and we are old enough + and tough enough to have thick armour against trouble. When Worry + knocks at the door, the butler tells him we're not at home. + + And I see the most interesting work in the world cut out for me + for the next twenty-five or thirty years--to get such courtesy into + our dealings with these our kinsmen here, public and private--as + will cause them to follow us in all the developments of democracy + and-in keeping the peace of the world secure. I can't impress it on + you strongly enough that the English-speaking folk have got to set + the pace and keep this world in order. Nobody else is equal to the + job. In all our dealings with the British, public and private, we + allow it to be assumed that _they_ lead: they don't. _We_ lead. + They'll follow, if we do really lead and are courteous to them. If + we hold back, the Irishman rears up and says we are surrendering to + the English! Suppose we go ahead and the English surrender to us, + what can your Irishmen do then? Or your German? The British Navy is + a pretty good sort of dog to have to trot under your wagon. If we + are willing to have ten years of thoughtful good manners, I tell + you Jellicoe will eat out of your hand. + + Therefore, cheer up! It's not at all improbable that Ford[28] and + his cargo of cranks, if they get across the ocean, may strike a + German mine in the North Sea. Then they'll die happy, as martyrs; + and the rest of us will live happy, and it'll be a Merry Christmas + for everybody. + + Our love to Mrs. House. + + Always heartily yours, + + W.H.P. + + _To Frank N. Doubleday and Others_ + + London, Christmas, 1915. + + DEAR D.P. & Co. + + ... Now, since we're talking about the war, let me deliver my + opinion and leave the subject. They're killing one another all + right; you needn't have any doubt about that--so many thousand + every day, whether there's any battle or not. When there's "nothing + to report" from France, that means the regular 5,000 casualties + that happen every day. There isn't any way of getting rid of men + that has been forgotten or neglected. Women and children, too, of + course, starve in Serbia and Poland and are massacred in Turkey. + England, though she has by very much the largest army she ever had, + has the smallest of all the big armies and yet I don't know a + family that had men of fighting age which hasn't lost one or more + members. And the worst is to come. But you never hear a complaint. + Poor Mr. Dent[29], for instance (two sons dead), says: "It's all + right. England must be saved." + + And this Kingdom alone, as you know, is spending twenty-five + million dollars a day. The big loan placed in the United States[30] + would last but twenty days! if this pace of slaughter and of + spending go on long enough, there won't be any men or any money + left on this side the world. Yet there will be both left, of + course; for somehow things never quite go to the ultimate smash + that seems to come. Read the history of the French Revolution. How + did the French nation survive? + + It will go on, unless some unexpected dramatic military event end + it, for something like another year at least--many say for two + years more, and some, three years more. It'll stop, of course, + whenever Germany will propose terms that the Allies can + consider--or something near such terms; and it won't stop before. + By blockade pressure and by fighting, the Allies are gradually + wearing the Germans out. We can see here the gradual pressure of + events in that direction. My guess is that they won't go into a + third winter. + + Well, dear gentlemen, however you may feel about it, that's enough + for me. My day--every day--is divided into these parts: (1) two to + three hours listening to Americans or their agents here whose + cargoes are stopped, to sorrowing American parents whose boys have + run away and gone into the English Army, to nurses and doctors and + shell makers who wish to go to France, to bereaved English men and + women whose sons are "missing": can I have them found in Germany? + (2) to answering letters about these same cheerful subjects; (3) to + going over cases and documents prepared about all these sorts of + troubles and forty other sorts, by the eight or ten secretaries of + the Embassy, and a conference with every one of them; (4) the + reading of two books of telegrams, one incoming, the other + outgoing, and the preparation of a lot of answers; (5) going to the + Foreign Office, not every day but often, to discuss more troubles + there; (6) home to dinner at 8 o'clock--at home or somewhere else, + and there is more talk about the war or about the political + troubles. That for a regular daily routine for pretty nearly a year + and a half! As I say, if anybody is keeping the war up for my + entertainment, he now has my permission to stop. No time to read, + no time to write, little time to think, little or no time to see + the people you most wish to see, I often don't know the day of the + week or of the month: it's a sort of life in the trenches, without + the immediate physical danger. Then I have my cabinet meetings, my + financial reports (money we spend for four governments: I had till + recently about a million dollars subject to my check); then the + commission for the relief of Belgium; then the Ambassadors and + Ministers of the other neutral states--our task is worse than war! + + Well, praise God for sleep. I get from seven to nine hours a night, + unbroken; and I don't take Armageddon to bed with me. + + I don't mind telling _you_ (nobody else) that the more I see just + how great statesmen work and manage great governments--the more I + see of them at close range--whether in Washington or London or + Berlin or Vienna or Constantinople (for these are _my_ Capitals), + the more I admire the methods of the Long Island farmers. Boys, I + swear I could take our crowd and do a better job than many of these + great men do. I have to spend a lot of time to correct their moves + before the other fellow finds out the mistake. For instance I know + I spent $2,000 in telegrams before I could make the German + Government understand the British military age, and the British + Government understand the German military age, for exchanging + prisoners who had lost two legs or arms or both eyes; and I've had + to send a man to Berlin to get a financial report from one man on + one floor of a building there and to take it to another man on the + floor above. Just yesterday I was reminded that I had made eighteen + requests for the same information of the British Government, when + the nineteenth request for it came from Washington; and I have now + telegraphed that same thing nineteen times since the war began. Of + course everybody's worked to death. But something else ails a lot + of 'em all the way from Constantinople to London. Leaving out + common gutter lying (and there's much of it) the sheer stupidity of + governments is amazing. They are all so human, so mighty human! I + wouldn't be a government for any earthly consideration. I'd rather + be a brindled dog and trot under the wagon. + + But it has been an inexpressibly interesting experience to find all + this out for myself. There's a sort of weary satisfaction in + feeling that you've seen too much of them to be fooled by 'em any + more. And, although most men now engaged in this game of government + are mere common mortals with most of the common mortal weaknesses, + now and then a really big man does stumble into the business. I + have my doubts whether a really big man ever deliberately goes into + it. And most of the men who the crowd for the moment thinks are big + men don't really turn out so. It's a game like bull fighting. The + bull is likely to kill you--pretty sure to do so if you keep at the + business long enough; but in the meantime you have some exciting + experiences and the applause of the audience. When you get killed, + they forget you--immediately. There are two rather big men in this + Government, and you wouldn't guess in three rounds who they are. + But in general the war hasn't so far developed very big men in any + country. Else we are yet too close to them to recognize their + greatness. Joffre seems to have great stuff in him; and (I assure + you) you needn't ever laugh at a Frenchman again. They are a great + people. As for the British, there was never such a race. It's + odd--I hear that it happens just now to be the fashion in the + United States to say that the British are not doing their share. + There never was a greater slander. They absolutely hold the Seven + Seas. They have caught about seventy submarines and some of them + are now destroying German ships in the Baltic Sea. They've sent to + France by several times the largest army that any people ever sent + over the sea. They are financing most of their allies and they have + turned this whole island into gun and shell factories. They made a + great mistake at the Dardanelles and they are slower than death to + change their set methods. But no family in the land, from charcoal + burners to dukes, hesitates one moment to send its sons into the + army. When the news comes of their death, they never whimper. When + you come right down to hard facts, the courage and the endurance of + the British and the French excel anything ever before seen on this + planet. All the old stories of bravery from Homer down are outdone + every day by these people. I see these British at close range, + full-dress and undress; and I've got to know a lot of 'em as well + as we can ever come to know anybody after we get grown. There is + simply no end to the silly sides of their character. But, when the + real trial comes, they don't flinch; and (except the thoroughbred + American) there are no such men in the world. + + A seven-foot Kansas lawyer (Kansas all over him) came to see me + yesterday. He came here a month ago on some legal business. He told + me yesterday that he had always despised Englishmen. He's seen a + few with stud-horse clothes and white spats and monocles on who had + gone through Kansas to shoot in the Rocky Mountains. He couldn't + understand 'em and he didn't like 'em. "So infernally uppish," said + he. + + "Well, what do you think of 'em now?" + + "The very best people in the world," said he. I think he has a + notion of enlisting! + + You're still publishing books, I hear. That's a good occupation. + I'd like to be doing it myself. But I can't even get time to read + 'em now. + + But, as you know, nobody's writing anything but war books--from + Kipling to Hall Caine. Poor Kipling!--his boy's dead. I have no + doubt of it. I've had all the German hospitals and prison camps + searched for him in vain. These writing men and women, by the way, + are as true blue and as thoroughbred as any other class. I can + never forget Maurice Hewlett's brave behaviour when he thought that + his flying corps son had been killed by the Germans or drowned at + sea. He's no prig, but a real man. And the women are as fine as the + men.... + + To go back to books: Of course nobody can tell what effect the war + will have on the writing of them, nor what sort of new writers may + come up. You may be sure that everything is stirred to its + profoundest depths and will be stirred still more. Some old stagers + will be laid on the shelf; that's certain. What sort of new ones + will come? I asked H.G. Wells this question. He has promised to + think it out and tell me. He has the power to guess some things + very well. I'll put that question to Conrad when I next see him. + + Does anybody in the United States take the Prime Minister, Mr. + Asquith, to be a great man? His wife is a brilliant woman; and she + has kept a diary ever since he became Prime Minister; and he now + has passed the longest single term in English history. Mr. Dent + thinks he's the biggest man alive, and Dent has some mighty good + instincts. + + Talk about troubles! Think of poor Northcliffe. He thinks he's + saved the nation from its miserable government, and the government + now openly abuses him in the House of Commons. Northcliffe puts on + his brass knuckles and turns the _Times_ building upside down and + sets all the _Daily Mail_ machine guns going, and has to go to bed + to rest his nerves, while the row spreads and deepens. The + Government keeps hell in the prayer-book because without it they + wouldn't know what to do with Northcliffe; and Northcliffe is just + as sure that he has saved England as he is sure the Duke of + Wellington did. + + To come back to the war. (We always do.) Since I wrote the first + part of this letter, I spent an evening with a member of the + Cabinet and he told me so much bad military news, which they + prevent the papers from publishing or even hearing, that to-night I + almost share this man's opinion that the war will last till 1918. + That isn't impossible. If that happens the offer that I heard a + noble old buck make to a group of ladies the other night may be + accepted. This old codger is about seventy-five, ruddy and saucy + yet. "My dear ladies," said he, "if the war goes on and on we shall + have no young men left. A double duty will fall on the old fellows. + I shall be ready, when the need comes, to take four extra wives, + and I daresay there are others of my generation who are as + patriotic as I am." + + All of which is only my long-winded, round-about diplomatic way of + wishing you every one and every one of yours and all the folk in + the office, their assigns, superiors, dependents, companions in + labour--all, everyone and sundry, the happiest of Christmases; and + when you take stock of your manifold blessings, don't forget to be + thankful for the Atlantic Ocean. That's the best asset of safety + that we have. + + Affectionately yours, + + W.H.P. + + _To Mrs. Charles G. Loring_ + + 6 Grosvenor Square, + + London, December 7, 1915. + + DEAR KITTY: + + This is my Christmas letter to you and Chud--a poor thing, but the + best I have to give you. At least it carries my love, dear, and my + wishes that every Christmas under your own roof will be happier + than the preceding one. Since your starting point is on the high + level of your first Christmas in your own home--that's a good wish: + isn't it? + + I'm beginning to think a good deal of your mother and me. Here we + are left alone by every one of you--in a foreign land; and, + contrary to all predictions that any of you would have made about + us four or five years ago, we're faring pretty well, thank you, and + not on the edge of dying of loneliness at all. I tell you, I think + we're pretty brave and hardy. + + We're even capable of becoming cocky and saucy to every one of you. + Be careful, then. + + You see if you have a war to live with you don't necessarily need + children: you'll have strife enough without 'em. We'll console + ourselves with such reflections as these. + + And the truth is--at least about me--that there isn't time to think + of what you haven't got. Of course, I'm working, as always, to + soften the relations between these two governments. So far, in + spite of the pretty deep latent feeling on both sides--far worse + than it ought to be and far worse than I wish it were--I'm working + all the time to keep things as smooth as possible. Happily, nobody + can prove it, but I believe it, that there is now and there has + been all along more danger of a serious misunderstanding than + anybody has known. The Germans have, of course, worked in 1000 ways + to cause misunderstanding between England and the United States. + Then, of course, there has been constant danger in the English + bull-headed insularity which sees nothing but the Englishman's + immediate need, and in the English slowness. Add to these causes + the American ignorance of war and of European conditions. It has + been a God's mercy for us that we have so far had a man like Sir + Edward Grey in his post. And in my post, while there might well + have been a better man, this much at least has been lucky--that I + do have a consciousness of English history and of our common + origin and some sense of the inevitable destiny of the great + English-speaking race--so that, when we have come to sharp corners + in the road, I have known that whatever happen we must travel in + the right general direction--have known that no temporary + difference must be allowed to assume a permanent quality. I have + thought several times that we had passed the worst possible place, + and then a still worse one would appear. It does look now as if we + had faced most of the worst difficulties that can come, but I am + not sure what Congress may do or provoke. If we outlast Congress, + we shall be safe. Now to come through this enormous war even with + no worse feeling than already exists between the two + countries--that'll be a big thing to have done. But it's work like + the work of the English fleet. Nobody can prove that Jellicoe has + been a great admiral. Yet the fleet has done the whole job more + successfully than if it had had sea-fights and lost a part of their + ships. + + Our Note has left a great deal of bad feeling--suppressed, but + existent. A part of it was inevitable and (I'd say) even necessary. + But we put in a lot of things that seem to me to be merely + disputatious, and we didn't write it in the best form. It + corresponds to what you once called _suburban_: do you remember? + Not thoroughbred. But we'll get over even that, especially if the + Administration and the courts continue to bring the Germans to book + who are insulting our dignity and destroying our property and + killing Americans. If we can satisfactorily settle the _Lusitania_ + trouble, the whole outlook will be very good. + + Your mother and I are hearing much interesting political talk. We + dined last night with Mr. Bonar Law. Sir Edward Carson was there. + To-day we lunched with Lady P.--the other side, you see. There are + fundamental differences continually arising. They thought a few + weeks ago that they had the Prime Minister's scalp. He proved too + nimble for them. Now one person after another says to you: + "Kitchener doesn't deserve the reverence the people give him." More + and more folks say he's hard to work with--is domineering and + selfish. Nobody seems really to know him; and there are some signs + that there may be a row about him. + + We've heard nothing from Harold in quite a little while. We have, + you know, three of our footmen in the war. Allen was wounded at + Loos--a flesh, bullet-wound. He's about well now and is soon going + back. Leslie is in the trenches and a postal card came from him the + other day. The third one, Philip, is a prisoner in Germany. Your + mother sent him a lot of things, but we've never heard whether he + received them or not. The general strain--military, political, + financial--gets greater. The streets are darker than ever. The + number of wounded increases rapidly. More houses are turned into + hospitals. The Manchesters', next door, is a hospital now. And + everybody fears worse days are to come. But they have no nerves, + these English. They grit their teeth, but they go on bravely, + enduring everything. We run into experiences every day that melt + you, and the heroic things we hear outnumber and outdo all the + stories in all the books. + + I keep forgetting Xmas, Kitty, and this is my Xmas letter. You + needn't put it in your stocking, but you'd really better burn it + up. It would be the ruination of the world if my frank comments got + loose. It's for you and Chud only. You may fill your stocking full + of the best wishes you ever received--enough to fill the polar bear + skin. And I send you both my love. + + W.H.P. + + _To Ralph W., Arthur 147., and Frank C. Page_[31] + + London, Christmas, 1915. + + DEAR Boys: R.W.P., A.W.P., F.C.P. + + A Merry Christmas to you! Good cheer, good company, good food, good + fires, good golf. I suppose (though the Lord only knows) that I'll + have to be here another Christmas; but another after that? Not on + your life! + + I think I'm as cheerful and hopeful as I ever was, but this + experience here and the war have caused my general confidence in + the orderly progress of civilization somewhat to readjust itself. I + think that any man who looks over the world and who knows something + of the history of human society--I mean any American who really + believes in democracy and in human progress--is somewhat saddened + to see the exceeding slowness of that progress. In the early days + of our Republic hopeful Americans held the opinion that the other + countries of the world would follow our example; that is to say, + would educate the people, would give the masses a chance to become + real men, would make their governments and institutions serve the + people, would dispense with kings and gross privileges and become + free. Well, they haven't done it. France is nominally a republic, + but the masses of its people are far, far backward. Switzerland + _is_ a republic, but a very small one. Denmark is a very free + state, in spite of its monarchical form of government. In South + America they think they have republics, but they haven't the + slightest idea of the real education and freedom of the people. + Practically, therefore, the United States and the self-governing + British colonies are the only really free countries of much + importance in the whole world--these and this Kingdom. Our example + hasn't been followed. In Europe, Germany and Russia in particular + have monarchs who are in absolute command. Thus on both sides the + world, so far as government and the danger of war are concerned, + there hasn't been very much real progress in five hundred years. + + This is a little disappointing. And it means, of course, that we + are likely to have periodical earthquakes like this present one + till some radical change come. Republics have their faults, no + doubt. But they have at least this virtue: that no country where + the people really have the control of their government is likely to + start out deliberately on any war of conquest--is not likely to run + amuck--and will not regard its population as mere food for shell + and powder. + + Nor do I believe that our example of our government has, relatively + to our strength and wealth and population, as much influence in the + world as we had one hundred years ago. Our people have no foreign + consciousness and I know that our government knows almost nothing + about European affairs; nor do our people know. As regards foreign + affairs our government lacks proper machinery. Take this as an + illustration: The President wrote vigorous and proper notes about + the _Lusitania_ and took a firm stand with Germany. Germany has + paid no attention to the _Lusitania_ outrage. Yet (as I understand + it) the people will not run the risk of war--or the Administration + thinks they will not--and hence the President can do nothing to + make his threat good. Therefore we stand in a ridiculous situation; + and nobody cares how many notes we write. I don't know that the + President could have done differently--unless, before he sent the + _Lusitania_ notes, he had called Congress together and submitted + his notes to Congress. But, as the matter stands, the Germans are + merely encouraged to blow up factories and practically to carry on + war in the United States, because they know we can (or will) do + nothing. Mere notes break nobody's skin. + + We don't seem to have any machinery to bring any influence to bear + on foreign governments or on foreign opinion; and, this being so, + it is little wonder that the rest of the world does not follow our + republican example. + + And this sort of impotence in influence has curious effects at + home. For example, the ship-purchase bill, as it was at the last + session of Congress, was an economic crime. See what has happened: + We have waked up to the fact that we must have a big navy. Well, a + navy is of no far-fighting value unless we have auxiliary ships and + a lot of 'em. Admiral Jellicoe has 3,000 ships under his command; + and he couldn't keep his fleet on the job if he didn't have them. + Most of them are commandeered merchant, passenger, and fishing + ships. Now we haven't merchant, passenger, and fishing ships to + commandeer. We've got to build and buy auxiliary ships to our navy. + This, to my mind, makes the new ship-purchase bill, or something + like it, necessary. Else our navy, when it comes to the scratch, + will be of no fighting value, however big it be. It's the price + we've got to pay for not having built up a merchant marine. And we + haven't built up a merchant marine because we've had no foreign + consciousness. While our Irishmen have been leading us to twist the + Lion's tail, we've been depending almost wholly on English + ships--and, in late years, on German ships. You can't cross the + ocean yet in a decent American ship. You see, we've declared our + independence; and, so far as individual development goes, we've + worked it out. But the governmental machinery for maintaining it + and for making it visible to the world--we've simply neglected to + build it or to shape it. Hence the President's notes hurt nobody + and accomplish nothing; nor could our navy put up a real fight, for + lack of colliers and supply ships. It's the same way all around the + horizon. And these are the reasons we haven't made our democracy + impress the world more. + + A democracy is not a quick-trigger war-engine and can't be made + into one. When the quick-trigger engines get to work, they forget + that a democracy does not consider fighting the first duty of man. + You can bend your energies to peaceful pursuits or you can bend + them to war. It's hard to do both at the same time. The Germans are + the only people who have done both at the same time; and even they + didn't get their navy big enough for their needs. + + When the infernal thing's over--that'll be a glad day; and the + European world won't really know what it has cost in men and money + and loss of standards till it is over.... + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + + + _To Walter H. Page, Jr._[32]. + + London, Christmas, 1915. + + SIR: + + For your first Christmas, I have the honour to send you my most + affectionate greetings; and in wishing you all good health, I take + the liberty humbly to indicate some of the favours of fortune that + I am pleased to think I enjoy in common with you. + + _First_--I hear with pleasure that you are quite well content with + yourself--not because of a reasoned conviction of your own worth, + which would be mere vanity and unworthy of you, but by reason of a + philosophical disposition. It is too early for you to bother over + problems of self-improvement--as for me it is too late; wherefore + we are alike in the calm of our self-content. What others may think + or say about us is a subject of the smallest concern to us. + Therefore they generally speak well of us; for there is little + satisfaction in speaking ill of men who care nothing for your + opinion of them. Then, too, we are content to be where we happen to + be--a fact that we did not order in the beginning and need not now + concern ourselves about. Consider the eternal coming and going of + folk. On every road many are travelling one way and an equal number + are travelling the other way. It is obvious that, if they were all + content to remain at the places whence they set forth, the + distribution of the population would be the same. Why therefore + move hither and yon at the cost of much time and labour and money, + since nothing is accomplished thereby? We spare ourselves by being + content to remain where we are. We thereby have the more time for + reflection. Nor can we help observing with a smile that all persons + who have good reasons to see us themselves make the necessary + journey after they discover that we remain fixed. + + Again, people about us are continually doing this service and that + for some other people--running errands, mending fences, bearing + messages, building, and tearing down; and they all demand equal + service in return. Thus a large part of mankind keeps itself in + constant motion like bubbles of water racing around a pool at the + foot of a water-fall--or like rabbits hurrying into their warrens + and immediately hurrying out again. Whereas, while these antics + amuse and sadden us, we for the most part remain where we are. + Hence our wants are few; they are generally most courteously + supplied without our asking; or, if we happen to be momentarily + forgotten, we can quickly secure anything in the neighbourhood by a + little judicious squalling. Why, then, should we whirl as bubbles + or scurry as rabbits? Our conquering self-possession gives a + masterful charm to life that the victims of perpetual locomotion + never seem to attain. + + You have discovered, and my experience confirms yours, that a + perpetual self-consciousness brings most of the misery of the + world. Men see others who are richer than they; or more famous, or + more fortunate--so they think; and they become envious. You have + not reached the period of such empty vanity, and I have long passed + it. Let us, therefore, make our mutual vows not to be disturbed by + the good luck or the good graces of others, but to continue, + instead, to contemplate the contented cat on the rug and the + unenvious sky that hangs over all alike. + + This mood will continue to keep our lives simple. Consider our + diet. Could anything be simpler or better? We are not even tempted + by the poisonous victuals wherewith mankind destroys itself. The + very first sound law of life is to look to the belly; for it is + what goes into a man that ruins him. By avoiding murderous food, we + may hope to become centenarians. And why not? The golden streets + will not be torn up and we need be in no indecent haste to travel + even on them. The satisfactions of this life are just beginning for + us; and we shall be wise to endure this world for as long a period + as possible. + + And sleep is good--long sleep and often; and your age and mine + permit us to indulge in it without the sneers of the lark or the + cock or the dawn. + + I pray you, sir, therefore, accept my homage as the philosopher + that you are and my assurance of that high esteem indicated by my + faithful imitation of your virtues. I am, + + With the most distinguished consideration, + With the sincerest esteem, and + With the most affectionate good wishes, + Sir, + Your proud, + Humble, + Obedient + GRANDDADDY. + +To Master Walter Hines Page, + +On Christmas, 1915. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 23: By William Roscoe Thayer, published in 1915.] + +[Footnote 24: The Ambassador had in mind _The Round Table_.] + +[Footnote 25: James W. Gerard, American Ambassador to Germany, and, as +such, in charge of British interests in Germany.] + +[Footnote 26: The German military and naval attachés, whose persistent +and outrageous violation of American laws led to their dismissal by +President Wilson.] + +[Footnote 27: E.S. Martin, Editor of _Life_.] + +[Footnote 28: Mr. Henry Ford at this time was getting together his +famous peace ship, which was to sail to Europe "to get the boys out of +the trenches by Christmas."] + +[Footnote 29: J.M. Dent, the London publisher.] + +[Footnote 30: $500,000,000.] + +[Footnote 31: The Ambassador's Sons.] + +[Footnote 32: The Ambassador's infant grandson, son of Arthur W. Page.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A PERPLEXED AMBASSADOR + + +The beginning of the new year saw no improvement in German-American +relations. Germany and Austria continued to violate the pledge given by +Bernstorff after the sinking of the _Arabic_--if that shifty statement +could be regarded as a "pledge." On November 7, 1915, the Austrians sank +the _Ancona_, in the Mediterranean, drowning American citizens under +conditions of particular atrocity, and submarine attacks on merchant +ships, without the "warning" or attempt to save passengers and crew +which Bernstorff had promised, took place nearly every day. On April 18, +1916, the _Sussex_ was torpedoed in the English Channel, without warning +and with loss of American life. This caused what seemed to be a real +crisis; President Wilson sent what was practically an ultimatum to +Germany, demanding that it "immediately declare and effect an +abandonment of its present methods of warfare against passenger and +freight carrying vessels," declaring that, unless it did so, the United +States would sever diplomatic relations with the German Empire. In +reply, Germany apparently backed down and gave the promise the President +had demanded. However, it coupled this concession with an expression of +its expectation that the United States would compel Great Britain to +observe international law in the blockade. As this latter statement +might be interpreted as a qualification of its surrender, the incident +hardly ended satisfactorily. + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + Bournemouth + + May 22, 1916. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + I stick on the back of this sheet a letter that Sydney Brooks wrote + from New York (May 1st) to the _Daily Mail_. He formulates a + question that we have many times asked ourselves and that, in one + way or other, comes into everybody's mind here. Of course the + common fellow in Jonesville who has given most of his time and + energy to earning a living for his wife and children has no foreign + consciousness, whether his Jonesville be in the United States or in + England or in France or in Zanzibar. The real question is, _Do_ + these fellows in Jonesville make up the United States? or has there + been such a lack of prompt leadership as to make all the Jonesville + people confused? It's hard for me to judge at this distance just + how far the President has led and just how far he has waited and + been pushed along. Suppose he had stood on the front steps every + morning before breakfast for a month after the _Lusitania_ went + down and had called to the people in the same tone that he used in + his note to Germany--had sounded a bugle call--would we have felt + as we now feel? What would the men in Jonesville have done then? + Would they have got their old guns down from over the doors? Or do + they so want peace and so think that they can have peace always + that they've lost their spine? Have they really been Bryanized, + Fordized, Janeaddamsized, Sundayschooled, and Chautauquaed into + supine creatures to whom the United States and the ideals of the + Fathers mean nothing? Who think a German is as good as an + Englishman? Who have no particular aims or aspirations for our + country and for democracy? When T.R. was in the White House he + surely was an active fellow. He called us to exercise ourselves + every morning. He bawled "Patriotism" loudly. We surely thought we + were awake during those strenuous years. Were we really awake or + did we only look upon him and his antics as a sort of good show? + All that time Bryan was peace-a-footing and prince-of-peacing. Now + did he really have the minds of the people or did T.R.? + + If we've really gone to sleep and if the United States stands for + nothing but personal comfort and commercialism to our own people, + what a job you and the patriotic men of your generation have cut + out for you! + + My own conviction (which I don't set great store by) is that our + isolation and prosperity have not gone so far in softening us as it + seems. They've gone a good way, no doubt; but I think that even the + Jonesville people yet feel their Americanism. What they need + is--leadership. Their Congressmen are poor, timid, pork-barrel + creatures. Their governors are in training for the Senate. The + Vice-President reads no official literature of the war, "because + then I might have a conviction about it and that wouldn't be + neutral." And so on. If the people had a _real_ leadership, I + believe they'd wake up even in Jonesville. + + Well, let's let these things go for the moment. How's the + Ambassador[33]? And the Ambassador's mother and sister? They're + nice folks of whom and from whom I hear far too little. Give 'em my + love. I don't want you to rear a fighting family. But these kids + won't and mustn't grow up peace-cranks--not that anybody objects to + peace, but I do despise and distrust a crank, a crank about + anything. That's the lesson we've got to learn from these troubled + times. First, let cranks alone--the other side of the street is + good enough for them. Then, if they persist, I see nothing to do + but to kill 'em, and that's troublesome and inconvenient. + + But, as I was saying, bless the babies. I can't begin to tell you + how very much I long to see them, to make their acquaintance, to + chuckle 'em and punch 'em and see 'em laugh, and to see just what + sort of kids they be. + + I've written you how in my opinion there's no country in the world + fit for a modern gentleman and man-of-character to live in except + (1) the United States and (2) this island. And this island is + chiefly valuable for the breed of men--the right stock. They become + more valuable to the world after they go away from home. But the + right blood's here. This island's breed is the best there is. An + Englishman or a Scotchman is the best ancestor in this world, many + as his shortcomings are. Some Englishman asked me one night in + what, I thought, the Englishman appeared at his best. I said, "As + an ancestor to Americans!" And this is the fundamental reason why + we (two peoples) belong close together. Reasons that flow from + these are such as follows: (1) The race is the sea-mastering race + and the navy-managing race and the ocean-carrying race; (2) the + race is the literary race, (3) the exploring and settling and + colonizing race, (4) the race to whom fair play appeals, and (5) + that insists on individual development. + + Your mother having read these two days 1,734 pages of memoirs of + the Coke family, one of whose members wrote the great law + commentaries, another carried pro-American votes in Parliament in + our Revolutionary times, refused peerages, defied kings and--begad! + here they are now, living in the same great house and saying and + doing what they darn please--we know this generation of 'em!--well, + your mother having read these two big volumes about the old ones + and told me 175 good stories out of these books, bless her soul! + she's gone to sleep in a big chair on the other side of the table. + Well she may, she walked for two hours this morning over hills and + cliffs and through pine woods and along the beach. I guess I'd + better wake her up and get her to go to bed--as the properer thing + to do at this time o'night, viz. 11. My golf this afternoon was too + bad to confess. But I must say that a 650 and a 730 yard hole + argues the audacity of some fellow and the despair of many more. + Nature made a lot of obstructions there and Man made more. It must + be seven or eight miles around that course! It's almost a three + hour task to follow my slow ball around it. I suggested we play + with howitzers instead of clubs. Good night! + + W.H.P. + + _To Frank N. Doubleday and Others_ + + Royal Bath and East Cliff Hotel, + Bournemouth, May 29, 1916. + + DEAR D.P. & Co.: + + I always have it in mind to write you letters; but there's no + chance in my trenches in London; and, since I have not been out of + London for nearly two years--since the war began--only an + occasional half day and a night--till now--naturally I've concocted + no letter. I've been down here a week--a week of sunshine, praise + God--and people are not after me every ten minutes, or Governments + either; and my most admirable and efficient staff (now grown to one + hundred people) permit few letters and telegrams to reach me. There + never was a little rest more grateful. The quiet sea out my window + shows no sign of crawling submarines; and, in general, it's as + quiet and peaceful here as in Garden City itself. + + I'm on the home-stretch now in all my thoughts and plans. Three of + my four years are gone, and the fourth will quickly pass. That's + not only the limit of my leave, but it's quite enough for me. I + shouldn't care to live through another such experience, if the + chance should ever come to me. It has changed my whole life and my + whole outlook on life; and, perhaps, you'd like to hear some + impressions that it has made upon me. + + The first impression--perhaps the strongest--is a loss of permanent + interest in Europe, especially all Europe outside of this Kingdom. + I have never had the illusion that Europe had many things that we + needed to learn. The chief lesson that it has had, in my judgment, + is the lesson of the art of living--the comforts and the courtesies + of life, the refinements and the pleasures of conversation and of + courteous conduct. The upper classes have this to teach us; and we + need and can learn much from them. But this seems to me all--or + practically all. What we care most for are individual character, + individual development, and a fair chance for every human being. + Character, of course, the English have--immense character, colossal + character. But even they have not the dimmest conception of what we + mean by a fair chance for every human being--not the slightest. In + one thousand years they _may_ learn it from us. Now on the + continent, the only important Nation that has any character worth + mentioning is the French. Of course the little nations--some of + them--have character, such as Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, etc. + But these are all. The others are simply rotten. In giving a free + chance to every human creature, we've nothing to learn from + anybody. In character, I bow down to the English and Scotch; I + respect the Frenchman highly and admire his good taste. But, for + our needs and from our point of view, the English can teach us only + two great lessons--character and the art of living (if you are + rich). + + The idea that we were brought up on, therefore, that Europe is the + home of civilization in general--nonsense! It's a periodical + slaughter-pen, with all the vices that this implies. I'd as lief + live in the Chicago stock-yards. There they kill beeves and pigs. + Here they kill men and (incidentally) women and children. I should + no more think of encouraging or being happy over a child of mine + becoming a European of any Nation than I should be happy over his + fall from Grace in any other way. + + Our form of government and our scheme of society--God knows they + need improving--are yet so immeasurably superior, as systems, to + anything on this side the world that no comparison need be made. + + My first strong impression, then, is not that Europe is + "effete"--that isn't it. It is mediæval--far back toward the Dark + Ages, much of it yet uncivilized, held back by _inertia_ when not + held back by worse things. The caste system is a constant burden + almost as heavy as war itself and often quite as cruel. + + The next impression I have is, that, during the thousand years that + will be required for Europe to attain real (modern) civilization, + wars will come as wars have always come in the past. The different + countries and peoples and governments will not and cannot learn the + lesson of federation and coöperation so long as a large mass of + their people have no voice and no knowledge except of their + particular business. Compare the miles of railway in proportion to + population with the same proportion in the United States--or the + telephones, or the use of the mails, or of bank checks; or make any + other practical measure you like. Every time, you'll come back to + the discouraging fact that the masses in Europe are driven as + cattle. So long as this is true, of course, they'll be driven + periodically into wars. So many countries, so many races, so many + languages all within so small an area as Europe positively invite + deadly differences. If railroads had been invented before each + people had developed its own separate language, Europe could + somehow have been coordinated, linked up, federated, made to look + at life somewhat in the same way. As it is, wars will be bred here + periodically for about another thousand years. The devil of this + state of things is that they may not always be able to keep their + wars at home. + + For me, then, except England and the smaller exceptions that I have + mentioned, Europe will cut no big figure in my life. In all the + humanities, we are a thousand years ahead of any people here. So + also in the adaptabilities and the conveniences of life, in its + versatilities and in its enjoyments. Most folk are stolid and sad + or dull on this side of the world. Else how could they take their + kings and silly ceremonies seriously? + + Now to more immediate and definite impressions. I have for a year + had the conviction that we ought to get into the war--into the + economic war--for the following among many reasons. + + 1. That's the only way to shorten it. We could cause Germany's + credit (such as she has) instantly to collapse, and we could hasten + her hard times at home which would induce a surrender. + + 2. That's the only way we can have any real or important influence + in adjusting whatever arrangements can be made to secure peace. + + 3. That's the best way we can inspire complete respect for us in + the minds of other nations and thereby, perhaps, save ourselves + from some wars in the future. + + 4. That's the best way we can assert our own character--our + Americanism, and forever get rid of all kinds of hyphens. + + 5. That's the only way we shall ever get a real and sensible + preparedness, which will be of enormous educational value even if + no military use should ever be made of our preparation. + + 6. That's the only way American consciousness will ever get back to + the self-sacrificing and patriotic point of view of the Fathers of + the Republic. + + 7. That's the best way to emancipate ourselves from cranks. + + 8. That's the only way we'll ever awaken in our whole people a + foreign consciousness that will enable us to assert our natural + influence in the world--political, financial, social, + commercial--the best way to make the rest of the world our + customers and friends and followers. + + All the foregoing I have fired at the Great White Chief for a year + by telegraph and by mail; and I have never fired it anywhere else + till now. Be very quiet, then. No man with whom I have talked or + whose writings I have read seems to me to have an adequate + conception of the colossal changes that the war is bringing and + will bring. Of course, I do not mean to imply that I have any + adequate conception. Nobody can yet grasp it. The loss of (say) ten + million men from production of work or wares or children; what a + changed world that fact alone will make! The presence in all Europe + of (perhaps) fifteen or twenty million more women than men will + upset the whole balance of society as regards the sexes. The loss + of most of the accumulated capital of Europe and the vast burdens + of debt for the future to pay will change the financial relations + of the whole world. From these two great losses--men and money--God + knows the many kinds of changes that will come. Women are doing and + will continue to do many kinds of work hitherto done by men. + + Of course there are some great gains. Many a flabby or abject + fellow will come out of the war a real man: he'll be nobody's slave + thereafter. The criminal luxury of the rich will not assert itself + again for a time. The unparalleled addition to the world's heroic + deeds will be to the good of mankind, as the unparalleled suffering + has eclipsed all records. The survivors will be in an heroic mood + for the rest of their lives. In general, life will start on a new + plane and a lot of old stupid habits and old party quarrels and + class prejudices will disappear. To get Europe going again will + call for new resolution and a new sort of effort. Nobody can yet + see what far-reaching effects it will have on government. + + If I could make the English and Scotch over, I could greatly + improve them. I'd cut out the Englishman's arrogance and key him up + to a quicker gait. Lord! he's a slow beast. But he's worked out the + germ and the beginning of all real freedom, and he has character. + He knows how to conserve and to use wealth. He's a great John Bull, + after all. And as for commanding the sea, for war or trade, you may + properly bow down to him and pay him homage. The war will, I think, + quicken him up. It will lessen his arrogance--to _us_, at least. I + think it will make him stronger and humbler. And, whatever his + virtues and his faults, he's the only Great Power we can go hand in + hand with.... + + These kinds of things have been going on now nearly two years, and + not till these ten days down here have I had time or chance or a + free mind to think them over; and now there's nothing in particular + to think--nothing but just to go on, doing these 40,000 things (and + they take a new turn every day) the best I can, without the + slightest regard to consequences. I've long ago passed the place + where, having acted squarely according to my best judgment, I can + afford to pay the slightest attention to what anybody thinks. I see + men thrown on the scrap heap every day. Many of them deserve it, + but a good many do not. In the abnormal state of mind that + everybody has, there are inevitable innocent misunderstandings, + which are as fatal as criminal mistakes. The diplomatic service is + peculiarly exposed to misunderstandings: and, take the whole + diplomatic service of all nations as shown up by this great strain, + it hasn't stood the test very well. I haven't the respect for it + that I had when I started. Yet, God knows, I have a keen sympathy + for it. I've seen some of 'em displaced; some of 'em lie down; some + of 'em die. + + As I've got closer and closer to big men, as a rule they shrink up. + They are very much like the rest of us--many of 'em more so. Human + nature is stripped in these times of most of its disguises, and men + have to stand and be judged as a rule by their real qualities. + Among all the men in high place here, Sir Edward Grey stands out in + my mind bigger, not smaller, than he stood in the beginning. He's a + square, honourable gentleman, if there is one in this world. And it + is he, of course, with whom I have had all my troubles. It's been a + truly great experience to work and to quarrel with such a man. + We've kept the best friendship--a constantly ripening one. There + are others like him--only smaller. + + Yet they are all in turn set upon by the press or public opinion + and hounded like criminals. They try (somebody tries) to drive 'em + out of office every once in a while. If there's anything I'm afraid + of, it's the newspapers. The correspondents are as thick as flies + in summer--all hunting sensations--especially the yellow American + press. I play the game with these fellows always squarely, + sometimes I fear indiscreetly. But what is discretion? That's the + hardest question of all. We have regular meetings. I tell 'em + everything I can--always on the condition that I'm kept out of the + papers. If they'll never mention me, I'll do everything possible + for them. Absolute silence of the newspapers (as far as I can + affect it) is the first rule of safety. So far as I know, we've + done fairly well; but always in proportion to silence. I don't want + any publicity. I don't want any glory. I don't want any office. I + don't want nothin'--but to do this job squarely, to get out of this + scrape, to go off somewhere in the sunshine and to see if I can + slip back into my old self and see the world sane again. Yet I'm + immensely proud that I have had the chance to do some good--to keep + our record straight--as far as I can, and to be of what service I + can to these heroic people. + + Out of it all, one conviction and one purpose grows and becomes + clearer. The world isn't yet half-organized. In the United States + we've lived in a good deal of a fool's paradise. The world isn't + half so safe a place as we supposed. Until steamships and + telegraphs brought the nations all close together, of course we + could enjoy our isolation. We can't do so any longer. One mad fool + in Berlin has turned the whole earth topsy-turvy. We'd forgotten + what our forefathers learned--the deadly dangers of real monarchs + and of castes and classes. There are a lot of 'em left in the world + yet. We've grown rich and-weak; we've let cranks and old women + shape our ideas. We've let our politicians remain provincial and + ignorant. + + And believe me, dear D.P. & Co. with affectionate greeting to every + one of you and to every one of yours, collectively and singly, + + Yours heartily, + + W.H.P. + + _Memorandum written after attending the service at St. Paul's in + memory of Lord Kitchener_[34]. + + American Embassy, London. + + There were two Kitcheners, as every informed person knows--(1) the + popular hero and (2) the Cabinet Minister with whom it was + impossible for his associates to get along. He made his + administrative career as an autocrat dealing with dependent and + inferior peoples. This experience fixed his habits and made it + impossible for him to do team work or to delegate work or even to + inform his associates of what he had done or was doing. While, + therefore, his name raised a great army, he was in many ways a + hindrance in the Cabinet. First one thing and then another was + taken out of his hands--ordnance, munitions, war plans. When he + went to Gallipoli, some persons predicted that he would never come + back. There was a hot meeting of the Cabinet at which he was asked + to go to Russia, to make a sort of return visit for the visit that + important Russians had made here, and to link up Russia's military + plans with the plans of the Western Allies. He is said to have + remarked that he was going only because he had been ordered to go. + There was a hope and a feeling again that he might not come back + till after the war. + + Now just how much truth there is in all this, one has to guess; but + undoubtedly a good deal. He did much in raising the army, but his + name did more. What an extraordinary situation! The great hero of + the Nation an impossible man to work with. The Cabinet could not + tell the truth about him: the people would not believe it and would + make the Cabinet suffer. Moreover, such a row would have given + comfort to the enemy. Kitchener, on his part, could not afford to + have an open quarrel. The only solution was to induce him to go + away for a long time. Both sides saw that. Such thoughts were in + everybody's mind while the impressive funeral service was said and + sung in St. Paul's. The Great Hero, who had failed, was celebrated + of course as a Great Hero--quite truly and yet far from true. For + him his death came at a lucky time: his work was done. + + There is even a rumour, which I don't for a moment believe, that he + is alive on the Orkney Islands and prefers to disappear there till + the war ends. This is fantastic, and it was doubtless suggested by + the story that he did disappear for several years while he was a + young officer. + + I could not help noticing, when I saw all the Cabinet together at + the Cathedral, how much older many of them look than they looked + two years ago. Sir Edward Grey, Mr. Asquith, Mr. Balfour, who is + really an old man, Lloyd George--each of these seems ten years + older. And so does the King. The men in responsible places who are + not broken by the war will be bent. General French, since his + retirement to command of the forces in England, seems much older. + So common is this quick aging that Lady Jellicoe, who went to + Scotland to see her husband after the big naval battle, wrote to + Mrs. Page in a sort of rhapsody and with evident surprise that the + Admiral really did not seem older! The weight of this thing is so + prodigious that it is changing all men who have to do with it. Men + and women (who do not wear mourning) mention the death of their + sons in a way that a stranger might mistake for indifference. And + it has a curious effect on marriages. Apparently every young fellow + who gets a week's leave from the trenches comes home and marries + and, of course, goes straight back--especially the young officers. + You see weddings all day as you pass the favourite churches; and + already the land is full of young widows. + + _To Edwin A. Alderman_[35] + + Embassy of the U.S.A., London, + + June 22, 1916. + + MY DEAR ED ALDERMAN: + + I shall not forget how good you were to take time to write me a + word about the meeting of the Board--_the_ Board: there's no other + one in that class--at Hampton[36], and I did most heartily + appreciate the knowledge that you all remembered me. Alas! it's a + long, long time ago when we all met--so long ago that to me it + seems a part of a former incarnation. These three years--especially + these two years of the war--have changed my whole outlook on life + and foreshortened all that came before. I know I shall never link + back to many things (and alas! too, to many people) that once + seemed important and surely were interesting. Life in these + trenches (five warring or quarrelling governments mining and + sapping under me and shooting over me)--two years of universal + ambassadorship in this hell are enough--enough I say, even for a + man who doesn't run away from responsibilities or weary of toil. + And God knows how it has changed me and is changing me: I sometimes + wonder, as a merely intellectual and quite impersonal curiosity. + + Strangely enough I keep pretty well--very well, in fact. Perhaps + I've learned how to live more wisely than I knew in the old days; + perhaps again, I owe it to my old grandfather who lived (and + enjoyed) ninety-four years. I have walked ten miles to-day and I + sit down as the clock strikes eleven (P.M.) to write this letter. + + You will recall more clearly than I certain horrible, catastrophic, + universal-ruin passages in Revelation--monsters swallowing the + universe, blood and fire and clouds and an eternal crash, rolling + ruin enveloping all things--well, all that's come. There are, + perhaps, ten million men dead of this war and, perhaps, one hundred + million persons to whom death would be a blessing. Add to these as + many millions more whose views of life are so distorted that blank + idiocy would be a better mental outlook, and you'll get a hint (and + only a hint) of what the continent has already become--a bankrupt + slaughter-house inhabited by unmated women. We have talked of + "problems" in our day. We never had a problem; for the worst task + we ever saw was a mere blithe pastime compared with what these + women and the few men that will remain here must face. The hills + about Verdun are not blown to pieces worse than the whole social + structure and intellectual and spiritual life of Europe. I wonder + that anybody is sane. + + Now we have swung into a period and a state of mind wherein all + this seems normal. A lady said to me at a dinner party (think of a + dinner party at all!), "Oh, how I shall miss the war when it ends! + Life without it will surely be dull and tame. What can we talk + about? Will the old subjects ever interest us again?" I said, + "Let's you and me try and see." So we talked about books--not war + books--old country houses that we both knew, gardens and gold and + what not; and in fifteen minutes we swung back to the war before we + were aware. + + I get out of it, as the days rush by, certain fundamental + convictions, which seem to me not only true--true beyond any + possible cavil--truer than any other political things are true--and + far more important than any other contemporary facts whatsoever in + any branch of endeavour, but better worth while than anything else + that men now living may try to further: + + 1. The cure for democracy is more democracy. The danger to the + world lies in autocrats and autocracies and privileged classes; and + these things have everywhere been dangerous and always will be. + There's no security in any part of the world where people cannot + think of a government without a king, and there never will be. You + cannot conceive of a democracy that will unprovoked set out on a + career of conquest. If all our religious missionary zeal and cash + could be turned into convincing Europe of this simple and obvious + fact, the longest step would be taken for human advancement that + has been taken since 1776. If Carnegie, or, after he is gone, his + Peace People could see this, his Trust might possibly do some good. + + 2. As the world stands, the United States and Great Britain must + work together and stand together to keep the predatory nations in + order. A League to Enforce Peace and the President's idea of + disentangling alliances are all in the right direction, but vague + and general and cumbersome, a sort of bastard children of + Neutrality. _The_ thing, the _only_ thing is--a perfect + understanding between the English-speaking peoples. That's + necessary, and that's all that's necessary. We must boldly take the + lead in that. I frankly tell my friends here that the English have + got to throw away their damned arrogance and their insularity and + that we Americans have got to throw away our provincial ignorance + ("What is abroad to us?"), hang our Irish agitators and shoot our + hyphenates and bring up our children with reverence for English + history and in the awe of English literature. This is the only job + now in the world worth the whole zeal and energy of all + first-class, thoroughbred English-speaking men. _We_ must lead. We + are natural leaders. The English must be driven to lead. Item: We + must get their lads into our universities, ours into theirs. They + don't know how to do it, except the little driblet of Rhodes men. + Think this out, remembering what fools we've been about exchange + professors with Germany! How much good could Fons Smith[37] do in a + thousand years, on such an errand as he went on to Berlin? And the + English don't know _how_ to do it. They are childish (in some + things) beyond belief. An Oxford or Cambridge man never thinks of + going back to his university except about twice a lifetime when his + college formally asks him to come and dine. Then he dines as + docilely as a scared Freshman. I am a D.C.L. of Oxford. I know a + lot of their faculty. They are hospitality itself. But I've never + yet found out one important fact about the university. They never + tell me. I've been down at Cambridge time and again and stayed with + the Master of one of the colleges. I can no more get at what they + do and how they do it than I could get at the real meaning of a + service in a Buddhist Temple. I have spent a good deal of time with + Lord Rayleigh, who is the Chancellor of Cambridge University. He + never goes there. If he were to enter the town, all the men in the + university would have to stop their work, get on their parade-day + gowns, line-up by precedent and rank and go to meet him and go + through days of ceremony and incantations. I think the old man has + been there once in five years. Now this mediævalism must go--or be + modified. You fellers who have universities must work a real + alliance--a big job here. But to go on. + + The best informed English opinion is ripe for a complete working + understanding with us. We've got to work up our end--get rid of our + ignorance of foreign affairs, our shirt-sleeve, complaining kind of + diplomacy, our sport of twisting the lion's tail and such things + and fall to and bring the English out. It's the _one_ race in this + world that's got the guts. + + Hear this in confirmation: I suppose 1,000 English women have been + to see me--as a last hope--to ask me to have inquiries made in + Germany about their "missing" sons or husbands, generally sons. + They are of every class and rank and kind, from marchioness to + scrubwoman. Every one tells her story with the same dignity of + grief, the same marvellous self-restraint, the same courtesy and + deference and sorrowful pride. Not one has whimpered--but one. And + it turned out that she was a Belgian. It's the breed. Spartan + mothers were theatrical and pinchbeck compared to these women. + + I know a lady of title, very well to do, who for a year got up at + 5:30 and drove herself in her own automobile from her home in + London to Woolwich where she worked all day long in a shell factory + as a volunteer and got home at 8 o'clock at night. At the end of a + year they wanted her to work in a London place where they keep the + records of the Woolwich work. "Think of it," said she, as she shook + her enormous diamond ear-rings as I sat next to her at dinner one + Sunday night not long ago, "think of it--what an easy time I now + have. I don't have to start till half-past seven and I get home at + half-past six!" + + I could fill forty pages with stories like these. This very Sunday + I went to see a bedridden old lady who sent me word that she had + something to tell me. Here it was: An English flying man's machine + got out of order and he had to descend in German territory. The + Germans captured him and his machine. They ordered him to take two + of their flying men in his machine to show them a particular place + in the English lines. He declined. "Very well, we'll shoot you, + then." At last he consented. The three started. The Englishman + quietly strapped himself in. There were no straps for the two + Germans. The Englishman looped-the-loop. The Germans fell out. The + Englishman flew back home. "My son has been to see me from France. + He told me that. He knows the man"--thus said the old lady and + thanked me for coming to hear it! She didn't know that the story + has been printed. + + But the real question is, "How are you?" Do you keep strong? Able, + without weariness, to keep up your good work? I heartily hope so, + old man. Take good care of yourself--very. + + My love to Mrs. Alderman. Please don't quote me--yet. I have to be + very silent publicly about everything. After March 4th, I shall + again be free. + + Yours always faithfully, + + W.H.P. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 33: A playful reference to the Ambassador's infant grandson, +Walter H. Page, Jr.] + +[Footnote 34: Drowned on the Hampshire, June 5, 1916, off the coast of +Scotland.] + +[Footnote 35: President of the University of Virginia.] + +[Footnote 36: Hampton Institute, at Hampton, Va.] + +[Footnote 37: C. Alphonso Smith, Professor of English, U.S. Naval +Academy; Roosevelt Professor at Berlin, 1910-11.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WASHINGTON IN THE SUMMER OF 1916 + + +I + +In July Page received a cablegram summoning him to Washington. This +message did not explain why his presence was desired, nor on this point +was Page ever definitely enlightened, though there were more or less +vague statements that a "change of atmosphere" might better enable the +Ambassador to understand the problems which were then engrossing the +State Department. + +The President had now only a single aim in view. From the date of the +so-called _Sussex_ "pledge," May 4, 1916, until the resumption of +submarine warfare on February 1, 1917, Mr. Wilson devoted all his +energies to bringing the warring powers together and establishing peace. +More than one motive was inspiring the president in this determination. +That this policy accorded with his own idealistic tendencies is true, +and that he aspired to a position in history as the great "peace maker" +is probably the fact, but he had also more immediate and practical +purposes in mind. Above all, Mr. Wilson was bent on keeping the United +States out of the war; he knew that there was only one certain way of +preserving peace in this country, and that was by bringing the war +itself to an end. "An early peace is all that can prevent the Germans +from driving us at last into the war," Page wrote at about this time; +and this single sentence gives the key to the President's activities for +the succeeding nine months. The negotiations over the _Sussex_ had +taught Mr. Wilson this truth. He understood that the pledge which the +German Government had made was only a conditional one; that the +submarine campaign had been suspended only for the purpose of giving the +United States a breathing spell during which it could persuade Great +Britain and France to make peace. + +"I repeat my proposal," Bernstorff cabled his government on April +26,[38] "to suspend the submarine war at least for the period of +negotiations. This would remove all danger of a breach [with the United +States] and also enable Wilson to continue his labours in his great plan +of bringing about a peace based upon the freedom of the seas--i.e., that +for the future trade shall be free from all interference in time of war. +According to the assurances which Wilson, through House, has given me, +he would in that case take in hand measures directly against England. He +is, however, of the opinion that it would be easier to bring about peace +than to cause England to abandon the blockade. This last could only be +brought about by war and it is well known that the means of war are +lacking here. A prohibition of exports as a weapon against the blockade +is not possible as the prevailing prosperity would suffer by it. + +"The inquiries made by House have led Wilson to believe that our enemies +would not be unwilling to consider peace. In view of the present +condition of affairs, I repeat that there is only one possible course, +namely, that Your Excellency [Von Jagow] empower me to declare that we +will enter into negotiations with the United States touching the conduct +of the submarine war while the negotiations are proceeding. This would +give us the advantage that the submarine war, being over Mr. Wilson's +head, like the sword of Damocles, would compel him at once to take in +hand the task of mediation." + +This dispatch seems sufficiently to explain all the happenings of the +summer and winter of 1916-1917. It was sent to Berlin on April 26th; the +German Government gave the _Sussex_ "pledge" on May 4th, eight days +afterward. In this reply Germany declared that she would now expect Mr. +Wilson to bring pressure upon Great Britain to secure a mitigation or +suspension of the British blockade, and to this Mr. Wilson promptly and +energetically replied that he regarded the German promise as an +unconditional one and that the Government of the United States "cannot +for a moment entertain, much less discuss, a suggestion that respect by +German naval authorities for the rights of citizens of the United States +upon the high seas should in any way or in the slightest degree be made +contingent upon the conduct of any other government affecting the rights +of neutrals and non-combatants. Responsibility in such matters is single +not joint; absolute not relative." + +This reply gave satisfaction to both the United States and the countries +of the Allies, and Page himself regarded it as a master stroke. "The +more I think of it," he wrote on May 17th, "the better the strategy of +the President appears, in his latest (and last) note to Germany. They +laid a trap for him and he caught them in their own trap. The Germans +had tried to 'put it up' to the President to commit the first unfriendly +act. He now 'puts it up' to them. And this is at last bound to end the +controversy if they sink another ship unlawfully. The French see this +clearly and so do the best English, and it has produced a most +favourable impression. The future? The German angling for peace will +prove futile. They'll have another fit of fury. Whether they will again +become reckless or commit 'mistakes' with their submarines will depend +partly on their fury, partly on their fear to make a breach with the +United States, but mainly on the state of their submarine fleet. How +many have the English caught and destroyed? That's the main question, +after all. The English view may not be fair to them. But nobody here +believes that they will long abstain from the luxury of crime." + +It is thus apparent that when the Germans practically demanded, as a +price of their abstention from indiscriminate submarine warfare, that +Mr. Wilson should move against Great Britain in the matter of the +blockade, they realized the futility of any such step, and that what +they really expected to obtain was the presidential mediation for peace. +President Wilson at once began to move in this direction. On May 27th, +three weeks after the Sussex "pledge," he made an address in Washington +before the League to Enforce Peace, which was intended to lay the basis +for his approaching negotiations. It was in this speech that he made the +statement that the United States was "not concerned with the causes and +the objects" of the war. "The obscure fountains from which its +stupendous flood has burst forth we are not interested to search for or +to explain." This was another of those unfortunate sentences which made +the President such an unsympathetic figure in the estimation of the +Allies and seemed to indicate to them that he had no appreciation of the +nature of the struggle. Though this attitude of non-partisanship, of +equal balance between the accusations of the Allies and Germany, was +intended to make the President acceptable as a mediator, the practical +result was exactly the reverse, for Allied statesmen turned from Wilson +as soon as those sentences appeared in print. The fact that this same +oration specified the "freedom of the seas" as one of the foundation +rocks of the proposed new settlement only accentuated this unfavourable +attitude. + +This then was clearly the "atmosphere" which prevailed in Washington at +the time that Page was summoned home. But Page's letters of this period +indicate how little sympathy he entertained for such negotiations. "It +is quite apparent," he had recently written to Colonel House, "that +nobody in Washington understands the war. Come over and find out." +Extracts from a letter which he wrote to his brother, Mr. Henry A. Page, +of Aberdeen, North Carolina, are especially interesting when placed side +by side with the President's statements of this particular time. These +passages show that a two years' close observation of the Prussians in +action had not changed Page's opinion of their motives or of their +methods; in 1916, as in 1914, Page could see in this struggle nothing +but a colossal buccaneering expedition on the part of Germany. "As I +look at it," he wrote, "our dilly-dallying is likely to get us into war. +The Germans want somebody to rob--to pay their great military bills. +They've robbed Belgium and are still robbing it of every penny they can +lay their hands on. They robbed Poland and Serbia--two very poor +countries which didn't have much. They set out to rob France and have so +far been stopped from getting to Paris. If they got to Paris there +wouldn't be thirty cents' worth of movable property there in a week, and +they'd levy fines of millions of francs a day. Their military scheme and +teaching and open purpose is to make somebody pay for their vast +military outlay of the last forty years. They must do that or go +bankrupt. Now it looks as if they would go bankrupt. But in a little +while they may be able to bombard New York and demand billions of +dollars to refrain from destroying the city. That's the richest place +left to spoil. + +"Now they say that--quite openly and quite frankly. Now if we keep +'neutral' to a highwayman--what do we get for our pains? That's the +mistake we are making. If we had sent Bernstorff home the day after the +_Lusitania_ was sunk and recalled Gerard and begun to train an army we'd +have had no more trouble with them. But since they have found out that +they can keep us discussing things forever and a day, they will keep us +discussing things till they are ready. We are very simple; and we'll get +shot for it yet.... + +"The prestige and fear of the United States has gone down, down, +down-disappeared; and we are regarded as 'discussors,' incapable of +action, scared to death of war. That's all the invitation that robbers, +whose chief business is war, want--all the invitation they need. These +devils are out for robbery--and you don't seem to believe it in the +United States: that's the queer thing. This neutrality business makes us +an easy mark. As soon as they took a town in Belgium, they asked for all +the money in the town, all the food, all the movable property; and +they've levied a tax every month since on every town and made the town +government borrow the money to pay it. If a child in a town makes a +disrespectful remark, they fine the town an extra $1,000. They haven't +got enough so far to keep them going flush; and they won't unless they +get Paris--which they can't do now. If they got London, they'd be rich; +they wouldn't leave a shilling and they'd make all the rich English get +all the money they own abroad. This is the reason that Frenchmen and +Englishmen prefer to be killed by the 100,000. In the country over which +their army has passed a crow would die of starvation and no human being +has ten cents of real money. The Belgian Commission is spending more +than 100 million dollars a year to keep the Belgians alive--only because +they are robbed every day. They have a rich country and could support +themselves but for these robbers. That's the meaning of the whole thing. +And yet we treat them as if they were honourable people. It's only a +question of time and of power when they will attack us, or the Canal, or +South America. Everybody on this side the world knows that. And they are +'yielding' to keep us out of this war so that England will not help us +when they (the Germans) get ready to attack America. + +"There is the strangest infatuation in the United States with Peace--the +strangest illusion about our safety without preparation." + +Several letters to Colonel House show the state of the British mind on +the subject of the President's peace proposals: + + _To Edward M. House_ + + Royal Bath and East Cliff Hotel, + Bournemouth, + 23 May, 1916. + + DEAR HOUSE: + + The motor trip that the Houses, the Wallaces, and the Pages took + about a year ago was the last trip (three days) that I had had out + of London; and I'd got pretty tired. The _China_ case having been + settled (and settled as we wanted it), I thought it a good time to + try to get away for a week. So here Mrs. Page and I are--very much + to my benefit. I've spent a beautiful week out of doors, on this + seashore; and I have only about ten per cent. of the fatal diseases + that I had a week ago. That is to say, I'm as sound as a dollar and + feel like a fighting cock. + + Sir Edward was fine about the China[39] case. He never disputed the + principle of the inviolability of American ships on the high seas; + but the Admiralty maintained that some of these men are officers in + the German Army and are now receiving officers' pay. I think that + that is probably true. Nevertheless, the Admiralty had bungled the + case badly and Sir Edward simply rode over them. They have a fine + quarrel among themselves and we got all we wanted and asked for. + + Of course, I can't make out the Germans but I am afraid some huge + deviltry is yet coming. When the English say that the Germans must + give up their militarism, I doubt if the Germans yet know what they + mean. They talk about conquered territory--Belgium, Poland, and the + rest. It hasn't entered their heads that they've got to give up + their armies and their military system. When this does get into + their heads, if it ever do, I think they may so swell with rage at + this "insult" that they may break loose in one last desperate + effort, ignoring the United States, defying the universe, running + amuck. Of course it would be foolhardy to predict this, but the + fear of it keeps coming into my mind. The fear is the more + persistent because, if the worst comes to them, the military caste + and perhaps the dynasty itself will prefer to die in one last + terrific onslaught rather than to make a peace on terms which will + require the practical extinction of their supreme power. This, I + conceive, is the really great danger that yet awaits the world--if + the Allies hold together till defeat and famine drive the Germans + to the utmost desperation. + + In the meantime, the Allies still holding together as they are, + there's no peace yet in the British and French minds. They're after + the militarism of Prussia--not territory or other gains; and they + seem likely to get it, as much by the blockade as by victories on + land. Do you remember how in the Franco-Prussian War, Bismarck + refused to deal with the French Emperor? He demanded that + representatives of the French people should deal with him. He got + what he asked for and that was the last of the French Emperor. + Neither the French nor the English have forgotten that. You will + recall that the Germans starved Paris into submission. Neither the + French nor the English have forgotten that. These two leaves out of + the Germans' own book of forty-five years ago--these two and no + more--_may_ be forced on the Germans themselves. They are both + quite legitimate, too. You can read a recollection of both these + events between the lines of the interviews that Sir Edward and Mr. + Balfour recently gave to American newspapers. + + There is nothing but admiration here for the strategy of the + President's last note to Germany. That was the cleverest play made + by anybody since the war began--clever beyond praise. Now he's "got + 'em." But nobody here doubts that they will say, sooner or later, + that the United States, not having forced the breaking of the + British blockade, has not kept its bargain--that's what they'll + say--and it is in order again to run amuck. This is what the + English think--provided the Germans have enough submarines left to + keep up real damage. By that time, too, it will be clear to the + Germans that the President can't bring peace so long as only one + side wishes peace. The Germans seem to have counted much on the + Irish uprising, which came to pass at all only because of the + customary English stupid bungling; and the net result has been only + to put the mass of the Irish on their mettle to show that they are + not Sinn Feiners. The final upshot will be to strengthen the + British Army. God surely is good to this bungling British + Government. Wind and wave and the will of High Heaven seem to work + for them. I begin to understand their stupidity and their + arrogance. If your enemies are such fools in psychological tactics + and Heaven is with you, why take the trouble to be alert? And why + be modest? Whatever the reason, these English are now more cocky + and confident than they've been before since the war began. They + are beginning to see results. The only question seems to be to hold + the Allies together, and they seem to be doing that. In fact, the + battle of Verdun has cemented them. They now have visible proof + that the German Army is on the wane. And they have trustworthy + evidence that the blockade is telling severely on the Germans. + Nobody, I think, expects to thrash 'em to a frazzle; but the almost + universal opinion here is that the hold of militarism will be + shaken loose. And the German High Canal Navy--what's to become of + that? Von Tirpitz is down and out, but there are thousands of + Germans, I hear, who complain of their naval inactivity. But God + only knows the future--I don't. I think that I do well if I keep + track of the present.... + + My kindest regards to Mrs. House, + + Yours very heartily, + W.H.P. + + _To Edward M. House_ + + London, 25 May, 1916. + + DEAR HOUSE: + + No utterance by anybody has so stirred the people of this kingdom + for many months as Sir Edward Grey's impromptu speech last night in + the House of Commons about Peace, when he called the German + Chancellor a first-class liar. I sent you to-day a clipping from + one of the morning papers. Every paper I pick up compliments Sir + Edward. Everyone says, "We must fight to a finish." The more + sensational press intimates that any Englishman who uses the word + "peace" ought to be shot. You have never seen such a rally as that + which has taken place in response to Sir Edward's cry. In the first + place, as you know, he is the most gentle of all the Cabinet, the + last man to get on a "war-rampage," the least belligerent and + rambunctious of the whole lot. When he felt moved to say that there + can be no peace till the German military despotism is broken, + everybody from one end of the Kingdom to the other seems to have + thrown up his hat and applauded. Except the half-dozen peace-cranks + in the House (Bryan sort of men) you can't find a man, woman, + child, or dog that isn't fired with the determination to see the + war through. The continued talk about peace which is reported + directly and indirectly from Germany--coming from Switzerland, from + Rome, from Washington--has made the English and the French very + angry: no, "angry" isn't quite the right word. It has made them + very determined. They feel insulted by the impudence of the + Germans, who, since they know they are bound to lose, seem to be + turning heaven and earth to induce neutrals to take their view of + peace. People are asking here, "If they are victorious, why doesn't + their fleet come out of the canal and take the seas, and again open + their commerce? Why do they whimper about the blockade when they + will not even risk a warship to break it?" You'll recall how the + talk here used to be that the English wouldn't wake up. You + wouldn't know 'em now. Your bulldog has got his grip and even + thunder doesn't disturb him. + + Incidentally, all the old criticism of Sir Edward Grey seems to + have been forgotten. You hear nothing but praise of him now. I am + told that he spoke his impromptu speech last night with great fire + and at once left the House. His speech has caused a greater stir + than the Irish rebellion, showing that every Englishman feels that + Sir Edward said precisely what every man feels. + + The Germans have apparently overdone and overworked their premature + peace efforts and have made things worse for them. They've + overplayed their hand. + + In fact, I see no end of the war. The Allies are not going to quit + prematurely. They won't even discuss the subject yet with one + another, and the Germans, by their peace-talk of the sort that they + inspire, simply postpone the day when the Allies will take the + subject up. + + All the while, too, the Allies work closer and closer together. + They'll soon be doing even their diplomatic work with neutrals, as + a unit--England and France as one nation, and (on great subjects) + Russia and Italy also with them. + + I've talked lately not only with Sir Edward but with nearly half + the other members of the Cabinet, and they are all keyed up to the + same tune. The press of both parties, too, are (for once) wholly + agreed: Liberal and Conservative papers alike hold the same + war-creed. + + Sincerely yours, + + WALTER H. PAGE. + +Before leaving for Washington Page discussed the situation personally +with Sir Edward Grey and Lord Bryce. He has left memoranda of both +interviews. + +_Notes of a Private and Informal Conversation with Sir Edward Grey, at +his residence, on July 27, 1916, when I called to say good-bye before +sailing on leave to the United States_ + +... Sir Edward Grey went on to say quite frankly that two thoughts +expressed in a speech by the President some months ago had had a very +serious influence on British opinion. One thought was that the causes or +objects of the war were of no concern to him, and the other was his (at +least implied) endorsement of "the freedom of the seas," which the +President did not define. Concerning the first thought, he understood of +course that a neutral President could not say that he favoured one side +or the other: everybody understood that and nobody expected him to take +sides. But when the President said that the objects of the war did not +concern him, that was taken by British public opinion as meaning a +condemnation of the British cause, and it produced deep feeling. + +Concerning the "freedom of the seas," he believed that the first use of +the phrase was made by Colonel House (on his return from one of his +visits to Berlin)[40], but the public now regarded it as a German +invention and it meant to the British mind a policy which would render +British supremacy at sea of little value in time of war; and public +opinion resented this. He knew perfectly well that at a convenient time +new rules must be made governing the conduct of war at sea and on the +land, too. But the German idea of "the freedom of the seas" ("freedom" +was needed on land also) is repulsive to the British mind. + +He mentioned these things because they had produced in many minds an +unwillingness, he feared, to use the good offices of the President +whenever any mediatorial service might be done by a neutral. The +tendency of these remarks was certainly in that direction. Yet Sir +Edward carefully abstained from expressing such an unwillingness on his +own part, and the inference from his tone and manner, as well as from +his habitual attitude, is that he feels no unwillingness to use the +President's good office, if occasion should arise. + +I asked what he meant by "mediatorial"--the President's offering his +services or good offices on his own initiative? He said--No, not that. +But the Germans might express to the President their willingness or even +their definite wish to have an armistice, on certain terms, to discuss +conditions of peace coupled with an intimation that he might sound the +Allies. He did not expect the President to act on his own initiative, +but at the request or at least at the suggestion of the German +Government, he might conceivably sound the Allies--especially, he added, +"since I am informed that the notion is wide-spread in America that the +war will end inconclusively--as a draw." He smiled and remarked, as an +aside, that he didn't think that this notion was held by any +considerable group of people in any other country, certainly not in +Great Britain. + +In further talk on this subject he said that none of the Allies could +mention peace or discuss peace till France should express such a wish; +for it is the very vitals of France that have received and are receiving +the shock of such an assault as was never before launched against any +nation. Unless France was ready to quit, none of France's Allies could +mention peace, and France showed no mood to quit. Least of all could the +English make or receive any such suggestion at least till her new great +army had done its best; for until lately the severest fighting had not +been done by the British, whose army had practically been held in +reserve. There had for a long time been a perfect understanding between +Joffre and Haig--that the English would wait to begin their offensive +till the moment arrived when it best suited the French. + +The impression that I got from this part of the conversation was that +Sir Edward hoped that I might convey to the President (as, of course, he +could not) Sir Edward's idea of the effect of these parts of the +President's speech on feeling in England toward him. Nowhere in the +conversation did he make any request of me. Any one, overhearing it, +might have supposed it to be a conversation between two men, with no +object beyond expressing their views. But, of course, he hoped and meant +that I should, in my own way, make known to the President what he said. +He did not say that the President's good offices, when the time should +come, would be unwelcome to him or to his government; and he meant, I am +sure, to convey only the fear that by these assertions the President had +planted an objection to his good offices in a large section of British +opinion. + +Among the conditions of peace that Sir Edward himself personally would +like to see imposed (he had not yet discussed the subject with any of +his colleagues in the Government) was this: that the German Government +should agree to submit to an impartial (neutral) commission or court the +question, Who began the war and who is responsible for it? The German +Chancellor and other high German officials have put it about and +continue to put it about that England is responsible, and doubtless the +German people at least believe it. All the governments concerned must +(this is his idea) submit to the tribunal all its documents and other +evidence bearing on the subject; and of course the finding of the +tribunal must be published. + +Then he talked a good deal about the idea that lies behind the League +for Enforcing Peace--in a sympathetic mood. He went on to point out how +such a league--with force behind it--would at any one of three stages +have prevented this war--(1) When England proposed a conference to +France, Germany, Italy, and Russia, all agreed to it but Germany. +Germany alone prevented a discussion. If the League to Enforce Peace had +included England, France, Italy, and Russia--there would have been no +war; for Germany would have seen at once that they would all be against +her. (2) Later, when the Czar sent the Kaiser a personal telegram +proposing to submit their differences to some tribunal, a League to +Enforce Peace would have prevented war. And (3) when the question of the +invasion of Belgium came up, every signatory to the treaty guaranteeing +Belgium's integrity gave assurance of keeping the treaty--but Germany, +and Germany gave an evasive answer. A league would again have prevented +a war--or put all the military force of all its members against Germany. + +Throughout the conversation, which lasted about an hour, Sir Edward said +more than once, as he has often said to me, that he hoped we should be +able to keep the friction between our governments at the minimum. He +would regard it as the greatest calamity if the ill-feeling that various +events have stirred up in sections of public opinion on each side should +increase or should become permanent. His constant wish and effort were +to lessen and if possible to remove all misunderstandings. + + * * * * * + +Lord Bryce was one of the Englishmen with whom Page was especially +inclined to discuss pending problems. + + _Notes on a conversation with Lord Bryce, July 31, 1916_ + +Lord Bryce spoke of the President's declaration that we were not +concerned with the causes or objects of the war and he said that that +remark had caused much talk--all, as he thought, on a misunderstanding +of Mr. Wilson's meaning. "He meant, I take it, only that he did not +propose at that time to discuss the causes or the objects of the war; +and it is a pity that his sentence was capable of being interpreted to +mean something else; and the sentence was published and discussed here +apart from its context--a most unfair proceeding. I can imagine that the +President and his friends may be much annoyed by this improper +interpretation." + +I remarked that the body of the speech in which this remark occurred +might have been written in Downing Street, so friendly was it to the +Allies. + +"Quite, quite," said he. + +This was at dinner, Lady Bryce and Mrs. Page and he and I only being +present. + +When he and I went into the library he talked more than an hour. + +"And what about this blacklist?" he asked. I told him. He had been in +France for a week and did not know just what had been done. He said that +that seemed to him a mistake. "The Government doesn't know +America--neither does the British public. Neither does the American +Government (no American government) know the British. Hence your +government writes too many notes--all governments are likely to write +too many notes. Everybody gets tired of seeing them and they lose their +effect." + +He mentioned the blockade and said that it had become quite +effective--wonderfully effective, in fact; and he implied that he did +not see why we now failed to recognize it. Our refusal to recognize it +had caused and doubtless is now causing such ill-feeling as exists in +England. + +Then he talked long about peace and how it would probably be arranged. +He judged, from letters that he receives from the United States as well +as from Americans who come over here, that there was an expectation in +America that the President would be called in at the peace settlement +and that some persons even expected him to offer mediation. He did not +see how that could be. He knew no precedent for such a proceeding. The +President might, of course, on the definite request of either side, make +a definite inquiry of the other side; but such a course would be, in +effect, merely the transmission of an inquiry. + +But after peace was made and the time came to set up a League for +Enforcing Peace, or some such machinery, of course the United States +would be and would have to be a party to that if it were to succeed. He +reminded me that a little group of men here, of whom he was one, early +in the war sketched substantially the same plan that the American League +to Enforce Peace has worked out. It had not seemed advisable to have any +general public discussion of it in England till the war should end: +nobody had time now to give to it. + +As he knew no precedent for belligerents to call in a third party when +they met to end a war, so he knew no precedent for any outside +government to protest against the invasion of a country by a Power that +had signed a treaty to guarantee the integrity of the invaded +country--no precedent, that is to say, for the United States to protest +against the invasion of Belgium. "That precedent," I said, "was found in +Hysteria." + +Lord Bryce, who had just returned from a visit to the British +headquarters in France, hardly dared hope for the end of the war till +next year; and the intervening time between now and the end would be a +time, he feared, of renewed atrocities and increasing hatred. He cited +the killing of Captain Fryatt of the _Brussels_ and the forcible +deportation of young women from Lille and other towns in the provinces +of France occupied by the Germans. + +The most definite idea that he had touching American-British relations +was the fear that the anti-British feeling in the United States would +become stronger and would outlast the war. "It is organized," he said. +"The disaffected Germans and the disaffected Irish are interested in +keeping it up." He asked what effect I thought the Presidential campaign +would have on this feeling. He seemed to have a fear that somehow the +campaign would give an occasion for stirring it up even more. + +"Good-bye. Give my regards to all my American friends; and I'm proud to +say there are a good many of them." + + * * * * * + +One episode that was greatly stirring both Great Britain and the United +States at this time was the trial of Sir Roger Casement, the Irish +leader who had left Wilhelmshaven for Ireland in a German submarine and +who had been captured at Tralee in the act of landing arms and munitions +for an Irish insurrection. Casement's subsequent trial and conviction on +a charge of high treason had inspired a movement in his favour from +Irish-Americans, the final outcome of which was that the Senate, in +early August, passed a resolution asking the British Government for +clemency and stipulating that this resolution should be presented to the +Foreign Office. Page was then on the ocean bound for the United States +and the delicate task of presenting this document to Sir Edward Grey +fell upon Mr. Laughlin, who was now Chargé d'affaires. Mr. Laughlin is a +diplomat of great experience, but this responsibility at first seemed to +be something of a poser even for him. He had received explicit +instructions from Washington to present this resolution, and the one +thing above all which a diplomatic officer must do is to carry out the +orders of his government, but Mr. Laughlin well knew that, should he +present this paper in the usual manner, the Foreign Secretary might +decline to receive it; he might regard it as an interference with +matters that exclusively concerned the sovereign state. Mr. Laughlin, +however, has a technique all his own, and, in accordance with this, he +asked for an interview with Sir Edward Grey to discuss a matter of +routine business. However, the Chargé d'affaires carried the Casement +resolution tucked away in an inside pocket when he made his call. + +Like Mr. Page, Mr. Laughlin was on the friendliest terms with Sir Edward +Grey, and, after the particular piece of business had been transacted, +the two men, as usual, fell into casual conversation. Casement then +loomed large in the daily press, and the activities of the American +Senate had likewise caused some commotion in London. In round-about +fashion Mr. Laughlin was able to lead Sir Edward to make some reference +to the Casement case. + +"I see the Senate has passed a resolution asking clemency," said the +Foreign Secretary--exactly the remark which the American wished to +elicit. + +"Yes," was the reply. "By the way, I happen to have a copy of the +resolution with me. May I give it to you?" + +"Yes, I should like to have it." + +The Foreign Secretary read it over with deliberation. + +"This is a very interesting document," he said, when he had finished. +"Would you have any objection if I showed it to the Prime Minister?" + +Of course that was precisely what Mr. Laughlin did wish, and he replied +that this was the desire of his government. The purpose of his visit had +been accomplished, and he was able to cable Washington that its +instructions had been carried out and that the Casement resolution had +been presented to the British Government. Simultaneously with his +communication, however, he reported also that the execution of Roger +Casement had taken place. In fact, it was being carried out at the time +of the interview. This incident lends point to Page's memorandum of the +last interview which he had before leaving England. + + * * * * * + +August 1st. I lunched with Mr. Asquith. One does not usually bring away +much from his conversations, and he did not say much to-day worth +recording. But he showed a very eager interest in the Presidential +campaign, and he confessed that he felt some anxiety about the +anti-British feeling in the United States. This led him to tell me that +he could not in good conscience interfere with Casement's execution, in +spite of the shoals of telegrams that he was receiving from the United +States. This man, said he, visited Irish prisoners in German camps and +tried to seduce them to take up arms against Great Britain--their own +country. When they refused, the Germans removed them to the worst places +in their Empire and, as a result, some of them died. Then Casement came +to Ireland in a German man-of-war (a submarine) accompanied by a ship +loaded with guns. "In all good conscience to my country and to my +responsibilities I cannot interfere." He hoped that thoughtful opinion +in the United States would see this whole matter in a fair and just way. + +I asked him about anti-American feeling in Great Britain. He said: "Do +not let that unduly disturb you. At bottom we understand you. At bottom +the two people surely understand one another and have unbreakable bonds +of sympathy. No serious breach is conceivable." He went on quite +earnestly: "Mr. Page, after any policy or plan is thought out on its +merits my next thought always is how it may affect our relations with +the United States. That is always a fundamental consideration." + +I ventured to say that if he would keep our relations smooth on the +surface, I'd guarantee their stability at the bottom. It's the surface +that rolls high at times, and the danger is there. Keep the surface +smooth and the bottom will take care of itself. + +Then he asked about Mexico, as he usually has when I have talked with +him. I gave him as good a report as I could, reminding him of the great +change in the attitude of all Latin-America caused by the President's +patient policy with Mexico. When he said, "Mexico is a bad problem," I +couldn't resist the impulse to reply: "When Mexico troubles you, think +of--Ireland. As there are persons in England who concern themselves with +Mexico, so there are persons in the United States who concern themselves +about Ireland. Ireland and Mexico have each given trouble for two +centuries. Yet these people talk about them as if they could remove all +trouble in a month." + +"Quite true," he said, and smiled himself into silence. Then he talked +about more or less frivolous subjects; and, as always, he asked about +Mr. Bryan and Mr. Roosevelt, "alike now, I suppose, in their present +obscure plight." I told him I was going from his house to the House of +Lords to see Sir Edward Grey metamorphosed into Viscount Grey of +Fallodon. + +"The very stupidest of the many stupid ceremonies that we have," said +he--very truly. + +He spoke of my "onerous duties" and so on and so on--tut, tut! talk that +gets nowhere. But he did say, quite sincerely, I think, that my +frankness called forth frankness and avoided misunderstanding; for he +has said that to other people about me. + +Such is the Prime Minister of Great Britain in this supreme crisis in +English history, a remarkable man, of an abnormally quick mind, pretty +nearly a great man, but now a spent force, at once nimble and weary. +History may call him Great. If it do, he will owe this judgment to the +war, with the conduct of which his name will be forever associated. + + +II + +Mr. and Mrs. Page's homecoming was a tragedy. They sailed from Liverpool +on August 3rd, and reached New York on the evening of August 11th. But +sad news awaited them upon the dock. About two months previously their +youngest son, Frank, had been married to Miss Katherine Sefton, of +Auburn, N.Y., and the young couple had settled down in Garden City, Long +Island. That was the summer when the epidemic of infantile paralysis +swept over the larger part of the United States. The young bride was +stricken; the case was unusually rapid and unusually severe; at the +moment of the Pages' arrival, they were informed that there was +practically no hope; and Mrs. Frank Page died at two o'clock on the +afternoon of the following day. The Pages had always been a particularly +united and happy family; this was the first time that they had suffered +from any domestic sorrow of this kind, and the Ambassador was so +affected that it was with difficulty that he could summon himself for +the task that lay ahead. + +In a few days, however, he left for Washington. He has himself +described his experience at the Capital in words that must inevitably +take their place in history. To appreciate properly the picture which +Page gives, it must be remembered that the city and the officialdom +which he portrays are the same city and the same men who six months +afterward declared war on Germany. When Page reached Washington, the +Presidential campaign was in full swing, with Mr. Wilson as the +Democratic candidate and Mr. Charles E. Hughes as the Republican. But +another crisis was absorbing the nation's attention: the railway unions, +comprising practically all the 2,000,000 railway employees in the United +States, were threatening to strike--ostensibly for an eight-hour day, in +reality for higher wages. + + _Mr. Page's memorandum of his visit to Washington in August, 1916_ + +The President was very courteous to me, in his way. He invited me to +luncheon the day after I arrived. Present: the President, Mrs. Wilson, +Miss Bones, Tom Bolling, his brother-in-law, and I. The conversation was +general and in the main jocular. Not a word about England, not a word +about a foreign policy or foreign relations. + +He explained that the threatened railway strike engaged his whole mind. +I asked to have a talk with him when his mind should be free. Would I +not go off and rest and come back?--I preferred to do my minor errands +with the Department, but I should hold myself at his convenience and at +his command. + +Two weeks passed. Another invitation to lunch. Sharp, the Ambassador to +France, had arrived. He, too, was invited. Present: the President, Mrs. +Wilson, Mrs. Wallace, the Misses Smith of New Orleans, Miss Bones, +Sharp, and I. Not one word about foreign affairs. + +After luncheon, the whole party drove to the Capitol, where the +President addressed Congress on the strike, proposing legislation to +prevent it and to forestall similar strikes. It is a simple ceremony and +somewhat impressive. The Senators occupy the front seats in the House, +the Speaker presides and the President of the Senate sits on his right. +An escorting committee is sent out to bring the President in. He walks +to the clerk's or reader's desk below the presiding officer's, turns and +shakes hands with them both and then proceeds to read his speech, very +clearly and audibly. Some passages were applauded. When he had done, he +again shook hands with the presiding officer and went out, preceded and +followed by the White House escort. I sat in the Presidential (or +diplomatic?) gallery with the White House party, higgledy-piggledy. + +The speech ended, the President drove to the White House with his escort +in his car. The crowds in the corridors and about the doors waited and +crowded to see Mrs. Wilson, quite respectful but without order or +discipline. We had to push our way through them. Now and then a +policeman at a distance would yell loudly, "Make way there!" + +When we reached the White House, I asked the doorman if the President +had arrived. + +"Yes." + +"Does he expect me to go in and say good-bye?" + +"No." + +Thus he had no idea of talking with me now, if ever. Not at lunch nor +after did he suggest a conversation about American-British affairs or +say anything about my seeing him again. + +This threatened strike does hold his whole mind--bothers him greatly. +It seems doubtful if he can avert a general strike. The Republicans are +trying "to put him in a political hole," and they say he, too, is +playing politics. Whoever be to blame for it, it is true that politics +is in the game. Nobody seems to foresee who will make capital out of it. +Surely I can't. + +There's no social sense at the White House. The President has at his +table family connections only--and they say few or no distinguished men +and women are invited, except the regular notables at the set +dinners--the diplomatic, the judiciary, and the like. His table is his +private family affair--nothing more. It is very hard to understand why +so intellectual a man doesn't have notable men about him. It's the +college professor's village habit, I dare say. But it's a great +misfortune. This is one way in which Mr. Wilson shuts out the world and +lives too much alone, feeding only on knowledge and subjects that he has +already acquired and not getting new views or fresh suggestions from men +and women. + +He sees almost nobody except members of Congress for whom he sends for +special conferences, and he usually sees these in his office. The +railroad presidents and men he met in formal conference--no social +touch. + +A member of his Cabinet told me that Mr. Wilson had shown confidence in +him, given him a wide range of action in his own Department and that he +relies on his judgment. This Cabinet member of course attends the +routine state dinners and receptions, as a matter of required duty. But +as for any social recognition of his existence--he had never received a +hint or nod. Nor does any member of the Cabinet (except, no doubt, Mr. +McAdoo, his son-in-law). There is no social sense nor reason in this. In +fact, it works to a very decided disadvantage to the President and to +the Nation. + +By the way, that a notable man in our educational life could form such a +habit does not speak well for our educational life. + +What an unspeakably lamentable loss of opportunity! This is the more +remarkable and lamentable because the President is a charming +personality, an uncommonly good talker, a man who could easily make +personal friends of all the world. He does his own thinking, untouched +by other men's ideas. He receives nothing from the outside. His domestic +life is spent with his own, nobody else, except House occasionally. His +contact with his own Cabinet is a business man's contact with his +business associates and kind--at his office. + +He declined to see Cameron Forbes[41] on his return from the +Philippines. + +The sadness of this mistake! + +Another result is--the President doesn't hear the frank truth about the +men about him. He gives nobody a chance to tell him. Hence he has +several heavy encumbrances in his official family. + +The influence of this lone-hand way of playing the game extends very +far. The members of the Cabinet do not seem to have the habit of +frankness with one another. Each lives and works in a water-tight +compartment. I sat at luncheon (at a hotel) with Lansing, Secretary of +State; Lane, Secretary of the Interior; Gregory, Attorney-General; +Baker, Secretary of War; Daniels, Secretary of the Navy; and Sharp, +Ambassador to France; and all the talk was jocular or semi-jocular, and +personal--mere cheap chaff. Not a question was asked either of the +Ambassador to France or of the Ambassador to Great Britain about the war +or about our foreign relations. The war wasn't mentioned. Sharp and I +might have come from Bungtown and Jonesville and not from France and +England. We were not encouraged to talk--the local personal joke held +the time and conversation. This astounding fact must be the result of +this lone-hand, water-tight compartment method and--of the neutrality +suppression of men. The Vice-President confessed to his neighbour at a +Gridiron dinner that he had read none of the White Papers, or Orange +Papers, etc., of the belligerent governments--confessed this with +pride--lest he should form an opinion and cease to be neutral! Miss X, a +member of the President's household, said to Mrs. Y, the day we lunched +there, that she had made a remark privately to Sharp showing her +admiration of the French. + +"Was that a violation of neutrality?" she asked in all seriousness. + +I can see it in no other way but this: the President suppressed free +thought and free speech when he insisted upon personal neutrality. He +held back the deliberate and spontaneous thought and speech of the +people except the pro-Germans, who saw their chance and improved it! The +mass of the American people found themselves forbidden to think or talk, +and this forbidding had a sufficient effect to make them take refuge in +indifference. It's the President's job. He's our leader. He'll attend to +this matter. We must not embarrass him. On this easy cushion of +non-responsibility the great masses fell back at their intellectual and +moral ease--softened, isolated, lulled. + +That wasn't leadership in a democracy. Right here is the President's +vast failure. From it there is now no escape unless the Germans commit +more submarine crimes. They have kept the United States for their own +exploiting after the war. They have thus had a real triumph of us. + +I have talked in Washington with few men who showed any clear conception +of the difference between the Germans and the British. To the minds of +these people and high Government officials, German and English are alike +foreign nations who are now foolishly engaged in war. Two of the men who +look upon the thing differently are Houston[42] and Logan Waller +Page[43]. In fact, there is no realization of the war in Washington. +Secretary Houston has a proper perspective of the situation. He would +have done precisely what I recommended--paved the way for claims and let +the English take their course. "International law" is no strict code and +it's all shot to pieces anyhow. + +The Secretary [of State] betrayed not the slightest curiosity about our +relations with Great Britain. I saw him several times--(1) in his +office; (2) at his house; (3) at the French Ambassador's; (4) at +Wallace's; (5) at his office; (6) at Crozier's[44]--this during my first +stay in Washington. The only remark he made was that I'd find a +different atmosphere in Washington from the atmosphere in London. Truly. +All the rest of his talk was about "cases." Would I see Senator Owen? +Would I see Congressman Sherley? Would I take up this "case" and that? +His mind ran on "cases." + +Well, at Y's, when I was almost in despair, I rammed down him a sort of +general statement of the situation as I saw it; at least, I made a +start. But soon he stopped me and ran off at a tangent on some +historical statement I had made, showing that his mind was not at all on +the real subject, the large subject. When I returned to Washington, and +he had read my interviews with Grey, Asquith, and Bryce[45], and my own +statement, he still said nothing, but he ceased to talk of "cases." At +my final interview he said that he had had difficulty in preventing +Congress from making the retaliatory resolution mandatory. He had tried +to keep it back till the very end of the session, etc. + +This does not quite correspond with what the President told me--that the +State Department asked for this retaliatory resolution. + +I made specific suggestions in my statement to the President and to +Lansing. They have (yet) said nothing about them. I fancy they will not. +I have found nowhere any policy--only "cases." + +I proposed to Baker and Daniels that they send a General and an Admiral +as attachés to London. They both agreed. Daniels later told me that +Baker mentioned it to the President and he "stepped on the suggestion +with both feet." I did not bring it up. In the Franco-Prussian War of +1870, both General McClellan (or Sheridan[46]?) and General Forsythe +were sent to the German Army. Our military ideas have shrunk since then! + +I find at this date (a month before the Presidential election), the +greatest tangle and uncertainty of political opinion that I have ever +observed in our country. The President, in spite of his unparalleled +leadership and authority in domestic policy, is by no means certain of +election. He has the open hostility of the Germans--all very well, if he +had got the fruits of a real hostility to them; but they have, in many +ways, directed his foreign policy. He has lost the silent confidence of +many men upon whose conscience this great question weighs heavily. If he +be defeated he will owe his defeat to the loss of confidence in his +leadership on this great subject. His opponent has put forth no +clear-cut opinion. He plays a silent game on the German "issue." Yet he +will command the support of many patriotic men merely as a lack of +confidence in the President. + +Nor do I see any end of the results of this fundamental error. In the +economic and political readjustment of the world we shall be "out of the +game," in any event--unless we are yet forced into the war by Hughes's +election or by the renewal of the indiscriminate use of submarines by +the Germans. + +There is a great lesson in this lamentable failure of the President +really to lead the Nation. The United States stands for democracy and +free opinion as it stands for nothing else and as no other nation stands +for it. Now when democracy and free opinion are at stake as they have +not before been, we take a "neutral" stand--we throw away our very +birthright. We may talk of "humanity" all we like: we have missed the +largest chance that ever came to help the large cause that brought us +into being as a Nation.... + +And the people, sitting on the comfortable seats of neutrality upon +which the President has pushed them back, are grateful for Peace, not +having taken the trouble to think out what Peace has cost us and cost +the world--except so many as have felt the uncomfortable stirrings of +the national conscience. + +There is not a man in our State Department or in our Government who has +ever met any prominent statesmen in any European Government--except the +third Assistant Secretary of State, who has no authority in forming +policies; there is not a man who knows the atmosphere of Europe. Yet +when I proposed that one of the under Secretaries should go to England +on a visit of a few weeks for observation, the objection arose that +such a visit would not be "neutral." + + +III + +The extraordinary feature of this experience was that Page had been +officially summoned home, presumably to discuss the European situation, +and that neither the President nor the State Department apparently had +the slightest interest in his visit. + +"The President," Page wrote to Mr. Laughlin, "dominates the whole show +in a most extraordinary way. The men about him (and he sees them only on +'business') are very nearly all very, very small fry, or worse--the +narrowest twopenny lot I've ever come across. He has no real companions. +Nobody talks to him freely and frankly. I've never known quite such a +condition in American life." Perhaps the President had no desire to +discuss inconvenient matters with his Ambassador to Great Britain, but +Page was certainly determined to have an interview with the President. +"I'm not going back to London," he wrote Mr. Laughlin, "till the +President has said something to me or at least till I have said +something to him. I am now going down to Garden City and New York till +the President send for me; or, if he do not send for me, I'm going to +his house and sit on his front steps till he come out!" Page had brought +from England one of the medals which the Germans had struck in honour of +the _Lusitania_ sinking, and one reason why he particularly wished to +see the President alone was to show him this memento. + +Another reason was that in early September Page had received important +news from London concerning the move which Germany was making for peace +and the attitude of Great Britain in this matter. The several plans +which Germany had had under consideration had now taken the form of a +definite determination to ask for an armistice before winter set in. A +letter from Mr. Laughlin, Chargé d'affaires in Page's absence, tells the +story. + + _From Irwin Laughlin_ + + Embassy of the United States of America. + London, August 30, 1916. + + DEAR MR. PAGE: + + For some little time past I have heard persistent rumours, which + indeed are more than rumours, since they have come from important + sources, of an approaching movement by Germany toward an early + armistice. They have been so circumstantial and so closely + connected--in prospect--with the President, that I have examined + them with particular attention and I shall try to give you the + results, and my conclusions, with the recommendation that you take + the matter up directly with the President and the Secretary of + State. I have been a little at a loss to decide how to communicate + what I have learned to the Government in Washington, for the + present conditions make it impossible to set down what I want to + say in an official despatch, but the fortunate accident of your + being in the United States gives me the safe opportunity I want, + and so I send my information to you, and by the pouch, as time is + of less importance than secrecy. + + There seems to be no doubt that Germany is casting about for an + opportunity to effect an armistice, if possible before the winter + closes in. She hopes it may result in peace--a peace more or less + favourable to her, of course--but even if such a result should fail + of accomplishment she would have gained a breathing space; have + secured an opportunity to improve her strategic position in a + military sense, perhaps by shortening her line in Flanders: have + stiffened the resistance of her people; and probably have + influenced a certain body of neutral opinion not only in her favour + but against her antagonists. + + I shall not try to mention the various sources from which the + threads that compose this fabric have been drawn, but I finally + fastened on X of the Admiralty as a man with whom I could talk + profitably and confidentially, and he told me positively that his + information showed that Germany was looking in the direction I have + indicated, and that she would soon approach the President on the + subject--even if she had not already taken the first steps toward + preparing her advance to him. + + I asked X if he thought it well for me to broach the subject to + Lord Grey and he suggested that I first consult Y, which I did. The + latter seemed very wary at the outset, but he warmed up at last and + in the course of the conversation told me he had reliable + information that when Bethmann-Hollweg went to Munich just before + the beginning of the allied offensive in the west in June he told + the King of Bavaria that he was confident the Allies would be + obliged to begin overtures for peace next October; adding that if + they didn't Germany would have to do so. The King, it appears, + asked him how Germany could approach the Allies if it proved to be + advisable and he replied: "Through our good friend Wilson." + + I asked Y if the King of Spain's good offices would not be enlisted + jointly with those of the President in attempting to arrange an + armistice, but he thought not, and said that the King of Spain was + very well aware that the Allies would not consider anything short + of definite peace proposals from Germany and that His Majesty knew + the moment for them had not arrived. I then finally asked him point + blank if he thought the Germans would approach the President for an + armistice, and, if so, when. He said he was inclined to think they + might do so perhaps about October. On my asking him if he was + disposed to let me communicate his opinion privately to the + Government in Washington he replied after some hesitation that he + had no objection, but he quickly added that I must make it clear at + the same time that the British Government would not listen to any + such proposals. + + These conversations took place during the course of last week, and + on Sunday--the 27th--I invited the Spanish Ambassador to luncheon + at Tangley when I was able to get him to confirm what Y had said of + his Sovereign's attitude and opinions. + + I may mention for what it is worth that on Hoover's last trip to + Germany he was told by Bullock, of the Philadelphia _Ledger_, that + Zimmermann of the Berlin Foreign Office had told him that the + Germans had intended in June to take steps for an armistice which + were prevented by the preparations for the allied offensive in the + west. + + Y was very emphatic in what he said of the attitude of his + government and the British people toward continuing the war to an + absolutely conclusive end, and I was much impressed. He said among + other things that the execution of Captain Fryatt had had a + markedly perceptible effect in hardening British public opinion + against Germany and fixing the determination to fight to a + relentless finish. This corresponds exactly with my own + observations. + + I leave this letter entirely in your hands. You will know what use + to make of it. It is meant as an official communication in + everything but the usual form from which I have departed for + reasons I need not explain further. + + I look forward eagerly to your return, + + Very sincerely yours, + + IRWIN LAUGHLIN. + +Page waited five weeks before he succeeded in obtaining his interview +with Mr. Wilson. + + _To the President_ + + The New Willard, Washington, D.C. + + Thursday, September 21, 1916. + + DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: + + While I am waiting for a convenient time to come when you will see + me for a conference and report, I send you notes on conversations + with Lord Grey and Lord Bryce[47]. They are, in effect, though of + course not in form, messages to you. + + The situation between our government and Great Britain seems to me + most alarming; and (let me add) easily removable, if I can get the + ear of anybody in authority. But I find here only an atmosphere of + suspicion--unwarranted by facts and easily dissipated by straight + and simple friendly methods. I am sure of this. + + I have, besides, a most important and confidential message for you + from the British Government which they prefer should be orally + delivered. + + And I have written out a statement of my own study of the situation + and of certain proposals which, I think, if they commend themselves + to you, will go far to remove this dangerous tension. I hope to go + over them with you at your convenience. + + Yours faithfully, + + WALTER H. PAGE. + +The situation was alarming for more reasons than the determination of +Germany to force the peace issue. The State Department was especially +irritated at this time over the blockade. Among the "trade advisers" +there was a conviction, which all Page's explanations had not destroyed, +that Great Britain was using the blockade as a means of destroying +American commerce and securing America's customers for herself. Great +Britain's regulations on the blacklist and "bunker coal" had intensified +this feeling. In both these latter questions Page regarded the British +actions as tactless and unjust; he had had many sharp discussions at the +Foreign Office concerning them, but had not made much headway in his +efforts to obtain their abandonment. The purpose of the "blacklist" was +to strike at neutral firms with German affiliations which were trading +with Germany. The Trading with the Enemy Act provided that such firms +could not trade with Great Britain; that British vessels must refuse to +accept their cargoes, and that any neutral ship which accepted such +cargoes would be denied bunker coal at British ports. Under this law the +Ministry of Blockade issued a "blacklist" of more than 1,000 proscribed +exporting houses in the United States. So great was the indignation +against this boycott in the United States that Congress, in early +September, had passed a retaliatory act; this gave the President the +authority at any time to place an embargo upon the exports to the United +States of countries which discriminated against American firms and also +to deny clearance to ships which refused to accept American cargoes. The +two countries indeed seemed to be hastening toward a crisis. + +Page's urgent letter to Mr. Wilson brought a telegram from Mr. Tumulty +inviting the Ambassador to spend the next evening and night with the +President at Shadow Lawn, the seaside house on the New Jersey coast in +which Mr. Wilson was spending the summer. Mr. Wilson received his old +friend with great courtesy and listened quietly and with apparent +interest to all that he had to say. The written statement to which Page +refers in his letter told the story of Anglo-American relations from the +time of the Panama tolls repeal up to the time of Page's visit to Shadow +Lawn. Quotations have already been made from it in preceding chapters, +and the ideas which it contains have abundantly appeared in letters +already printed. The document was an eloquent plea for American +coöperation with the Allies--for the dismissal of Bernstorff, for the +adoption of a manly attitude toward Germany, and for the vindication of +a high type of Americanism. + +Page showed the President the _Lusitania_ medal, but that did not +especially impress him. "The President said to me," wrote Page in +reference to this visit, "that when the war began he and all the men he +met were in hearty sympathy with the Allies; but that now the sentiment +toward England had greatly changed. He saw no one who was not vexed and +irritated by the arbitrary English course. That is, I fear, true--that +he sees no one but has a complaint. So does the Secretary of State, and +the Trade Bureau and all the rest in Washington. But in Boston, in New +York, and in the South and in Auburn, N.Y., I saw no one whose sympathy +with the Allies had undergone any fundamental change. I saw men who felt +vexed at such an act as the blacklist, but that was merely vexation, not +a fundamental change of feeling. Of course, there came to see me men who +had 'cases.' Now these are the only kind of men, I fear, whom the +Government at Washington sees--these and the members of Congress whom +the Germans have scared or have 'put up' to scare the Government--who +are 'twisting the lion's tail,' in a word." + +"The President said," wrote Page immediately after coming from Shadow +Lawn, "Tell those gentlemen for me'--and then followed a homily to the +effect that a damage done to any American citizen is a damage to him, +etc. He described the war as a result of many causes, some of long +origin. He spoke of England's having the earth and of Germany wanting +it. Of course, he said, the German system is directly opposed to +everything American. But I do not gather that he thought that this +carried any very great moral reprehensibility. + +"He said that he wouldn't do anything with the retaliatory act till +after election lest it might seem that he was playing politics. But he +hinted that if there were continued provocation afterward (in case he +were elected) he would. He added that one of the worst provocations was +the long English delay in answering our Notes. Was this delay due to +fear or shame? He evidently felt that such a delay showed contempt. He +spoke of the Bryan treaty[48]. But on no question had the British +'locked horns' with us--on no question had they come to a clear issue so +that the matter might be referred to the Commission." + +Page delivered his oral message about the German determination to obtain +an armistice. This was to the effect that Great Britain would not grant +it. Page intimated that Britain would be offended if the President +proposed it. + +"If an armistice, no," answered Mr. Wilson. "That's a military matter +and is none of my business. But if they propose an armistice looking +toward peace--yes, I shall be glad." + +The experience was an exceedingly trying one for both men. The +discussion showed how far apart were the President and his Ambassador on +practically every issue connected with the crisis. Naturally the +President's reference to the causes of the war--that there were many +causes, some of them of long persistence, and that Great Britain's +domination of the "earth" was one of them--conflicted with the judgment +of a man who attributed the origin of the struggle to German aggression. +The President's statement that American sympathy for the Allies had now +changed to irritation, and the tolerant attitude toward Germany which +Mr. Wilson displayed, affected Page with the profoundest discouragement. +The President's intimation that he would advance Germany's request for +an armistice, if it looked toward peace--this in reply to Page's message +that Great Britain would not receive such a proposal in a kindly +spirit--seemed to lay the basis of further misunderstandings. The +interview was a disheartening one for Page. Many people whom the +Ambassador met in the course of this visit still retain memories of his +fervour in what had now become with him a sacred cause. With many +friends and officials he discussed the European situation almost like a +man inspired. The present writer recalls two long conversations with +Page at this time: the recollection of his brilliant verbal portraiture, +his description of the determination of Englishmen, his admiration for +the heroic sacrifice of Englishwomen, remain as about the most vivid +memories of a life-time. And now the Ambassador had brought this same +eloquence to the President's ear at Shadow Lawn. It was in this +interview that Page had hoped to show Mr. Wilson the real merits of the +situation, and persuade him to adopt the course to which the national +honour and safety pointed; he talked long and eloquently, painting the +whole European tragedy with that intensity and readiness of utterance +and that moral conviction which had so moved all others with whom he had +come into contact during this memorable visit to the United States; but +Mr. Wilson was utterly cold, utterly unresponsive, interested only in +ending the war. The talk lasted for a whole morning; its nature may be +assumed from the many letters already printed; but Page's voice, when it +attempted to fire the conscience of the President, proved as ineffective +as his pen. However, there was nothing rasping or contentious about the +interview. The two men discussed everything with the utmost calmness and +without the slightest indications of ill-nature. Both men had in mind +their long association, both inevitably recalled the hopes with which +they had begun their official relationship three years before, at that +time neither having the faintest intimation of the tremendous problems +that were to draw them asunder. Mr. Wilson at this meeting did not +impress his Ambassador as a perverse character, but as an extremely +pathetic one. Page came away with no vexation or anger, but with a real +feeling for a much suffering and a much perplexed statesman. The fact +that the President's life was so solitary, and that he seemed to be so +completely out of touch with men and with the living thoughts of the +world, appealed strongly to Page's sympathies. "I think he is the +loneliest man I have ever known," Page remarked to his son Frank after +coming away from this visit. + +Page felt this at the time, for, as he rose to say good-bye to the +President, he put his hand upon his shoulder. At this Mr. Wilson's eyes +filled with tears and he gave Page an affectionate good-bye. The two men +never met again. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 38: This is quoted from a hitherto unpublished despatch of +Bernstorff's to Berlin which is found among Page's papers.] + +[Footnote 39: The _China_ case was a kind of _Trent_ case reversed. In +1861 the American ship _San Jacinto_ stopped the British vessel _Trent_ +and took off Mason and Slidell, Confederate commissioners to Great +Britain. Similarly a British ship, in 1916, stopped an American ship, +the _China_, and removed several German subjects. As the British quickly +saw the analogy, and made suitable amends, the old excitement over the +_Trent_ was not duplicated in the recent war.] + +[Footnote 40: See Chapter XIII, page 434.] + +[Footnote 41: Mr. Forbes had been Governor-General of the Philippines +from 1909 to 1913. His work had been extraordinarily successful.] + +[Footnote 42: Secretary of Agriculture.] + +[Footnote 43: In charge of government road building, a distant relative +of the Ambassador.] + +[Footnote 44: Major General William Crozier, U.S.A., Chief of Ordnance.] + +[Footnote 45: See Chapter XIX, pages 160-164.] + +[Footnote 46: It was General Sheridan.] + +[Footnote 47: See Chapter XIX, pages 160 and 164.] + +[Footnote 48: The treaty between the United States and Great Britain, +adopted through the urgency of Mr. Bryan, providing for the arbitration +of disputes between the two countries.] + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +"PEACE WITHOUT VICTORY" + + +"Of one thing I am sure," Page wrote to his wife from Washington, while +waiting to see President Wilson. "We wish to come home March 4th at +midnight and to go about our proper business. There's nothing here that +I would for the world be mixed up with. As soon as I can escape with +dignity I shall make my bow and exit.... But I am not unhappy or +hopeless for the long run. They'll find out the truth some day, paying, +I fear, a heavy penalty for delay. But the visit here has confirmed me +in our previous conclusions--that if we can carry the load until March +4th, midnight, we shall be grateful that we have pulled through." + +Soon after President Wilson's reëlection, therefore, Page sent his +resignation to Washington. The above quotation shows that he intended +this to be more than a "courtesy resignation," a term traditionally +applied to the kind of leave-takings which Ambassadors usually send on +the formation of a new administration, or at the beginning of a new +Presidential term, for the purpose of giving the President the +opportunity of reorganizing his official family. Page believed that his +work in London had been finished, that he had done everything in his +power to make Mr. Wilson see the situation in its true light and that he +had not succeeded. He therefore wished to give up his post and come +home. This explains the fact that his resignation did not consist of the +half dozen perfunctory lines which most diplomatic officers find +sufficient on such an occasion, but took the form of a review of the +reasons why the United States should align itself on the side of the +Allies. + + _To the President_ + + London, November 24, 1916. + + DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: + + We have all known for many years that the rich and populous and + organized states in which the big cities are do not constitute the + political United States. But, I confess, I hardly expected so soon + to see this fact proclaimed at the ballot-box. To me that's the + surprise of the election. And your popular majority as well as your + clear majority in the Electoral College is a great personal triumph + for you. And you have remade the ancient and demoralized Democratic + party. Four years ago it consisted of a protest and of the wreck + wrought by Mr. Bryan's long captaincy. This rebirth, with a popular + majority, is an historical achievement--of your own. + + You have relaid the foundation and reset the pillars of a party + that may enjoy a long supremacy for domestic reasons. Now, if you + will permit me to say so, from my somewhat distant view (four years + make a long period of absence) the big party task is to build up a + clearer and more positive foreign policy. We are in the world and + we've got to choose what active part we shall play in it--I fear + rather quickly. I have the conviction, as you know, that this whole + round globe now hangs as a ripe apple for our plucking, if we use + the right ladder while the chance lasts. I do not mean that we want + or could get the apple for ourselves, but that we can see to it + that it is put to proper uses. What we have to do, in my judgment, + is to go back to our political fathers for our clue. If my longtime + memory be good, they were sure that their establishment of a great + free Republic would soon be imitated by European peoples--that + democracies would take the place of autocracies in all so-called + civilized countries; for that was the form that the fight took in + their day against organized Privilege. But for one reason or + another--in our life-time partly because we chose so completely to + isolate ourselves--the democratic idea took root in Europe with + disappointing slowness. It is, for instance, now perhaps for the + first time, in a thoroughgoing way, within sight in this Kingdom. + The dream of the American Fathers, therefore, is not yet come true. + They fought against organized Privilege exerted from over the sea. + In principle it is the same fight that we have made, in our + domestic field, during recent decades. Now the same fight has come + on a far larger scale than men ever dreamed of before. + + It isn't, therefore, for merely doctrinal reasons that we are + concerned for the spread of democracy nor merely because a + democracy is the only scheme of organization yet wrought out that + keeps the door of opportunity open and invites all men to their + fullest development. But we are interested in it because under no + other system can the world be made an even reasonably safe place to + live in. For only autocracies wage aggressive wars. Aggressive + autocracies, especially military autocracies, must be softened down + by peace (and they have never been so softened) or destroyed by + war. The All-Highest doctrine of Germany to-day is the same as the + Taxation-without-Representation of George III--only more virulent, + stronger, and farther-reaching. Only by its end can the German + people recover and build up their character and take the permanent + place in the world that they--thus changed--will be entitled to. + They will either reduce Europe to the vassalage of a military + autocracy, which may then overrun the whole world or drench it in + blood, or they must through stages of Liberalism work their way + toward some approach to a democracy; and there is no doubt which + event is impending. The Liberal idea will win this struggle, and + Europe will be out of danger of a general assault on free + institutions till some other autocracy which has a military caste + try the same Napoleonic game. The defeat of Germany, therefore, + will make for the spread of the doctrine of our Fathers and our + doctrine yet. + + An interesting book might be made of concrete evidences of the + natural antipathy that the present German autocracy has for + successful democracy and hence for us. A new instance has just come + to me. My son, Arthur, who succeeded to most of my activities at + home, has been over here for a month and he has just come from a + visit to France. In Paris he had a long conversation with Delcassé, + who told him that the Kaiser himself once made a proposal to him to + join in producing "the complete isolation" of the United States. + What the Kaiser meant was that if the great Powers of Europe would + hold off, he would put the Monroe Doctrine to the test and smash + it. + + The great tide of the world will, by reason of the war, now flow + toward democracy--at present, alas! a tide of blood. For a century + democracies and Liberal governments have kept themselves too much + isolated, trusting prematurely and too simply to international law + and treaties and Hague conventions. These things have never been + respected, except as springs to catch woodcock, where the Divine + Right held sway. The outgrowing or the overthrow of the Divine + Right is a condition precedent to the effectiveness of + international law and treaties. + + It has seemed to me, looking at the subject only with reference to + our country's duty and safety, that somehow and at some early time + our championship of democracy must lead us to redeclare our faith + and to show that we believe in our historic creed. Then we may + escape falling away from the Liberal forces of the Old World and + escape the suspicion of indifference to the great scheme of + government which was set up by our fathers' giving their blood for + it. I see no other way for us to take the best and biggest + opportunity that has ever come to prove true to our faith as well + as to secure our own safety and the safety of the world. Only some + sort of active and open identification with the Allies can put us + in effective protest against the assassins of the Armenians and the + assassins of Belgium, Poland, and Serbia, and in a friendly + attitude to the German people themselves, as distinguished from + their military rulers. This is the attitude surely that our fathers + would have wished us to take--and would have expected us to + take--and that our children will be proud of us for taking; for it + is our proper historic attitude, whether looked at from the past or + looked back at from the future. There can be no historic approval + of neutrality for years, while the world is bleeding to death. + + The complete severance of relations, diplomatic at first and later + possibly economic as well, with the Turks and the Germans, would + probably not cost us a man in battle nor any considerable treasure; + for the moral effect of withdrawing even our formal approval of + their conduct--at least our passive acquiescence--would be--that + the Germans would see that practically all the Liberal world stands + against their system, and the war would end before we should need + to or could put an army in the field. The Liberal Germans are + themselves beginning to see that it is not they, but the German + system, that is the object of attack because it is _the_ dangerous + thing in the world. Maximilian Harden presents this view in his + Berlin paper. He says in effect that Germany must get rid of its + predatory feudalism. That was all that was the matter with George + III. + + Among the practical results of such action by us would, I believe, + be the following: + + 1. The early ending of the war and the saving of, perhaps, millions + of lives and of incalculable treasure; + + 2. The establishment in Germany of some form of more liberal + government; + + 3. A league to enforce peace, ready-made, under our guidance--i.e., + the Allies and ourselves; + + 4. The sympathetic coöperation and the moral force of every Allied + Government in dealing with Mexico: + + 5. The acceptance--and even documentary approval--of every Allied + Government of the Monroe Doctrine; + + 6. The warding off and no doubt the final prevention of danger from + Japan, and, most of all, the impressive and memorable spectacle of + our Great Democracy thus putting an end to this colossal crime, + merely from the impulse and necessity to keep our own ideals and to + lead the world right on. We should do for Europe on a large scale + essentially what we did for Cuba on a small scale and thereby usher + in a new era in human history. + + I write thus freely, Mr. President, because at no time can I write + in any other way and because I am sure that all these things can + quickly be brought to pass under your strong leadership. The United + States would stand, as no other nation has ever stood in the + world--predominant and unselfish--on the highest ideals ever + reached in human government. It is a vision as splendid as the Holy + Grael. Nor have I a shadow of doubt of the eager and faithful + following of our people, who would thereby reëstablish once for all + our weakened nationality. We are made of the stuff that our Fathers + were made of. + + And I write this now for the additional reason that I am within + sight of the early end of my service here. When you called me I + answered, not only because you did me great honour and laid a + definite patriotic duty on me, but because also of my personal + loyalty to you and my pride in helping forward the great principles + in which we both believe. But I understood then (and I am sure the + subject lay in your mind in the same way) that my service would be + for four years at the most. I made all my arrangements, + professional and domestic, on this supposition. I shall, therefore, + be ready to lay down my work here on March 4th or as soon + thereafter as meets your pleasure. + + I am more than proud of the confidence that you have shown in me. + To it I am indebted for the opportunity I have had to give such + public service to my country as I could, as well as for the most + profitable experience of my life. A proper and sympathetic + understanding between the two English-speaking worlds seems to me + the most important duty of far-seeing men in either country. It has + taken such a profound hold on me that I shall, in whatever way I + can, work for its complete realization as long as I can work for + anything. + + I am, Mr. President, most faithfully and gratefully yours, + + WALTER H. PAGE. + +This letter was written at a time when President Wilson was exerting his +best energies to bring about peace. The Presidential campaign had caused +him to postpone these efforts, for he believed that neither Germany nor +Great Britain could take seriously the activities of a President whose +own political position was insecure. At the time Page's letter was +received, the President was thinking only of a peace based upon a +stalemate; it was then his apparent conviction that both sides to the +struggle were about equally in the wrong and that a decisive victory of +either would not be a good thing for the world. Yet it is interesting to +compare this letter with the famous speech which the President made six +months afterward when he asked Congress to declare the existence of a +state of war with Germany. Practically all the important reasons which +Mr. Wilson then advanced for this declaration are found in Page's letter +of the preceding November. That autocracies are a constant menace to +world peace, that the United States owes it to its democratic tradition +to take up arms against the enemy of free government, that in doing +this, it was not making war upon the German people, but upon its +imperialistic masters--these were the arguments which Page laid before +the President in his letter of resignation, and these were the leading +ideas in Mr. Wilson's address of April 2nd. There are even sentences in +Page's communication which seem to foreshadow Mr. Wilson's assertion +that "The world must be made safe for democracy." This letter in itself +sufficiently makes it clear that Page's correspondence, irritating in +its later phases as it may have been, strongly influenced Mr. Wilson in +his final determination on war. + +On one point, indeed, Colonel House afterward called the Ambassador to +account. When America was preparing to raise armies by the millions and +to spend its treasure by the billions, he reminded Page of his statement +that the severance of diplomatic relations "would probably not cost us a +man in battle nor any considerable treasure." Page's statement in this +November letter merely reiterated a conviction which for more than a +year he had been forcing upon the President and Colonel House--that the +dismissal of Bernstorff would not necessarily imply war with Germany, +but that it would in itself be enough to bring the war to an end. On +this point Page never changed his mind, as is evident from the letter +which he wrote to Colonel House when this matter was called to his +attention: + + _To Edward M. House_ + + London, June 29, 1917. + + MY DEAR HOUSE: + + I never put any particular value on my own prophecies nor on + anybody else's. I have therefore no pride as a prophet. Yet I do + think that I hit it off accurately a year or a year and a half ago + when I said that we could then have ended the war without any + appreciable cost. And these are my reasons: + + If we had then come in and absolutely prevented supplies from + reaching Germany, as we are now about to do, the war would then + have been much sooner ended than it can now be ended: + + (1) Our supplies enabled her to go on. + + (2) She got time in this way to build her great submarine fleet. + She went at it the day she promised the President to reform. + + (3) She got time and strength to overrun Rumania whence she got + food and oil; and continues to get it. + + (4) During this time Russia fell down as a military force and gave + her more time, more armies for France and more supplies. Russian + guns have been sold to the Germans. + + If a year and a half ago we had starved her out, it would have been + over before any of these things happened. This delay is what will + cost us billions and billions and men and men. + + And it cost us one thing more. During the neutrality period we + were as eager to get goods to the little neutral states which were + in large measure undoubtedly bound to Germany as we are now eager + to keep them out. Grey, who was and is our best friend, and who was + unwilling to quarrel with us more than he was obliged to, was + thrown out of office and his career ended because the blockade, + owing to his consideration for us, was not tight enough. Our delay + caused his fall. + + But most of all, it gave the Germans time (and to some extent + material) to build their present fleet of submarines. They were at + work on them all the while and according to the best opinion here + they continue to build them faster than the British destroy them; + and the submarines are destroying more merchant ships than all the + shipbuilding docks of all the world are now turning out. This is + the most serious aspect of the war--by far the most serious. I am + trying to get our Government to send over hundreds of improvised + destroyers--armed tugs, yachts, etc., etc. Admiral Sims and the + British Admiralty have fears that unless such help come the full + fruits of the war may never be gathered by the Allies--that some + sort of a compromise peace may have to be made. + + It is, therefore, true that the year and a half we waited after the + _Lusitania_ will prove to be the most costly year and a half in our + history; and for once at least my old prophecy was quite a good + guess. But that water has flowed over the dam and it is worth + mentioning now only because you challenged me.... + +That part of Page's letter which refers to his retirement had a curious +history. It was practically a resignation and therefore called for an +immediate reply, but Mr. Wilson did not even acknowledge its receipt. +For two months the Ambassador was left in the dark as to the attitude +of Washington. Finally, in the latter part of January, 1917, Page wrote +urgently to Mr. Lansing, asking him to bring the matter to the +President's attention. On February 5, 1917, Mr. Lansing's reply was +received. "The President," he said, "under extreme pressure of the +present situation, has been unable to consider your communication in +regard to your resignation. He desires me to inform you that he hopes +that, at the present time, you will not press to be relieved from +service; that he realizes that he is asking you to make a personal +sacrifice, but he believes that you will appreciate the importance, in +the crisis which has developed, that no change should be made. I hardly +need to add my personal hope that you will put aside any thought of +resigning your post for the present." + +At this time, of course, any idea of retiring was out of the question. +The President had dismissed Bernstorff and there was every likelihood +that the country would soon be at war. Page would have regarded his +retirement at this crisis as little less than the desertion of his post. +Moreover, since Mr. Wilson had adopted the policy which the Ambassador +had been urging for nearly two years, and had sent Bernstorff home, any +logical excuse that may have existed for his resignation existed no +longer. Mr. Wilson had now adopted a course which Page could +enthusiastically support. + +"I am happy to serve here at any sacrifice"--such was his reply to Mr. +Lansing--"until after the end of the war, and I am making my +arrangements to stay for this period." + +The months that intervened between the Presidential election and the +declaration of war were especially difficult for the American Embassy in +London. Page had informed the President, in the course of his interview +of September 22nd, how unfavourably Great Britain regarded his efforts +in the direction of peace; he had in fact delivered a message from the +Foreign Office that any Presidential attempt to "mediate" would be +rejected by the Allies. Yet his earnest representation on this point had +produced no effect upon Mr. Wilson. The pressure which Germany was +bringing to bear upon Washington was apparently irresistible. Count +Bernstorff's memoirs, with their accompanying documents, have revealed +the intensity of the German efforts during this period; the most +startling fact revealed by the German Ambassador is that the Kaiser, on +October 9th, notified the President, almost in so many words, that, +unless he promptly moved in the direction of peace, the German +Government "would be forced to regain the freedom of action which it has +reserved to itself in the note of May 4th last[49]." It is unlikely that +the annals of diplomacy contain many documents so cool and insolent as +this one. It was a notification from the Kaiser to the President that +the so-called "Sussex pledge" was not regarded as an unconditional one +by the Imperial Government; that it was given merely to furnish Mr. +Wilson an opportunity to bring the war to an end; and that unless the +Presidential attempt to accomplish this were successful, there would be +a resumption of the indiscriminate submarine campaign. The curious +developments of the next two months are now a familiar story. Possibly +because the British Government had notified him, through Page, that his +proffer of mediation would be unacceptable, Mr. Wilson moved cautiously +and slowly, and Germany became impatient. The successful campaign +against Rumania, resulting in the capture of Bucharest on December 6th, +and the new vista which it opened to Germany of large food supplies, +strengthened the Teutonic purpose. Perhaps Germany, with her +characteristic lack of finesse, imagined that her own open efforts would +lend emphasis to Mr. Wilson's pacific exertions. At any rate, on +December 12th, just as Mr. Wilson was preparing to launch his own +campaign for mediation, Germany herself approached her enemies with a +proposal for a peace conference. A few days afterward Page, as the +representative of Germany, called at the Foreign Office to deliver the +large white envelope which contained the Kaiser's "peace proposal." In +delivering this to Lord Robert Cecil, who was acting as Foreign +Secretary in the temporary absence of Mr. Balfour, Page emphasized the +fact that the American Government entirely disassociated itself from its +contents and that he was acting merely in his capacity of "German +Ambassador." Two communications from Lord Robert to Sir Cecil Spring +Rice, British Ambassador at Washington, tell the story and also reveal +that it was almost impossible for Page, even when engaged in an official +proceeding, to conceal his contempt for the whole enterprise: + + _Lord R. Cecil to Sir C. Spring Rice_ + + Foreign Office, + + December 18, 1916. + + SIR: + + The American Ambassador came to see me this morning and presented + to me the German note containing what is called in it the "offer of + peace." He explained that he did so on instructions of his + Government as representing the German Government, and not in any + way as representing their own opinions. He also explained that the + note must be regarded as coming from the four Central Powers, and + as being addressed to all the Entente Powers who were represented + by the United States. + + He then read to me a telegram from his Government, but declined to + leave me a copy of it. The first part of the telegram explained + that the Government of the United States would deeply appreciate a + confidential intimation of the response to be made to the German + note and that they would themselves have certain representations to + make to the Entente Powers, to which they urgently begged the + closest consideration. The telegram went on to explain that the + Government of the United States had had it in mind for some time + past to make such representations on behalf of neutral nations and + humanity, and that it must not be thought that they were prompted + by the Governments of the Central Powers. They wished us to + understand that the note of the Central Powers created a good + opportunity for making the American representations, but was not + the cause of such representations being made. + + I replied that I could of course say nothing to him on such an + important matter without consulting my colleagues. + + I am, etc., + + ROBERT CECIL. + + _Lord R. Cecil to Sir C. Spring Rice_ + + Foreign Office, + + 19 December, 1916. + + SIR: + + The American Ambassador came to see me this afternoon. + + I asked him whether he could tell me why his government were + anxious to have confidential information as to the nature of our + response to the German peace note. He replied that he did not know, + but he imagined it was to enable them to frame the representations + of which he had spoken to me. + + I then told him that we had asked the French to draft a reply, and + that it would then be considered by the Allies, and in all + probability an identic note would be presented in answer to the + German note. I thought it probable that we should express our view + that it was impossible to deal with the German offer, since it + contained no specific proposals. + + He said that he quite understood this, and that we should in fact + reply that it was an offer "to buy a pig in a poke" which we were + not prepared to accept. He added that he thought his Government + would fully anticipate a reply in this sense, and he himself + obviously approved it. + + Then, speaking quite seriously, he said that he had heard people in + London treating the German offer with derision, but that no doubt + the belligerent governments would treat it seriously. + + I said that it was certainly a serious thing, and no doubt would be + treated seriously. + + I asked him if he knew what would be contained in the proposed + representations from his government. + + He said that he did not; but as he understood that they were to be + made to all the belligerents, he did not think that they could be + much more than a pious aspiration for peace; since that was the + only thing that was equally applicable to the Germans and to us. + + As he was leaving he suggested that the German note might be + published in our press. + + I am, etc., + + ROBERT CECIL. + +This so-called German "peace proposal" began with the statement that the +war "had been forced" upon Germany, contained the usual reference to the +military might of the Central Powers, and declared that the Fatherland +was fighting for "the honour and liberty of national evolution." It is +therefore not surprising that Lord Robert received it somewhat +sardonically, especially as the communication contained no specific +proposals, but merely a vague suggestion of "negotiations." But another +spectacular performance now drove the German manoeuvre out of +everybody's mind. That President Wilson resented this German +interference with his own plans is well known; he did not drop them, +however, but on December 18th, he sent his long-contemplated peace +communication to all the warring Powers. His appeal took the form of +asking that they state the objects for which they were fighting, the +Presidential belief evidently being that, if they did this, a common +meeting ground might possibly be found. The suggestion that the Allied +war aims were not public property, despite the fact that British +statesmen had been broadly proclaiming them for three years, caused a +momentary irritation in England, but this was not a serious matter, +especially as the British Cabinet quickly saw that this request gave +them a position of advantage over Germany, which had always refused to +make public the terms on which it would end the war. The main substance +in this Presidential approach, therefore, would have produced no +ill-feeling; as usual, it was a few parenthetical phrases--phrases which +were not essential to the main argument--which set the allied countries +seething with indignation. The President, this section of his note ran, +"takes the liberty of calling attention to the fact that the objects +which the statesmen of the belligerents on both sides have in mind in +this war, are virtually the same, as stated in general terms to their +own people and to the world. Each side desires to make the rights and +privileges of weak peoples and small states as secure against aggression +and denial in the future as the rights and privileges of the great and +powerful states now at war." This idea was elaborated in several +sentences of a similar strain, the general purport of the whole passage +being that there was little to choose between the combatants, inasmuch +as both were apparently fighting for about the same things. Mr. Wilson's +purpose in this paragraph is not obscure; he was making his long +expected appearance as a mediator, and he evidently believed that it was +essential to this rôle that he should not seem to be prejudiced in +favour of either side, but should hold the balance impartially between +them. + +It is true that a minute reading indicates that Mr. Wilson was merely +quoting, or attempting to paraphrase, the statements of the leaders of +both sides, but there is such a thing as quoting with approval, and no +explanation could convince the British public that the ruler of the +greatest neutral nation had not declared that the Allies and the Central +Powers stood morally upon the same level. The popular indignation which +this caused in Great Britain was so intense that it alarmed the British +authorities. The publication of this note in the British press was +withheld for several hours, in order to give the Government an +opportunity to control the expression of editorial opinion; otherwise it +was feared that this would be so unrestrained in its bitterness that +relations with the United States might be imperilled. The messages which +the London correspondents were permitted to send to the United States +were carefully censored for the same reason. The dispatch sent by the +Associated Press was the product of a long struggle between the Foreign +Office and its London correspondent. The representatives spent half an +hour considering whether the American correspondents could cable their +country that the note had been received in England with "surprise and +irritation." After much discussion it was decided that "irritation" +could not be used, and the message of the Associated Press, after +undergoing this careful editing by the Foreign Office, was a weak and +ridiculous description of the high state of excitement which prevailed +in Great Britain. The fact that the British Foreign Office should have +given all this trouble over the expressions sent to American newspapers +and should even have spent half an hour debating whether a particular +word should be used, almost pathetically illustrates the great care +taken by the British Government not to influence American opinion +against the Allies. + +The Government took the same precautions with its own press in England. +When the note was finally released the Foreign Office explicitly +directed the London newspapers to comment with the utmost caution and in +no case to question the President's sincerity. Most of them acquiesced +in these instructions by maintaining silence. There was only one London +newspaper, the _Westminster Gazette_, which made even a faint-hearted +attempt to explain away the President's statement. From the first day of +the war the British people had declared that President Wilson did not +understand the issues at stake; and they now declared that this note +confirmed their worst forebodings. The comments of the man-in-the-street +were unprintable, but more serious than these was the impression which +Mr. Wilson's dubious remarks made upon those Englishmen who had always +been especially friendly to the United States and who had even defended +the President in previous crises. Lord Bryce, who had accepted +philosophically the Presidential statement that the United States was +not "concerned with the causes" of the war, could not regard so +indulgently this latest judgment of Great Britain and Germany. "Bryce +came to see me in a state of great depression," wrote Page. "He has sent +Mr. Wilson a personal letter on this matter." Northcliffe commanded his +newspapers, the _Times_ and the _Daily Mail_, to discuss the note in a +judicial spirit, but he himself told Mr. Page that "everybody is as +angry as hell." When someone attempted to discuss the Wilson note with +Mr. Asquith, he brushed the subject away with a despairing gesture. +"Don't talk to me about it," he said. "It is most disheartening." But +the one man in England who was perhaps the most affected was King +George. A man who had attended luncheon at Buckingham Palace on December +21st gave Page a description of the royal distress. The King, expressing +his surprise and dismay that Mr. Wilson should think that Englishmen +were fighting for the same things in this war as the Germans, broke +down. + +The world only now understands the dreadful prospect which was opening +before Europe at the moment when this Presidential note added a new +cause for general despondency. Rumania had collapsed, the first inkling +of the Russian revolution had been obtained, the British well knew that +the submarine warfare was to be resumed, and British finances were also +in a desperate plight. More and more it was becoming evident to the +British statesmen that they needed the intervention of the United +States. This is the reason why they could not destroy the chances of +American help by taking official offense even at what Page, in a +communication to the Secretary of State, did not hesitate to call +President Wilson's "insulting words"; and hence their determination to +silence the press and to give no outward expression of what they felt. +Page's interview with Lord Robert Cecil on December 26th, while the +Presidential communication was lying on his desk, discloses the real +emotions of Englishmen. Apparently Page's frank cables concerning the +reception of this paragraph had caused a certain interest in the State +Department; at least the Ambassador was instructed to call at the +Foreign Office and explain that the interpretation which had been +commonly put upon the President's words was not the one which he had +intended. At the same time Page was instructed to request the British +Foreign Office, in case its reply were "favourable," not to publish it, +but to communicate it secretly to the American Government. The purpose +of this request is a little obscure; possibly it was the President's +plan to use such a favourable reply to force Germany likewise to display +an acquiescent mood. The object of Page's call was to present this +disclaimer. + +Lord Robert Cecil, the son of the late Lord Salisbury,--that same Lord +Salisbury whose combats with Secretary Blaine and Secretary Olney form +piquant chapters in British-American history--is one of the most able +and respected of British statesmen. In his earlier life Lord Salisbury +had been somewhat overbearing in his attitude toward the United States; +in his later years, however, perhaps owing to the influence of his +nephew, Mr. Balfour, his manner had changed. In his attitude toward the +United States Lord Robert Cecil reflected only the later phases of his +father's career. To this country and to its peaceful ideals he had +always been extremely sympathetic, and to Page especially he had never +manifested anything but cordiality. Yet it was evident, as Page came +into his office this morning, that to Lord Robert, as to every member of +the Government, the President's note, with its equivocal phrases, had +been a terrible shock. His manner was extremely courteous, as always, +but he made no attempt to conceal his feelings. Ordinarily Lord Robert +did not wear his emotions on the surface; but he took occasion on this +visit to tell Page how greatly the President's communication had grieved +him. + +"The President," he said, "has seemed to pass judgment on the allied +cause by putting it on the same level as the German. I am deeply hurt." + +Page conveyed Mr. Lansing's message that no such inference was +justified. But this was not reassuring. + +"Moreover," Lord Robert added, "there is one sentence in the note--that +in which the President says that the position of neutrals is becoming +intolerable--that seems almost a veiled threat." + +Page hastened to assure Lord Robert that no threat was intended. + +Lord Robert's manner became increasingly serious. + +"There is nothing that the American Government or any other human power +can do," he remarked slowly and solemnly, "which will bring this war to +a close before the Allies have spent their utmost force to secure a +victory. A failure to secure such a victory will leave the world at the +mercy of the most arrogant and the bloodiest tyranny that has ever been +organized. It is far better to die in an effort to defeat that tyranny +than to perish under its success." + +On any occasion Lord Robert is an impressive or at least a striking and +unusual figure; he is tall, lank, and ungainly, almost Lincolnesque in +the carelessness of his apparel and the exceeding awkwardness of his +postures and manners. His angular features, sharp nose, pale face, and +dark hair suggest the strain of ascetism, almost of fanaticism, which +runs in the present generation of his family. And the deep sincerity and +power of his words on this occasion made an impression which Page never +forgot; they transformed the British statesman into an eloquent, almost +an heroic figure. If we are to understand the full tragedy of this +moment we must remember that, incredible as it now seems, there was a +fear in British officialdom that the United States might not only not +pursue a course favourable to the Allies, but that it might even throw +its support to Germany. The fear, of course, was baseless; any +suggestion of such a policy in the United States would have destroyed +any official who had brought it forward; but Lord Robert knew and Page +knew that there were insidious influences at work at that time, both in +the United States and in Great Britain, which looked in this direction. +A group of Americans, whom Page used to refer to as "peace spies," were +associated with English pacifists, for the purpose of bringing about +peace on almost any terms. These "peace spies" had worked out a +programme all their own. The purpose was to compel Great Britain to +accept the German terms for ending the war. Unless she did accept them, +then it was intended that the American Government should place an +embargo on the shipment of foodstuffs and munitions to the Allies. There +is little question that the United States, by taking such action, could +have ended the war almost instantaneously. Should the food of her people +and the great quantities of munitions which were coming from this +country be suddenly cut off, there is little likelihood that Great +Britain could have long survived. The possibility that an embargo might +shut out these supplies had hung over the heads of British statesmen +ever since the war began; they knew that the possession of this mighty +power made the United States the potential dictator of events; and the +fear that it might be used had never ceased to influence their thoughts +or their actions. Even while this interview was taking place, certain +anti-British forces in the United States, such as Senator Hoke Smith of +Georgia, were urging action of this kind. + +"I have always been almost a Pacifist," Lord Robert continued. "No man +has ever hated war worse than I. No man has ever had a more earnest +faith that war can be abolished. But European civilization has been +murderously assaulted and there is nothing now to do but to defeat this +desperate enemy or to perish in the effort. I had hoped that the United +States understood what is at stake." + +Lord Robert went on: + +"I will go so far as to say that if the United States will come into the +war it will decide which will win, freedom or organized tyranny. If the +United States shall help the Germans, civilization will perish and it +will be necessary to build it up slowly again--if indeed it will ever +appear again. If the United States will help the Allies, civilization +will triumph[50]." + +As to the proposal that the British terms should be conveyed +confidentially to Mr. Wilson, Lord Robert said that that would be a +difficult thing to do. The President's note had been published, and it +therefore seemed necessary that the reply should also be given to the +press. This was the procedure that was ultimately adopted. + + * * * * * + +Startling as was the sensation caused by the President's December note, +it was mild compared with that which was now to come. Page naturally +sent prompt reports of all these conversations to the President and +likewise kept him completely informed as to the state of public feeling, +but his best exertions apparently did not immediately affect the Wilson +policy. The overwhelming fact is that the President's mind was fixed on +a determination to compel the warring powers to make peace and in this +way to keep the United States out of the conflict. Even the disturbance +caused by his note of December 18th did not make him pause in this peace +campaign. To that note the British sent a manly and definite reply, +drafted by Mr. Balfour, giving in detail precisely the terms upon which +the Allies would compose their differences with the Central Powers. The +Germans sent a reply consisting of ten or a dozen lines, which did not +give their terms, but merely asked again for a conference. Events were +now moving with the utmost rapidity. On January 9th, a council of German +military chieftains was held at Pless; in this it was decided to resume +unrestricted submarine warfare. On January 16th the Zimmermann-Mexico +telegram was intercepted; this informed Bernstorff, among other things, +that this decision had been made. On January 16th, at nine o'clock in +the morning, the American Embassy in London began receiving a long +cipher despatch from Washington. The preamble announced that the +despatch contained a copy of an address which the President proposed to +deliver before the Senate "in a few days." Page was directed to have +copies of the address "secretly prepared" and to hand them to the +British Foreign Office and to newspapers of the type of the Nation, the +Daily News, and the Manchester Guardian--all three newspapers well known +for their Pacifist tendencies. As the speech approached its end, this +sentence appeared: "It must be a peace without victory." The words +greatly puzzled the secretary in charge, for they seemed almost +meaningless. Suspecting that an error had been made in transmission, the +secretary directed the code room to cable Washington for a verification +of the cipher groups. Very soon the answer was received; there had been +no mistake; the Presidential words were precisely those which had been +first received: "Peace without victory." The slips were then taken to +Page, who read the document, especially these fateful syllables, with a +consternation which he made no effort to conceal. He immediately wrote a +cable to President Wilson, telling him of the deplorable effect this +sentence would produce and imploring him to cut it out of his +speech--with what success the world now knows. + +An astonishing feature of this episode is that Page had recently +explained to the Foreign Office, in obedience to instructions from +Washington, that Mr. Wilson's December note should not be interpreted as +placing the Allies and the Central Powers on the same moral level. Now +Mr. Wilson, in this "peace without victory" phrase, had repeated +practically the same idea in another form. On the day the speech was +received at the Embassy, about a week before it was delivered in the +Senate, Page made the following memorandum: + + The President's address to the Senate, which was received to-day + (January 16th)[51], shows that he thinks he can play peace-maker. + He does not at all understand, (or, if he do, so much the worse for + him) that the Entente Powers, especially Great Britain and France, + cannot make "peace without victory." If they do, they will become + vassals of Germany. In a word, the President does not know the + Germans; and he is, unconsciously, under their influence in his + thought. His speech plays into their hands. + + This address will give great offense in England, since it puts each + side in the war on the same moral level. + + I immediately saw the grave danger to our relations with Great + Britain by the Peace-without-Victory plan; and I telegraphed the + President, venturing to advise him to omit that phrase--with no + result. + +Afterward Page added this to the above: + + Compare this Senate speech with his speech in April calling for + war: Just when and how did the President come to see the true + nature of the German? What made him change from Peace-Maker to + War-Maker? The Zimmermann telegram, or the February U-boat renewal + of warfare? Had he been so credulous as to believe the German + promise? This promise had been continuously and repeatedly broken. + + Or was it the pressure of public opinion, the growing impatience of + the people that pushed him in? + + This distressing peace-move--utterly out of touch with the facts of + the origin of the war or of its conduct or of the mood and + necessities of Great Britain--a remote, academic deliverance, while + Great Britain and France were fighting for their very lives--made a + profoundly dejected feeling; and it made my place and work more + uncomfortable than ever. "Peace without victory" brought us to the + very depths of European disfavour. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 49: "My Three Years in America," by Count Bernstorff, p. 294.] + +[Footnote 50: This narrative is based upon memoranda made by Page.] + +[Footnote 51: It was delivered and published on January 22nd.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE UNITED STATES AT WAR + + +I + +The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany on +February 3, 1917. The occasion was a memorable one in the American +Embassy in London, not unrelieved by a touch of the ridiculous. All day +long a nervous and rather weary company had waited in the Ambassador's +room for the decisive word from Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Page, Mr. and +Mrs. Laughlin, Mr. Shoecraft, the Ambassador's secretary, sat there hour +after hour, hardly speaking to one another in their tense excitement, +waiting for the news that would inform them that Bernstorff's course had +been run and that their country had taken its decision on the side of +the Allies. Finally, at nine o'clock in the evening, the front door bell +rang. Mr. Shoecraft excitedly left the room; half way downstairs he met +Admiral William Reginald Hall, the head of the British Naval +Intelligence, who was hurrying up to the Ambassador. Admiral Hall, as he +spied Mr. Shoecraft, stopped abruptly and uttered just two words: + +"Thank God!" + +He then went into the Ambassador's room and read a secret code message +which he had just received from Captain Gaunt, the British naval attaché +at Washington. It was as follows: + +"Bernstorff has just been given his passports. I shall probably get +drunk to-night!" + +It was in this way that Page first learned that the long tension had +passed. + +Page well understood that the dismissal of Bernstorff at that time meant +war with the Central Empires. Had this dismissal taken place in 1915, +after the sinking of the _Lusitania_, or in 1916, after the sinking of +the _Sussex_, Page believed that a simple break in relations would in +itself have brought the war to an early end. But by February, 1917, +things had gone too far. For Germany had now decided to stake everything +upon the chance of winning a quick victory with the submarine. Our +policy had persuaded the Kaiser's advisers that America would not +intervene; and the likelihood of rapidly starving Great Britain was so +great--indeed the Germans had reduced the situation to a mathematical +calculation of success--that an American declaration of war seemed to +Berlin to be a matter of no particular importance. The American +Ambassador in London regarded Bernstorff's dismissal much more +seriously. It justified the interpretations of events which he had been +sending to Mr. Wilson, Colonel House, and others for nearly three years. +If Page had been inclined to take satisfaction in the fulfilment of his +own prophecies, Germany's disregard of her promises and the American +declaration of war would have seemed an ample justification of his +course as ambassador. + +[Illustration: Walter H. Page, at the time of America's entry into the +war, April, 1917] + +[Illustration: Resolution passed by the two Houses of Parliament, April +18, 1917, on America's entry into the war] + +But Page had little time for such vain communings. "All that water," as +he now wrote, "has flowed over the dam." Occasionally his mind would +revert to the dreadful period of "neutrality," but in the main his +activities, mental and physical, were devoted to the future. A letter +addressed to his son Arthur shows how quickly and how sympathetically he +was adjusting himself to the new prospect. His mind was now occupied +with ships, food, armies, warfare on submarines, and the approaching +resettlement of the world. How completely he foresaw the part that +the United States must play in the actual waging of hostilities, and to +what an extent he himself was responsible for the policies that +ultimately prevailed, appears in this letter: + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + 25 March, 1917, London. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + It's very hard, not to say impossible, to write in these swiftly + moving days. Anything written to-day is out of date to-morrow--even + if it be not wrong to start with. The impression becomes stronger + here every day that we shall go into the war "with both feet"--that + the people have pushed the President over in spite of his vision of + the Great Peacemaker, and that, being pushed over, his idea now + will be to show how he led them into a glorious war in defense of + democracy. That's my reading of the situation, and I hope I am not + wrong. At any rate, ever since the call of Congress for April 2nd, + I have been telegraphing tons of information and plans that can be + of use only if we go to war. Habitually they never acknowledge the + receipt of anything at Washington. I don't know, therefore, whether + they like these pieces of information or not. I have my staff of + twenty-five good men getting all sorts of warlike information; and + I have just organized twenty-five or thirty more--the best business + Americans in London--who are also at work. I am trying to get the + Government at Washington to send over a committee of conference--a + General, an Admiral, a Reserve Board man, etc., etc. If they do + half the things that I recommend we'll be in at the final lickin' + big, and will save our souls yet. + + There's lots of human nature in this world. A note is now + sometimes heard here in undertone (Northcliffe strikes it)--that + they don't want the Americans in the war. This means that if we + come in just as the Allies finish the job we'll get credit, in + part, for the victory, which we did little to win! But that's a + minor note. The great mass of people do want us in, quick, hard, + and strong--our money and our guns and our ships. + + A gift of a billion dollars[52] to France will fix Franco-American + history all right for several centuries. Push it through. Such a + gift could come to this Kingdom also but for the British stupidity + about the Irish for three hundred years. A big loan to Great + Britain at a low rate of interest will do the work here. + + My mind keeps constantly on the effect of the war and especially of + our action on our own country. Of course that is the most important + end of the thing for us. I hope that-- + + 1. It will break up and tear away our isolation; + + 2. It will unhorse our cranks and soft-brains. + + 3. It will make us less promiscuously hospitable to every kind of + immigrant; + + 4. It will reëstablish in our minds and conscience and policy our + true historic genesis, background, kindred, and destiny--i.e., kill + the Irish and the German influence. + + 5. It will revive our real manhood--put the molly-coddles in + disgrace, as idiots and dandies are; + + 6. It will make our politics frank and manly by restoring our true + nationality; + + 7. It will make us again a great sea-faring people. It is this that + has given Great Britain its long lead in the world; + + 8. Break up our feminized education--make a boy a vigorous animal + and make our education rest on a wholesome physical basis; + + 9. Bring men of a higher type into our political life. + + We need waking up and shaking up and invigorating as much as the + Germans need taking down. + + There is no danger of "militarism" in any harmful sense among any + English race or in any democracy. + + By George! all these things open an interesting outlook and series + of tasks--don't they? + + My staff and I are asking everybody what the Americans can best do + to help the cause along. The views are not startling, but they are + interesting. + + _Jellicoe_: More ships, merchant ships, any kind of ships, and take + over the patrol of the American side of the Atlantic and release + the British cruisers there. + + _Balfour_: American credits in the United States big enough to keep + up the rate of exchange. + + _Bonar Law_: Same thing. + + _The military men_: An expeditionary force, no matter how small, + for the effect of the American Flag in Europe. If one regiment + marched through London and Paris and took the Flag to the front, + that would be worth the winning of a battle. + + Think of the vast increase of territory and power Great Britain + will have--her colonies drawn closer than ever, the German + colonies, or most of them, taken over by her, Bagdad hers--what a + way Germany chose to lessen the British Empire! And these gains of + territory will be made, as most of her gains have been, not by any + prearranged, set plan, but as by-products of action for some other + purpose. The only people who have made a deliberate plan to conquer + the earth--now living--are the Germans. And from first to last the + additions to the British Empire have been made because she has been + a first-class maritime power. + + And that's the way she has made her trade and her money, too. + + On top of this the President speculates about the danger of the + white man losing his supremacy because a few million men get + killed! The truth is every country that is playing a big part in + the war was overpopulated. There will be a considerable productive + loss because the killed men were, as a rule, the best men; but the + white man's control of the world hasn't depended on any few million + of males. This speculation is far up in the clouds. If Russia and + Germany really be liberated from social and political and + industrial autocracy, this liberation will bring into play far more + power than all the men killed in the war could have had under the + pre-war régime. I observe this with every year of my + observation--there's no substitute for common-sense. + + The big results of the war will, after all, be the freedom and the + stimulation of men in these weary Old-World lands--in Russia, + Germany itself, and in England. In five or ten years (or sooner, + alas!) the dead will be forgotten. + + If you wish to make a picture of the world as it will be when the + war ends, you must conjure up such scenes as these--human bones + along the Russian highways where the great retreat took place and + all that such a sight denotes; Poland literally starved; Serbia, + blasted and burned and starved; Armenia butchered; the horrible + tragedy of Gallipoli, where the best soldiers in the world were + sacrificed to politicians' policies; Austria and Germany starved + and whipped but liberalized--perhaps no king in either country; + Belgium--belgiumized; northern France the same and worse; more + productive Frenchmen killed in proportion to the population perhaps + than any other country will have lost; Great Britain--most of her + best men gone or maimed; colossal debts; several Teutonic countries + bankrupt; every atrocity conceivable committed somewhere--a + hell-swept great continent having endured more suffering in three + years than in the preceding three hundred. Then, ten years later, + most of this suffering a mere memory; governments reorganized and + liberalized; men made more efficient by this strenuous three years' + work; the fields got back their bloom, and life going on much as it + did before--with this chief difference--some kings have gone and + many privileges have been abolished. The lessons are two--(1) that + no government can successfully set out and conquer the world; and + (2) that the hold that privilege holders acquire costs more to + dislodge than any one could ever have guessed. That's the sum of + it. Kings and privilege mongers, of course, have held the parts of + the world separate from one another. They fatten on provincialism, + which is mistaken for patriotism. As they lose their grip, human + sympathy has its natural play between nations, and civilization has + a chance. With any Emperor of Germany left the war will have been + half in vain. + + If we (the U.S.A.) cultivate the manly qualities and throw off our + cranks and read our own history and be true to our traditions and + blood and get some political vigour; then if we emancipate + ourselves from the isolation theory and from the landlubber + theory--get into the world and build ships, ships, ships, ships, + and run them to the ends of the seas, we can dominate the world in + trade and in political thought. + + You know I have moments when it occurs to me that perhaps I'd + better give whatever working years I may have to telling this + story--the story of the larger meaning of the war. There's no + bigger theme--never was one so big. + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + +On April 1st, the day before President Wilson made his great address +before Congress requesting that body to declare the existence of a state +of war with Germany, Page committed to paper a few paragraphs which +summed up his final judgment of President Wilson's foreign policy for +the preceding two and a half years. + + Embassy of the United States of America, + April 1, 1917. + + In these last days, before the United States is forced into war--by + the people's insistence--the preceding course of events becomes + even clearer than it was before; and it has been as clear all the + time as the nose on a man's face. + + The President began by refusing to understand the meaning of the + war. To him it seemed a quarrel to settle economic rivalries + between Germany and England. He said to me last September[53] that + there were many causes why Germany went to war. He showed a great + degree of toleration for Germany; and he was, during the whole + morning that I talked with him, complaining of England. The + controversies we had with England were, of course, mere by-products + of the conflict. But to him they seemed as important as the + controversy we had with Germany. In the beginning he had made--as + far as it was possible--neutrality a positive quality of mind. He + would not move from that position. + + That was his first error of judgment. And by insisting on this he + soothed the people--sat them down in comfortable chairs and said, + "Now stay there." He really suppressed speech and thought. + + The second error he made was in thinking that he could play a + great part as peacemaker--come and give a blessing to these erring + children. This was strong in his hopes and ambitions. There was a + condescension in this attitude that was offensive. + + He shut himself up with these two ideas and engaged in what he + called "thought." The air currents of the world never ventilated + his mind. + + This inactive position he has kept as long as public sentiment + permitted. He seems no longer to regard himself nor to speak as a + leader--only as the mouthpiece of public opinion after opinion has + run over him. + + He has not breathed a spirit into the people: he has encouraged + them to supineness. He is _not_ a leader, but rather a stubborn + phrasemaker. + + And now events and the aroused people seem to have brought the + President to the necessary point of action; and even now he may act + timidly. + + * * * * * + +"One thing pleases me," Page wrote to his son Arthur, "I never lost +faith in the American people. It is now clear that I was right in +feeling that they would have gladly come in any time after the +_Lusitania_ crime. Middle West in the front, and that the German hasn't +made any real impression on the American nation. He was made a bug-a-boo +and worked for all he was worth by Bernstorff; and that's the whole +story. We are as Anglo-Saxon as we ever were. If Hughes had had sense +and courage enough to say: 'I'm for war, war to save our honour and to +save democracy,' he would now be President. If Wilson had said that, +Hughes would have carried no important states in the Union. The +suppressed people would have risen to either of them. That's God's truth +as I believe it. The real United States is made up of you and Frank and +the Page boys at Aberdeen and of the 10,000,000 other young fellows who +are ready to do the job and who instinctively see the whole truth of the +situation. But of course what the people would not have done under +certain conditions--that water also has flowed over the dam; and I +mention it only because I have resolutely kept my faith in the people +and there has been nothing in recent events that has shaken it." + +Two letters which Page wrote on this same April 1st are interesting in +that they outline almost completely the war policy that was finally +carried out: + + _To Frank N. Doubleday_ + + Embassy of the United States of America, + April 1, 1917. + + DEAR EFFENDI: + + Here's the programme: + + (1) Our navy in immediate action in whatever way a conference with + the British shows we can best help. + + (2) A small expeditionary force to France immediately--as large as + we can quickly make ready, if only 10,000 men--as proof that we are + ready to do some fighting. + + (3) A large expeditionary force as soon as the men can be organized + and equipped. They can be trained into an effective army in France + in about one fourth of the time that they could be trained anywhere + else. + + (4) A large loan to the Allies at a low rate of interest. + + (5) Ships, ships, ships--troop ships, food ships, munition ships, + auxiliary ships to the navy, wooden ships, steel ships, little + ships, big ships, ships, ships, ships without number or end. + + (6) A clear-cut expression of the moral issue involved in the war. + Every social and political ideal that we stand for is at stake. If + we value democracy in the world, this is the chance to further it + or--to bring it into utter disrepute. After Russia must come + Germany and Austria; and then the King-business will pretty nearly + be put out of commission. + + (7) We must go to war in dead earnest. We must sign the Allies' + agreement not to make a separate peace, and we must stay in to the + end. Then the end will be very greatly hastened. + + It's been four years ago to-day since I was first asked to come + here. God knows I've done my poor best to save our country and to + help. It'll be four years in the middle of May since I sailed. I + shall still do my best. I'll not be able to start back by May 15th, + but I have a feeling, if we do our whole duty in the United States, + that the end may not be very many months off. And how long off it + may be may depend to a considerable degree on our action. + + We are faring very well on army rations. None of us will live to + see another time when so many big things are at stake nor another + time when our country can play so large or important a part in + saving the world. Hold up your end. I'm doing my best here. + + I think of you engaged in the peaceful work of instructing the + people, and I think of the garden and crocuses and the smell of + early spring in the air and the earth and--push on; I'll be with + you before we grow much older or get much grayer; and a great and + prosperous and peaceful time will lie before us. Pity me and hold + up your end for real American participation. Get together? Yes; but + the way to get together is to get in! + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + + _To David F. Houston_[54] + + Embassy of the United States of America, + April 1, 1917. + + DEAR HOUSTON: + + The Administration can save itself from becoming a black blot on + American history only by vigorous action--acts such as these: + + Putting our navy to work--vigorous work--wherever and however is + wisest. I have received the Government's promise to send an Admiral + here at once for a conference. We must work out with the British + Navy a programme whereby we can best help; and we must carry it + without hesitancy or delay. + + Sending over an expeditionary military force immediately--a small + one, but as large as we can, as an earnest of a larger one to come. + This immediate small one will have a good moral effect; and we need + all the moral reinstatement that we can get in the estimation of + the world; our moral stock is lower than, I fear, any of you at + home can possibly realize. As for a larger expeditionary force + later--even that ought to be sent quite early. It can and must + spend some time in training in France, whatever its training + beforehand may have been. All the military men agree that soldiers + in France back of the line can be trained in at least half the time + that they can be trained anywhere else. The officers at once take + their turn in the trenches, and the progress that they and their + men make in close proximity to the fighting is one of the + remarkable discoveries of the war. The British Army was so trained + and all the colonial forces. Two or three or four hundred thousand + Americans could be sent over as soon almost as they are organized + and equipped-provided transports and a continuous supply of food + and munition ships can be got. They can be trained into fighting + men--into an effective army--in about one third of the time that + would be required at home. + + I suppose, of course, we shall make at once a large loan to the + Allies at a low rate of interest. That is most important, but that + alone will not save us. We must also _fight_. + + All the ships we can get--build, requisition, or confiscate--are + needed immediately. + + Navy, army, money, ships--these are the first things, but by no + means all. We must make some expression of a conviction that there + is a moral question of right and wrong involved in this war--a + question of humanity, a question of democracy. So far we have + (officially) spoken only of the wrongs done to our ships and + citizens. Deep wrongs have been done to all our moral ideas, to our + ideals. We have sunk very low in European opinion because we do not + seem to know even yet that a German victory would be less desirable + than (say) a Zulu victory of the world. + + We must go in with the Allies, not begin a mere single fight + against submarines. We must sign the pact of London--not make a + separate peace. + + We mustn't longer spin dreams about peace, nor leagues to enforce + peace, nor the Freedom of the Seas. These things are mere + intellectual diversions of minds out of contact with realities. + Every political and social ideal we have is at stake. If we make + them secure, we'll save Europe from destruction and save ourselves, + too. I pray for vigour and decision and clear-cut resolute action. + + (1) The Navy--full strength, no "grapejuice" action. + + (2) An immediate expeditionary force. + + (3) A larger expeditionary force very soon. + + (4) A large loan at a low interest. + + (5) Ships, ships, ships. + + (6) A clear-cut expression of the moral issue. Thus (and only thus) + can we swing into a new era, with a world born again. + + Yours in strictest confidence, + + W.H.P. + +A memorandum, written on April 3rd, the day after President Wilson +advised Congress to declare a state of war with Germany: + + _The Day_ + + When I went to see Mr. Balfour to-day he shook my hand warmly and + said: "It's a great day for the world." And so has everybody said, + in one way or another, that I have met to-day. + + The President's speech did not appear in the morning papers--only a + very brief summary in one or two of them; but the meaning of it was + clear. The fact that the House of Representatives organized itself + in one day and that the President addressed Congress on the evening + of that day told the story. The noon papers had the President's + speech in full; and everybody applauds. + + My "Cabinet" meeting this morning was unusually interesting; and + the whole group has never before been so delighted. I spoke of the + suggestive, constructive work we have already done in making + reports on various war preparations and activities of this kingdom. + "Now we have greater need than ever, every man to do constructive + work--to think of plans to serve. We are in this excellent + strategical position in the capital of the greatest belligerent--a + position which I thank my stars, the President, and all the powers + that be for giving us. We can each strive to justify our + existence." + + Few visitors called; but enthusiastic letters have begun to come + in. + + Nearly the whole afternoon was spent with Mr. Balfour and Lord + Robert Cecil. Mr. Balfour had a long list of subjects. Could we + help in (1)--(2)--(3)?--Every once in a while he stopped his + enumeration of subjects long enough to tell me how the action of + the United States had moved him. + + To Lord Robert I said: "I pray you, give the Black List a decent + burial: It's dead now, but through no act of yours. It insulted + every American because you did not see that it was insulting: + that's the discouraging fact to me." He thanked me earnestly. He'll + think about that. + + +II + +These jottings give only a faint impression of the change which the +American action wrought in Page. The strain which he had undergone for +twenty-nine months had been intense; it had had the most unfortunate +effect upon his health; and the sudden lifting might have produced that +reaction for the worse which is not unusual after critical experiences +of this kind. But the gratification which Page felt in the fact that the +American spirit had justified his confidence gave him almost a certain +exuberance of contentment. Londoners who saw him at that time describe +him as acting like a man from whose shoulders a tremendous weight had +suddenly been removed. For more than two years Page had been compelled, +officially at least, to assume a "neutrality" with which he had never +had the slightest sympathy, but the necessity for this mask now no +longer existed. A well-known Englishman happened to meet Page leaving +his house in Grosvenor Square the day after the Declaration of War. He +stopped and shook the Ambassador's hand. + +"Thank God," the Englishman said, "that there is one hypocrite less in +London to-day." + +"What do you mean?" asked Page. + +"I mean you. Pretending all this time that you were neutral! That isn't +necessary any longer." + +"You are right!" the Ambassador answered as he walked on with a laugh +and a wave of the hand. + +A few days after the Washington Declaration, the American Luncheon Club +held a feast in honour of the event. This organization had a membership +of representative American business men in London, but its behaviour +during the war had not been based upon Mr. Wilson's idea of neutrality. +Indeed its tables had so constantly rung with denunciations of the +_Lusitania_ notes that all members of the American Embassy, from Page +down, had found it necessary to refrain from attending its proceedings. +When Page arose to address his compatriots on this occasion, therefore, +he began with the significant words, "I am glad to be back with you +again," and the mingled laughter and cheers with which this remark was +received indicated that his hearers had caught the point. + +The change took place not only in Page, but in London and the whole of +Great Britain. An England that had been saying harsh things of the +United States for nearly two years now suddenly changed its attitude. +Both houses of Parliament held commemorative sessions in honour of +America's participation; in the Commons Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Asquith, +and other leaders welcomed their new allies, and in the Upper Chamber +Lord Curzon, Lord Bryce, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and others +similarly voiced their admiration. The Stars and Stripes almost +instantaneously broke out on private dwellings, shops, hotels, and +theatres; street hucksters did a thriving business selling rosettes of +the American colours, which even the most stodgy Englishmen did not +disdain to wear in their buttonholes; wherever there was a band or an +orchestra, the Star Spangled Banner acquired a sudden popularity; and +the day even came when the American and the British flags flew side by +side over the Houses of Parliament--the first occasion in history that +any other than the British standard had received this honour. The +editorial outgivings of the British press on America's entrance form a +literature all their own. The theatres and the music halls, which had +found in "notes" and "nootrality" an endless theme of entertainment for +their patrons, now sounded Americanism as their most popular refrain. +Churches and cathedrals gave special services in honour of American +intervention, and the King and the President began to figure side by the +side in the prayer book. The estimation in which President Wilson was +held changed overnight. All the phrases that had so grieved Englishmen +were instantaneously forgotten. The President's address before Congress +was praised as one of the most eloquent and statesmanlike utterances in +history. Special editions of this heartening document had a rapid sale; +it was read in school houses, churches, and at public gatherings, and it +became a most influential force in uplifting the hopes of the Allies and +inspiring them to renewed activities. Americans everywhere, in the +streets, at dinner tables, and in general social intercourse, could feel +the new atmosphere of respect and admiration which had suddenly become +their country's portion. The first American troops that passed through +London--a company of engineers, an especially fine body of men--aroused +a popular enthusiasm which was almost unprecedented in a capital not +celebrated for its emotional displays. Page himself records one +particularly touching indication of the feeling for Americans which was +now universal. "The increasing number of Americans who come through +England," he wrote, "most of them on their way to France, but some of +them also to serve in England, give much pleasure to the British +public--nurses, doctors, railway engineers, sawmill units, etc. The +sight of every American uniform pleases London. The other morning a +group of American nurses gathered with the usual crowd in front of +Buckingham Palace while the Guards band played inside the gates. Man +after man as they passed them and saw their uniforms lifted their hats." + +[Illustration: The Rt. Hon. David Lloyd George, Chancellor of the +Exchequer, 1908-1915, Minister of Munitions, 1915-1916, Prime Minister +of Great Britain, 1916-1922] + +[Illustration: The Rt. Hon. Arthur James Balfour (now the Earl of +Balfour) Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1916-1919] + +The Ambassador's mail likewise underwent a complete transformation. His +correspondence of the preceding two years, enormous in its extent, had +contained much that would have disturbed a man who could easily get +excited over trifles, but this aspect of his work never caused Page the +slightest unhappiness. Almost every crank in England who disliked the +American policy had seemed to feel it his duty to express his opinions +to the American Ambassador. These letters, at times sorrowful, at others +abusive, even occasionally threatening, varying in their style from +cultivated English to the grossest illiteracy, now written in red ink to +emphasize their bitterness, now printed in large block letters to +preserve their anonymity, aroused in Page only a temporary amusement. +But the letters that began to pour in upon him after our Declaration, +many of them from the highest placed men and women in the Kingdom, +brought out more vividly than anything else the changed position of his +country. Sonnets and verses rained upon the Embassy, most of them +pretty bad as poetry, but all of them commendable for their admiring and +friendly spirit. Of all these letters those that came from the steadfast +friends of America perhaps gave Page the greatest satisfaction. "You +will have been pleased at the universal tribute paid to the spirit as +well as to the lofty and impressive terms of the President's speech," +wrote Lord Bryce. "Nothing finer in our time, few things so fine." But +probably the letter which gave Page the greatest pleasure was that which +came from the statesman whose courtesy and broad outlook had eased the +Ambassador's task in the old neutrality days. In 1916, Sir Edward +Grey--now become Viscount Grey of Fallodon--had resigned office, forced +out, Page says in one of his letters, mainly because he had refused to +push the blockade to a point where it might produce a break with the +United States. He had spent the larger part of the time since that event +at his country place in Northumberland, along the streams and the +forests which had always given him his greatest pleasure, attempting to +recover something of the health that he had lost in the ten years which +he had spent as head of the British Foreign Office and bearing with +characteristic cheerfulness and fortitude the tragedy of a gradually +failing eyesight. The American Declaration of War now came to Lord Grey +as the complete justification of his policy. The mainspring of that +policy, as already explained, had been a determination to keep the +friendship of the United States, and so shape events that the support of +this country would ultimately be cast on the side of the Allies. And now +the great occasion for which he had prepared had come, and in Grey's +mind this signified more than a help to England in soldiers and ships; +it meant bringing together the two branches of a common race for the +promotion of common ideals. + + _From Viscount Grey of Fallodon_ + + Rosehall Post Office, + + Sutherland, + + April 8, 1917. + + DEAR MR. PAGE: + + This is a line that needs no answer to express my congratulations + on President Wilson's address. I can't express adequately all that + I feel. Great gratitude and great hope are in my heart. I hope now + that some great and abiding good to the world will yet be wrought + out of all this welter of evil. Recent events in Russia, too, + stimulate this hope: they are a good in themselves, but not the + power for good in this war that a great and firmly established free + country like the United States can be. The President's address and + the way it has been followed up in your country is a splendid + instance of great action finely inspired. I glow with admiration. + + Yours sincerely, + + GREY OF FALLODON + +One Englishman who was especially touched by the action of the United +States was His Majesty the King. Few men had watched the course of +America during the war with more intelligent interest than the head of +the British royal house. Page had had many interviews with King George +at Buckingham Palace and at Windsor, and his notes contain many +appreciative remarks on the King's high character and conscientious +devotion to his duties. That Page in general did not believe in kings +and emperors as institutions his letters reveal; yet even so profound a +Republican as he recognized sterling character, whether in a crowned +head or in a humble citizen, and he had seen enough of King George to +respect him. Moreover, the peculiar limitations of the British monarchy +certainly gave it an unusual position and even saved it from much of the +criticism that was fairly lavished upon such nations as Germany and +Austria. Page especially admired King George's frankness in recognizing +these limitations and his readiness to accommodate himself to the +British Constitution. On most occasions, when these two men met, their +intercourse was certainly friendly or at least not formidable. After all +formalities had been exchanged, the King would frequently draw the +Ambassador aside; the two would retire to the smoking room, and there, +over their cigars, discuss a variety of matters--submarines, +international politics, the Irish question and the like. His Majesty was +not averse even to bringing up the advantages of the democratic and the +monarchical system. The King and Ambassador would chat, as Page himself +would say, like "two human beings"; King George is an emphatic and +vivacious talker, fond of emphasizing his remarks by pounding the table; +he has the liveliest sense of humour, and enjoys nothing quite so much +as a good story. Page found that, on the subject of the Germans, the +King entertained especially robust views. "They are my kinsmen," he +would say, "but I am ashamed of them." + +Probably most Englishmen, in the early days of the war, preferred that +the United States should not engage in hostilities; even after the +_Lusitania_, the majority in all likelihood held this view. There are +indications, however, that King George favoured American participation. +A few days after the _Lusitania_ sinking, Page had an audience for the +purpose of presenting a medal sent by certain societies in New Orleans. +Neither man was thinking much about medals that morning. The thoughts +uppermost in their minds, as in the minds of most Americans and +Englishmen, were the _Lusitania_ and the action that the United States +was likely to take concerning it. After the formalities of presentation, +the King asked Page to sit down and talked with him for more than half +an hour. "He said that Germany was evidently trying to force the United +States into the war; that he had no doubt we would soon be in it and +that, for his part, he would welcome us heartily. The King also said he +had reliable information from Germany, that the Emperor had wished to +return a conciliatory answer to our _Lusitania_ note, but that Admiral +von Tirpitz had prevented it, even going so far as to 'threaten' the +Kaiser. It appears that the Admiral insisted that the submarine was the +only weapon the Germans could use with effect against England and that +they could not afford to give it up. He was violent and the Kaiser +finally yielded[55]." + +The statement from the King at that crisis, that he would "heartily +welcome the United States into the war," was interpreted by the +Ambassador as amounting practically to an invitation--and certainly as +expressing a wish that such an intervention should take place. + +That the American participation would rejoice King George could +therefore be taken for granted. Soon after this event, the Ambassador +and Mrs. Page were invited to spend the night at Windsor. + +"I arrived during the middle of the afternoon," writes Page, "and he +sent for me to talk with him in his office. + +"'I've a good story on you,' said he. 'You Americans have a queer use of +the word "some," to express mere bigness or emphasis. We are taking that +use of the word from you over here. Well, an American and an Englishman +were riding in the same railway compartment. The American read his +paper diligently--all the details of a big battle. When he got done, he +put the paper down and said: "Some fight!" "And some don't!" said the +Englishman.' + +"And the King roared. 'A good one on you!' + +"'The trouble with that joke, sir,' I ventured to reply, 'is that it's +out of date.' + +"He was in a very gay mood, surely because of our entry into the war. +After the dinner--there were no guests except Mrs. Page and me, the +members of his household, of course, being present--he became even +familiar in the smoking room. He talked about himself and his position +as king. 'Knowing the difficulties of a limited monarch, I thank heaven +I am spared being an absolute one.' + +"He went on to enumerate the large number of things he was obliged to +do, for example, to sign the death warrant of every condemned man--and +the little real power that he had--not at all in a tone of complaint, +but as a merely impersonal explanation. + +"Just how much power--perhaps 'influence' is a better word--the King +has, depends on his personality. The influence of the throne--and of him +on the throne, being a wholly thoughtful, industrious, and conscientious +man--is very great--greatest of all in keeping the vested interests of +the aristocratic social structure secure. + +"Earlier than this visit to Windsor he sent for me to go to Buckingham +Palace very soon after we declared war. He went over the whole course of +events--and asked me many questions. After I had risen and said +'good-bye' and was about to bow myself out the door, he ran toward me +and waving his hand cried out, 'Ah--Ah!--we knew where _you_ stood all +the time.' + +"When General Pershing came along on his way to France, the King +summoned us to luncheon. The luncheon was eaten (here, as everywhere, +strict war rations are observed) to a flow of general talk, with the +Queen, Princess Mary, and one of the young Princes. When they had gone +from the luncheon room, the King, General Pershing, and I stood smoking +by the window; and the King at once launched into talk about guns, +rifles, ammunition, and the American place in the battle line. Would our +place be with the British or with the French or between the two? + +"General Pershing made a diplomatic reply. So far as he knew the +President hadn't yet made a final decision, but there was a feeling +that, since we were helping the British at sea, perhaps we ought to help +the French on land. + +"Then the King expressed the earnest hope that our guns and ammunition +would match either the British or the French. Else if we happened to run +out of ammunition we could not borrow from anybody. He thought it most +unfortunate that the British and French guns and rifles were of +different calibres." + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + Brighton, England, + + April 28, 1917. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + ... Well, the British have given us a very good welcome into the + war. They are not very skillful at such a task: they do not know + how to say "Welcome" very vociferously. But they have said it to + the very best of their ability. My speeches (which I send you, with + some comment) were very well received indeed. Simple and obvious as + they were, they meant a good deal of work. + + I cannot conceal nor can I express my gratification that we are in + the war. I shall always wonder but never find out what influence I + had in driving the President over. All I know is that my letters + and telegrams for nearly two years--especially for the last twelve + months--have put before him every reason that anybody has expressed + why we should come in--in season and out of season. And there is no + new reason--only more reason of the same old sort--why we should + have come in now than there was why we should have come in a year + ago. I suspect that the pressure of the press and of public opinion + really became too strong for him. And, of course, the Peace-Dream + blew up--was torpedoed, mined, shot, captured, and killed. I trust, + too, much enlightenment will be furnished by the two Commissions + now in Washington[56]. Yet it's comical to think of the attitude of + the poor old Department last September and its attitude now. But + thank God for it! Every day now brings a confession of the blank + idiocy of its former course and its long argument! Never mind that, + so long as we are now right. + + I have such a sense of relief that I almost feel that my job is now + done. Yet, I dare say, my most important work is still to come. + + The more I try to reach some sort of rational judgment about the + war, the more I find myself at sea. It does look as if the very + crisis is near. And there can be no doubt now--not even, I hope, in + the United States--about the necessity of a clear and decisive + victory, nor about punishment. All the devastation of Northern + France, which outbarbarizes barbarism, all the ships sunk, + including hospital ships, must be paid for; that's all. There'll be + famine in Europe whenever it end. Not only must these destructions + be paid for, but the Hohenzollerns and all they stand for must go. + Trust your Frenchman for that, if nobody else! + + If Europe had the food wasted in the United States, it would make + the difference between sustenance and famine. By the way, the + submarine has made every nation a danger zone except those few that + have self-feeding continents, such as ours. It can bring famine to + any other kind of a country. + + You are now out in the country again--good. Give Mollie my love and + help her with the garden. I envy you the fresh green things to eat. + Little Mollie, kiss her for granddaddy. The Ambassador, I suppose, + waxes even sturdier, and I'm glad to hear that A.W.P., Jr., is + picking up. Get him fed right at all costs. If Frank stays at home + and Ralph and his family come up, you'll all have a fine summer. + We've the very first hint of summer we've had, and it's cheerful to + see the sky and to feel the sunshine. + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + + _To Frank N. Doubleday_ + + American Embassy, + + London, May 3, 1917. + + DEAR EFFENDI: + + I aim this at you. It may hit a German submarine. But we've got to + take our chances in these days of risk. Your letter from the + tropics--a letter from you from any place is as scarce as + peace!--gave me a pleasant thrill and reminder of a previous state + of existence, a long way back in the past. I wonder if, on your + side the ocean you are living at the rate of a century a year, as + we are here? Here in bountiful England we are living on rations. I + spent a night with the King a fortnight ago, and he gave us only so + much bread, one egg apiece, and--lemonade. We are to begin bread + tickets next week. All this is perfectly healthful and wholesome + and as much as I ever eat. But the hard part of it is that it's + necessary. We haven't more than six weeks' food supply and the + submarines sunk eighty-eight ships--237,000 tons--last week. These + English do not publish these harrowing facts, and nobody knows them + but a few official people. And they are destroying the submarines + at a most beggarly slow rate. They work far out at sea--100 to 200 + miles--and it's as hard to find them as it would be to find whales. + The simple truth is we are in a dangerous plight. If they could + stop this submarine warfare, the war would pretty quickly be won, + for the Germans are in a far worse plight for food and materials + and they are getting much the worst of it on land. The war would be + won this summer or autumn if the submarine could be put out of + business. If it isn't, the Germans may use this success to keep + their spirits up and go on till next year. + + We (the United States) have about 40 destroyers. We are sending + over 6! I'm doing my best to persuade the Government at Washington + to send every one we have. But, since the British conceal the facts + from their own press and the people and from all the world, the + full pressure of the situation is hard to exert on Washington. Our + Admiral (Sims) and I are trying our best, and we are spending + enough on cables to build a destroyer. All this, you must, of + course, regard as a dark secret; but it's a devilish black secret. + + I don't mean that there's any danger of losing the war. Even if the + British armies have to have their food cut down and people here go + hungry, they'll win; but the winning may be a long time off. + Nothing but their continued success can keep the Germans going. + Their people are war-weary and hungry. Austria is knocked out and + is starving. Turkey is done up but can go on living on nothing, + but not fighting much more. When peace comes, there'll be a general + famine, on the continent at least, and no ships to haul food. This + side of the world will have to start life all over again--with + insufficient men to carry things on and innumerable maimed men + who'll have (more or less) to be cared for. The horror of the whole + thing nobody realizes. We've all got used to it here; and nobody + clearly remembers just what the world was like in peace times; + those times were so far away. All this I write not to fill you with + horrors but to prove that I speak the literal truth when I say that + it seems a hundred years since I had before heard from you. + + Just how all this affects a man, no man can accurately tell. Of how + much use I'll be when I can get home, I don't know. Sometimes I + think that I shall be of vastly greater use than ever. Plans and + publishing ambitions pop up in my mind at times which look good and + promising. I see books and series of books. I see most useful + magazine stuff. Then, before I can think anything out to a clear + plan or conclusion, the ever-increasing official duties and + responsibilities here knock everything else out of my head, perhaps + for a whole month. It's a literal fact that many a month I do not + have an hour to do with as I please nor to think about what I + please, from the time I wake up till I go to bed. In spite of + twenty-four secretaries (the best fellows that ever were and the + best staff that any Embassy ever had in the world) more and more + work comes to me. I thank Heaven we no longer have the interests of + Germany, Austria, and Turkey to look after; but with our coming + into the war, work in general has increased enormously. I have to + spend very much more time with the different departments of the + British Government on war plans and such like things. They have + welcomed us in very handsomely; and one form of their welcome is + consulting with me about--navy plans, war plans, loans of billions, + ships, censorship, secret service--everything you ever heard of. At + first it seemed a little comical for the admirals and generals and + the Governor of the Bank of England to come and ask for advice. But + when I gave it and it worked out well, I went on and, after all, + the thing's easier than it looks. With a little practice you can + give these fellows several points in the game and play a pretty + good hand. They don't know half as much as you might suppose they'd + know. All these years of lecturing the State Department and the + President got my hand in! The whole game is far easier than any + small business. You always play with blue chips better than you + play with white ones. + + This country and these people are not the country and the people + they were three years ago. They are very different. They are much + more democratic, far less cocksure, far less haughty, far humbler. + The man at the head of the army rose from the ranks. The Prime + Minister is a poor Welsh schoolteacher's son, without early + education. The man who controls all British shipping began life as + a shipping "clark," at ten shillings a week. Yet the Lords and + Ladies, too, have shown that they were made of the real stuff. This + experience is making England over again. There never was a more + interesting thing to watch and to be part of. + + There are about twenty American organizations here--big, little, + rag-tag, and bobtail. When we declared war, every one of 'em + proceeded to prepare for some sort of celebration. There would have + been an epidemic of Fourth-of-July oratory all over the + town--before we'd done anything--Americans spouting over the edges + and killing Kruger with their mouths. I got representatives of 'em + all together and proposed that we hold our tongues till we'd won + the war--then we can take London. And to give one occasion when we + might all assemble and dedicate ourselves to this present grim + business, I arranged for an American Dedicatory Service at St. + Paul's Cathedral. The royal family came, the Government came, the + Allied diplomats came, my Lords and Ladies came, one hundred + wounded American (Canadian) soldiers came--the pick of the Kingdom; + my Navy and Army staff went in full uniform, the Stars and Stripes + hung before the altar, a double brass band played the Star Spangled + Banner and the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and an American bishop + (Brent) preached a red-hot American sermon, the Archbishop of + Canterbury delivered the benediction; and (for the first time in + English history) a foreign flag (the Stars and Stripes) flew over + the Houses of Parliament. It was the biggest occasion, so they say, + that St. Paul's ever had. And there's been no spilling of American + oratory since! If you had published a shilling edition of the words + and music of the Star Spangled Banner and the Battle Hymn you could + have sent a cargo of 'em here and sold them. There isn't paper + enough in this Kingdom to get out an edition here. + + Give my love to all the Doubledays and to all the fellows in the + shop, and (I wonder if you will) try your hand at another letter. + You write very legibly these days! + + Sincerely yours, + WALTER H. PAGE. + +"Curiously enough," Page wrote about this time, "these most exciting +days of the war are among the most barren of exciting topics for private +correspondence. The 'atmosphere' here is unchanging--to us--and the +British are turning their best side to us continuously. They are +increasingly appreciative, and they see more and more clearly that our +coming into the war is all that saved them from a virtual defeat--I mean +the public sees this more and more clearly, for, of course, the +Government has known it from the beginning. I even find a sort of morbid +fear lest they do not sufficiently show their appreciation. The +Archbishop last night asked me in an apprehensive tone whether the +American Government and public felt that the British did not +sufficiently show their gratitude. I told him that we did not come into +the war to win compliments but to whip the enemy, and that we wanted all +the help the British can give: that's the main thing; and that +thereafter of course we liked appreciation, but that expressions of +appreciation had not been lacking. Mr. Balfour and Sir Edward Carson +also spoke to me yesterday much in the same tone as the Archbishop of +Canterbury. + +"Try to think out any line of action that one will, or any future +sequence of events or any plan touching the war, one runs into the +question whether the British are doing the best that could be done or +are merely plugging away. They are, as a people, slow and unimaginative, +given to over-much self-criticism; but they eternally hold on to a task +or to a policy. Yet the question forever arises whether they show +imagination, to say nothing of genius, and whether the waste of a slow, +plodding policy is the necessary price of victory. + +"Of course such a question is easy to ask and it is easy to give +dogmatic answers. But it isn't easy to give an answer based on facts. +Our General Lassiter[57], for instance--a man of sound judgment--has in +general been less hopeful of the military situation in France than most +of the British officers. But he is just now returned from the front, +much cheered and encouraged. 'Lassiter,' I asked, 'have the British in +France or has any man among them what we call genius, or even wide +vision; or are they merely plodding along at a mechanical task? His +answer was, 'We don't see genius till it has done its job. It is a +mechanical task--yes, that's the nature of the struggle--and they surely +do it with intelligence and spirit. There is waste. There is waste in +all wars. But I come back much more encouraged.' + +"The same sort of questions and answers are asked and given continuously +about naval action. Every discussion of the possibility of attacking the +German naval bases ends without a plan. So also with preventing the +submarines from coming out. These subjects have been continuously under +discussion by a long series of men who have studied them; and the total +effect so far has been to leave them among the impossible tasks. So far +as I can ascertain all naval men among the Allies agree that these +things can't be done. + +"Here again--Is this a merely routine professional opinion--a merely +traditional opinion--or is it a lack of imagination? The question will +not down. Yet it is impossible to get facts to combat it. What are the +limits of the practicable? + +"Mr. Balfour told me yesterday his personal conviction about the German +colonies, which, he said, he had not discussed with his associates in +the Cabinet. His firm opinion is that they ought not to be returned to +the Germans, first for the sake of humanity. 'The natives--the Africans +especially--have been so barbarously treated and so immorally that it +would be inhuman to permit the Germans to rule and degrade them further. +But Heaven forbid that we should still further enlarge the British +Empire. As a practical matter I do not care to do that. Besides, we +should incur the criticism of fighting in order to get more territory, +and that was not and is not our aim. If the United States will help us, +my wish is that these German Colonies that we have taken, especially in +Africa, should be "internationalized." There are great difficulties in +such a plan, but they are not insuperable if the great Powers of the +Allies will agree upon it.' And much more to the same effect. The parts +of Asiatic Turkey that the British have taken, he thought, might be +treated in the same way." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 52: At this time the proposal of such a gift found much +popular favour. However, the plan was not carried through.] + +[Footnote 53: At the meeting of Page and the President at Shadow Lawn, +September 22, 1916. See Chapter XIX.] + +[Footnote 54: Secretary of Agriculture in President Wilson's Cabinet.] + +[Footnote 55: The quotation is from a memorandum of the conversation +made by one of the secretaries of the American Embassy.] + +[Footnote 56: The British and French Commissions, headed by Mr. Balfour +and M. Viviani.] + +[Footnote 57: American military attaché in London.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE BALFOUR MISSION TO THE UNITED STATES + + +I + +Page now took up a subject which had been near his heart for a long +time. He believed that one of the most serious causes of Anglo-American +misunderstanding was the fact that the leading statesmen of the two +countries had never had any personal contact with one another. At one +time, as this correspondence shows, the Ambassador had even hoped that +President Wilson himself might cross the ocean and make the British +people an official visit. The proposal, however, was made before the +European war broke out, the occasion which Page had in mind being the +dedication of Sulgrave Manor, the old English home of the Washington +family, as a perpetual memorial to the racial bonds and common ideals +uniting the two countries. The President found it impossible to act upon +this suggestion and the outbreak of war made the likelihood of such a +visit still more remote. Page had made one unsuccessful attempt to bring +the American State Department and the British Foreign Office into +personal contact. At the moment when American irritation had been most +keen over the blockade and the blacklist, Page had persuaded the Foreign +Office to invite to England Mr. Frank L. Polk, at that time Counsellor +of the Department; the Ambassador believed that a few conversations +between such an intelligent gentleman as Mr. Polk and the British +statesmen would smooth out all the points which were then making things +so difficult. Unfortunately the pressure of work at Washington prevented +Mr. Polk from accepting Sir Edward Grey's invitation. + +But now a greater necessity for close personal association had arisen. +The United States had entered the war, and this declaration had +practically made this country an ally of Great Britain and France. The +British Government wished to send a distinguished commission to the +United States, for two reasons: first, to show its appreciation of the +stand which America had taken, and secondly, to discuss plans for +coöperation in the common task. Great Britain frankly admitted that it +had made many mistakes in the preceding three years--mistakes naval, +military, political, and economic; it would welcome an opportunity to +display these errors to Washington, which might naturally hope to profit +from them. As soon as his country was in the war, Page took up this +suggestion with the Foreign Office. There was of course one man who was +preëminently fitted, by experience, position, and personal qualities, to +head such a commission; on this point there was no discussion. Mr. +Balfour was now in his seventieth year; his activities in British +politics dated back to the times of Disraeli; his position in Great +Britain had become as near that of an "elder statesman" as is tolerable +under the Anglo-Saxon system. By this time Page had established the +friendliest possible relations with this distinguished man. Mr. Balfour +had become Foreign Secretary in December, 1916, in succession to Lord +Grey. Greatly as Page regretted the resignation of Grey, he was much +gratified that Mr. Balfour had been selected to succeed him. Mr. +Balfour's record for twenty-five years had been one of consistent +friendliness toward the United States. When President Cleveland's +Venezuelan message, in 1896, had precipitated a crisis in the relations +of the two countries, it was Mr. Balfour's influence which was +especially potent in causing Great Britain to modify its attitude and to +accept the American demand for arbitration. That action not only +amicably settled the Venezuelan question; it marked the beginning of a +better feeling between the English-speaking countries and laid the basis +for that policy of benevolent neutrality which Great Britain had +maintained toward the United States in the Spanish War. The excellent +spirit which Mr. Balfour had shown at this crisis he had manifested on +many occasions since. In the criticisms of the United States during the +_Lusitania_ troubles Mr. Balfour had never taken part. The era of +"neutrality" had not ruffled the confidence which he had always felt in +the United States. During all this time the most conspicuous dinner +tables of London had rung with criticisms of American policy; the fact +was well known, however, that Mr. Balfour had never sympathized with +these reproaches; even when he was not in office, no unfriendly word +concerning the United States had ever escaped his lips. His feeling +toward this country was well shown in a letter which he wrote Page, in +reply to one congratulating him on his seventieth birthday. "I have now +lived a long life," said Mr. Balfour, "and most of my energies have been +expended in political work, but if I have been fortunate enough to +contribute, even in the smallest degree, to drawing closer the bonds +that unite our two countries, I shall have done something compared with +which all else that I may have attempted counts in my eyes as nothing." + +Page's letters and notes contain many references to Mr. Balfour's kindly +spirit. On the day following the dismissal of Bernstorff the American +Ambassador lunched with the Foreign Secretary at No. 4 Carlton Gardens. + +"Mr. Balfour," Page reported to Washington, "gave expression to the +hearty admiration which he entertained for the President's handling of a +difficult task. He said that never for a moment had he doubted the +President's wisdom in the course he was pursuing. He had the profoundest +admiration for the manner in which he had promptly broken with Germany +after receiving Germany's latest note. Nor had he ever entertained the +slightest question of the American people's ready loyalty to their +Government or to their high ideals. One of his intellectual pleasures, +he added, had long been contemplation of the United States as it is and, +even more, as its influence in the world will broaden. 'The world,' said +Mr. Balfour, 'will more and more turn on the Great Republic as on a +pivot.'" + +Occasionally Mr. Balfour's discussion of the United States would take a +more pensive turn. A memorandum which Page wrote a few weeks after the +above touches another point: + + March 27, 1917. + + I had a most interesting conversation with Mr. Balfour this + afternoon. "It's sad to me," said he, "that we are so unpopular, so + much more unpopular than the French, in your country. Why is it? + The old school books?" + + I doubted the school-book influence. + + "Certainly their influence is not the main cause. It is the + organized Irish. Then it's the effect of the very fact that the + Irish question is not settled. You've had that problem at your very + door for 300 years. What's the matter that you don't solve it?" + + "Yes, yes,"--he saw it. But the plaintive tone of such a man asking + such a question was significant and interesting and--sad. + + Then I told him the curious fact that a British Government made up + of twenty individuals, every one of whom is most friendly to the + United States, will, when they act together as a Government, do the + most offensive things. I mentioned the blacklist; I mentioned + certain complaints that I then held in my hand--of Americans here + who are told by the British Government that they must turn over to + the British Government's agent in New York their American + securities which they hold in America! + + There's a sort of imperious, arrogant, Tory action that comes + natural to the English Government, even when not natural to the + individual Englishman. + + * * * * * + +On April 5th, the day before the United States formally declared war, +Page notified Washington that the British Government wished Mr. Balfour +to go to the United States as the head of a Commission to confer with +our Government. "Mr. Balfour is chosen for this mission," Page reported, +"not only because he is Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, but +because he is personally the most distinguished member of the +Government." Page tells the story in more detail in a letter to Mr. +Polk, at that time Counsellor of the State Department. + + _To Frank L. Polk_ + + London, May 3, 1917. + + DEAR MR. POLK: + + ... Mr. Balfour accurately represents British character, British + opinion, and the British attitude. Nobody who knows him and knows + British character and the British attitude ever doubted that. I + know his whole tribe, his home-life, his family connections, his + friends; and, of course, since he became Foreign Secretary, I've + come to know him intimately. When the question first came up here + of his going, of course I welcomed it enthusiastically. About that + time during a two-hour conversation he asked me why the British + were so unpopular in the United States. Among other reasons I told + him that our official people on both sides steadfastly refused to + visit one another and to become acquainted. Neither he nor Lord + Grey, nor Mr. Asquith, nor Mr. Lloyd George, had ever been to the + United States, nor any other important British statesman in recent + times, and not a single member of the Administration was personally + known to a single member of the British Government. "I'll go," said + he, "if you are perfectly sure my going will be agreeable to the + President." He himself recalled the fact, during one of our several + conversations just before he left, that you had not come when he + and Lord Grey had invited you. If you had come, by the way, this + era of a better understanding would have begun then, and half our + old troubles would then have been removed. Keeping away from one + another is the best of all methods of keeping all old + misunderstandings alive and of making new ones. + + I have no doubt that Mr. Balfour's visit will cause visits of many + first-class British statesmen during the war or soon afterward. + That's all we need to bring about a perfect understanding. + + You may remember how I tried to get an official report about the + behaviour of the _Benham_[58], and how, in the absence of that, + Lord Beresford made a disagreeable speech about our Navy in the + House of Lords, and how, when months later you sent me + Roosevelt's[59] letter, Lord Beresford expressed regret to me and + said that he would explain in another speech. I hadn't seen the old + fellow for a long time till a fortnight ago. He greeted me + cheerily, and I said, "I don't think I ought to shake hands with + you till you retract what you said about our navy." He insisted on + my dining with him. He invited Admiral Sims also, and those two + sailors had a jolly evening of it. Sims's coming has straightened + out all that naval misunderstanding and more. He is of immense help + to them and to us. But I'm going to make old Beresford's life a + burden till he gets up in the Lords and takes that speech + back--publicly. He's really all right; but it's just as well to + keep the records right. The proceedings of the House of Lords are + handsomely bound and go into every gentleman's library. I have seen + two centuries of them in many a house. + + We can now begin a distinctly New Era in the world's history and in + its management if we rise to the occasion: there's not a shadow of + doubt about that. And the United States can play a part bigger than + we have yet dreamed of if we prove big enough to lead the British + and the French instead of listening to Irish and Germans. Neither + England nor France is a democracy--far from it. We can make them + both democracies and develop their whole people instead of about 10 + per cent. of their people. We have simply to conduct our affairs by + a large national policy and not by the complaints of our really + non-American people. See how a declaration of war has cleared the + atmosphere! + + We're happy yet, on rations. There are no potatoes. We have + meatless days. Good wheat meantime is sunk every day. The + submarine must be knocked out. Else the earth will be ruled by the + German bayonet and natural living will be _verboten_. We'll all + have to goose-step as the Crown Prince orders or--be shot. I see + they now propose that the United States shall pay the big war + indemnity in raw materials to the value of hundreds of billions of + dollars! Not just yet, I guess! + + As we get reports of what you are doing, it's most cheerful. I + assure you, God has yet made nothing or nobody equal to the + American people; and I don't think He ever will or can. + + Sincerely yours, + WALTER H. PAGE. + +One of the curious developments of this Balfour Mission was a request +from President Wilson that Great Britain should take some decisive step +for the permanent settlement of the Irish question. "The President," +this message ran, "wishes that, when you next meet the Prime Minister, +you would explain to him that only one circumstance now appears to stand +in the way of perfect coöperation with Great Britain. All Americans who +are not immediately connected with Germany by blood ties find their one +difficulty in the failure of Great Britain so far to establish a +satisfactory form of self-government in Ireland. In the recent debates +in Congress on the War Resolution, this sentiment was especially +manifest. It came out in the speeches of those enemies of the +Declaration who were not Irish themselves nor representatives of +sections in which Irish voters possessed great influence--notably +members from the Southern States. + +"If the American people were once convinced that there was a likelihood +that the Irish question would soon be settled, great enthusiasm and +satisfaction would result and it would also strengthen the coöperation +which we are now about to organize between the United States and Great +Britain. Say this in unofficial terms to Mr. Lloyd George, but impress +upon him its very great significance. If the British Government should +act successfully on this matter, our American citizens of Irish descent +and to a great extent the German sympathizers who have made common cause +with the Irish, would join hands in the great common cause." + + _To the President_ + London, May 4, 1917. + + DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: + + ... It is a remarkable commentary on the insularity of the British + and on our studied isolation that till Mr. Balfour went over not a + member of this Government had ever met a member of our + Administration! Quite half our misunderstandings were due to this. + If I had the making of the laws of the two governments, I'd have a + statutory requirement that at least one visit a year by high + official persons should be made either way. We should never have + had a blacklist, etc., if that had been done. When I tried the + quite humble task of getting Polk to come and the excuse was made + that he couldn't be spared from his desk--Mr. President, I fear we + haven't half enough responsible official persons in our Government. + I should say that no man even of Polk's rank ought to have a desk: + just as well give him a mill-stone. Even I try not to have a desk: + else I'd never get anything of importance done; for I find that + talks and conferences in my office and in the government offices + and wherever else I can find out things take all my waking hours. + The Foreign Office here has about five high position men to every + one in the State Department. God sparing me, I'm going one of + these days to prepare a paper for our Foreign Affairs Committee on + the Waste of Having too Few High Grade Men in the Department of + State; a Plea for Five Assistant Secretaries for Every One Now + Existing and for Provision for International Visits by Them. + + Here's an ancient and mouldy precedent that needs shattering--for + the coming of our country into its proper station and influence in + the world. + + I am sure that Mr. Balfour's visit has turned out as well as I + hoped, and my hopes were high. He is one of the most interesting + men that I've ever had the honour to know intimately--he and Lord + Grey. Mr. Balfour is a Tory, of course; and in general I don't like + Tories, yet liberal he surely is--a sort of high-toned Scotch + democrat. I have studied him with increasing charm and interest. + Not infrequently when I am in his office just before luncheon he + says, "Come, walk over and we'll have lunch with the family." He's + a bachelor. One sister lives with him. Another (Lady Rayleigh, the + wife of the great chemist and Chancellor of Cambridge University) + frequently visits him. Either of those ladies could rule this + Empire. Then there are nieces and cousins always about--people of + rare cultivation, every one of 'em. One of those girls confirmed + the story that "Uncle Arthur" one day concluded that the niblick + was something more than a humble necessity of a bad golfer--that it + had positive virtues of its own and had suffered centuries of + neglect. He, therefore, proceeded to play with the niblick only, + till he proved his case and showed that it is a club entitled to + the highest respect. + + A fierce old Liberal fighter in Parliamentary warfare, who entered + politics about the time Mr. Balfour did, told me this story the + other day. "I've watched Balfour for about forty years as a cat + watches a rat. I hate his party. I hated him till I learned better, + for I hated that whole Salisbury crowd. They wanted to Cecil + everything. But I'll tell you, Sir, apropos of his visit to your + country, that in all those years he has never spoken of the United + States except with high respect and often with deep affection. I + should have caught him, if he had." + + I went with him to a college in London one afternoon where he + delivered a lecture on Dryden, to prove that poetry can carry a + certain cargo of argument but that argument can't raise the + smallest flight of poetry. Dry as it sounds, it was as good a + literary performance as I recall I ever heard. + + At his "family" luncheon, I've found Lord Milner or Lord Lansdowne, + or some literary man who had come in to find out from Lady Rayleigh + how to conduct the Empire or to write a great book; and the modest + old chemical Lord sits silent most of the time and now and then + breaks loose to confound them all with a pat joke. This is a + vigorous family, these Balfours. There's one of them (a cousin of + some sort, I think, of the Foreign Secretary) who is a Lord of much + of Scotland, about as tall as Ben Nevis is high--a giant of a man. + One of his sons was killed early in the war and one was + missing--whether dead or not he did not know. Mrs. Page expressed + her hope one day to the old man that he had had news from his + missing son. "No, no," said he simply, "and me lady is awearying." + + We've been lucky, Mr. President, in these days of immortal horrors + and of difficulties between two governments that did not know one + another--uncommonly lucky, in the large chances that politics gives + for grave errors, to have had two such men in the Foreign Office + here as Lord Grey and Mr. Balfour. There are men who were + mentioned for this post that would have driven us mad--or to war + with them. I'm afraid I've almost outgrown my living hero worship. + There isn't worshipful material enough lying around in the world to + keep a vigorous reverence in practice. But these two gentlemen by + birth and culture have at least sometimes seemed of heroic size to + me. It has meant much to know them well. I shall always be grateful + to them, for in their quiet, forceful way they helped me much to + establish right relations with these people--which, pray God, I + hope to retain through whatever new trials we may yet encounter. + For it will fall to us yet to loose and to free the British, and a + Briton set free is an American. That's all you can do for a man or + for a nation of men. + + These Foreign Secretaries are not only men of much greater + cultivation than their Prime Ministers but of greater moral force. + But I've come to like Lloyd George very much. He'd never deliver a + lecture on Dryden, and he doesn't even play a good game of golf; + but he has what both Lord Grey and Mr. Balfour lack--a touch of + genius--whatever that is--not the kind that takes infinite pains, + but the kind that acts as an electric light flashed in the dark. He + said to me the other day that experts have nearly been the death of + him. "The Government has experts, experts, experts, everywhere. In + any department where things are not going well, I have found boards + and committees and boards of experts. But in one department at + least I've found a substitute for them. I let twenty experts go and + I put in one Man, and things began to move at once. Do you know any + real Men? When you hear of any, won't you let me know?" + + A little while ago he dined with me, and, after dinner, I took him + to a corner of the drawing room and delivered your message to him + about Ireland. "God knows, I'm trying," he replied. "Tell the + President that. And tell him to talk to Balfour." Presently he + broke out--"Madmen, madmen--I never saw any such task," and he + pointed across the room to Sir Edward Carson, his First Lord of the + Admiralty--"Madmen." "But the President's right. We've got to + settle it and we've got to settle it now." Carson and Jellicoe came + across the room and sat down with us. "I've been telling the + Ambassador, Carson, that we've got to settle the Irish question + now--in spite of you. + + "I'll tell you something else we've got to settle now," said + Carson. "Else it'll settle us. That's the submarines. The press and + public are working up a calculated and concerted attack on Jellicoe + and me, and, if they get us, they'll get you. It's an attack on the + Government made on the Admiralty. Prime Minister," said this Ulster + pirate whose civil war didn't come off only because the big war was + begun--"Prime Minister, it may be a fierce attack. Get ready for + it." Well, it has been developing ever since. But I can't for the + life of me guess at the possible results of an English + Parliamentary attack on a government. It's like a baseball man + watching a game of cricket. He can't see when the player is out or + why, or what caused it. Of course, the submarine may torpedo Lloyd + George and his Government. It looks very like it may overturn the + Admiralty, as Gallipoli did. If this public finds out the whole + truth, it will demand somebody's head. But I'm only a baseball man; + cricket is beyond me. + + But Lloyd George will outlive the war as an active force, whatever + happen to him in the meantime. He's too heavily charged with + electricity to stop activity. The war has ended a good many careers + that seemed to have long promise. It is ending more every day. But + there is only one Lloyd George, and, whatever else he lack, he + doesn't lack life. + + I heard all the speeches in both Houses on the resolution of + appreciation of our coming into the war--Bonar Law's, Asquith's + (one of the best), Dillon's, a Labour man's, and, in the Lords, + Curzon's, Crewe's, the Archbishop's (who delivered in the course of + his remarks a benediction on me) and Bryce's (almost the best of + all). It wasn't "oratory," but it was well said and well meant. + They know how badly they need help and they do mean to be as good + to us as their benignant insularity will permit. They are changing. + I can't describe the great difference that the war has made in + them. They'll almost become docile in a little more time. + + And we came in in the nick of time for them--in very truth. If we + hadn't, their exchange would have gone down soon and they know it. + I shall never forget the afternoon I spent with Mr. Balfour and Mr. + Bonar Law on that subject. They saw blue ruin without our financial + help. And now, if we can save them from submarines, those that know + will know how vital our help was. Again, the submarine is the great + and grave and perhaps the only danger now. If that can be scotched, + I believe the whole Teutonic military structure would soon tumble. + If not, the Germans may go on as long as they can feed their army, + allowing their people to starve. + + Of course, you know, we're on rations now--yet we suffer no + inconvenience on that score. But these queer people (they are the + most amusing and confusing and contradictory of all God's + creatures, these English, whose possibilities are infinite and + whose actualities, in many ways, are pitiful)--these queer people + are fiercely pursuing food-economy by discussing in the newspapers + whether a hen consumes more food than she produces, and whether + what dogs eat contains enough human food to justify the shooting of + every one in the Kingdom. That's the way we are coming down to + humble fare. But nothing can quite starve a people who all live + near the sea which yields fish enough near shore to feed them + wastefully. + + All along this South shore, where I am to-day[60], I see the Stars + and Stripes; and everywhere there is a demand for the words and + music of the Battle Hymn of the Republic and the Star Spangled + Banner. + + This our-new-Ally business is bringing me a lot of amusing + troubles. Theatres offer me boxes, universities offer me degrees, + hospitals solicit visits from me, clubs offer me dinners--I'll have + to get a new private secretary or two well-trained to say "No" + politely, else I shall not have my work done. But all that will + presently wear away as everything wears away (quickly, too) in the + grim face of this bloody monster of war which is consuming men as a + prairie fire consumes blades of grass. There's a family that lives + around the corner from this hotel. One son is in the trenches, + another is in a madhouse from shell-shock, a third coming home + wounded the other day was barely rescued when a torpedo sunk a + hospital ship and may lose his reason. I suppose I saw one hundred + men this afternoon on a single mile of beach who had lost both + legs. Through the wall from my house in London is a hospital. A + young Texan has been there, whose legs are gone at the thighs and + one arm at the elbow. God pity us for not having organized the + world better than this! We'll do it, yet, Mr. President--_you'll_ + do it; and thank God for you. If we do not organize Europe and + make another such catastrophe impossible, life will not be worth + being born into except to the few whose days happen to fall between + recurring devastations of the world. + + Yours sincerely, + + WALTER H. PAGE. + +"I hope that the English people," Colonel House wrote to Page about this +time, "realize how successful Mr. Balfour's visit to America really was. +There is no man they could have sent who could have done it better. He +and the President got along marvellously well. The three of us dined and +spent the evening together and it was delightful to see how sympathetic +their minds were." + +A letter from Mr. Polk also discloses the impression which Mr. Balfour +made upon Washington: + + _From Frank L. Polk_ + + Washington, May 25, 1917. + + MY DEAR MR. PAGE: + + I just want to get off a line to catch the pouch. + + You probably know what a wonderful success the British Mission has + been, but I do not think you can realize what a deep impression + they have made on all of us. Mr. Balfour really won the affection + of us all, and I do not know when I was more sorry to have a man + leave than I was to have him go last night. He expressed himself as + having been very much impressed with his reception and the way he + was treated. He was most fair in all discussions, and I think has a + better understanding of our point of view. I had the good fortune + of being present at the financial and the diplomatic conferences, + and I think we all felt that we were dealing with a sympathetic + friend. + + He and the President got on tremendously. The best evidence of that + was the fact that the President went up to Congress and sat in the + gallery while Mr. Balfour addressed the House. This is without + precedent. + + The difficult problem of course was the blacklist and bunkering + agreement, but I think we are by that. The important thing now is + for the British to make all the concessions possible in connection + with the release of goods in Rotterdam and the release of goods in + Prize Court, though the cases have not been begun. Of course I mean + cases of merely suspicion rather than where there is evidence of + wrongdoing. + + The sending of the destroyers and troops abroad is going to do a + great deal toward impressing our people with the fact that we + really are in the war. I do not think it is thoroughly borne home + on the majority yet what a serious road we have chosen. + + With warm regards, + + Yours faithfully, + + FRANK L. POLK. + +Mr. Polk's reference to the blacklist recalls an episode which in itself +illustrates the changed character of the relations that had now been +established between the American and the British governments. Mr. +Balfour discussed shipping problems for the most part with Mr. Polk, +under whose jurisdiction these matters fell. As one of these conferences +was approaching its end Mr. Balfour slightly coughed, uttered an "er," +and gave other indications that he was about to touch upon a ticklish +question. + +"Before I go," he said, "there--er--is one subject I would--er--like to +say something about." + +Mr. Polk at once grasped what was coming. + +"I know what you have in mind," said Mr. Polk in his characteristically +quick way. "You want us to apply your blacklist to neutrals." + +In other words, the British hoped that the United States, now that it +was in the war, would adopt against South America and other offenders +those same discriminations which this country had so fiercely objected +to, when it was itself a neutral. + +The British statesman gave Mr. Polk one of his most winning smiles and +nodded. + +"Mr. Balfour," said Mr. Polk, "it took Great Britain three years to +reach a point where it was prepared to violate all the laws of blockade. +You will find that it will take us only two months to become as great +criminals as you are!" + +Mr. Balfour is usually not explosive in his manifestations of mirth, but +his laughter, in reply to this statement, was almost uproarious. And the +State Department was as good as its word. It immediately forgot all the +elaborate "notes" and "protests" which it had been addressing to Great +Britain. It became more inexorable than Great Britain had ever been in +keeping foodstuffs out of neutral countries that were contiguous to +Germany. Up to the time the United States entered the war, Germany, in +spite of the watchful British fleet, had been obtaining large supplies +from the United States through Holland, Denmark, and the Scandinavian +peninsula. But the United States now immediately closed these leaks. In +the main this country adopted a policy of "rationing"; that is, it would +furnish the little nations adjoining Germany precisely the amount of +food which they needed for their own consumption. This policy was one of +the chief influences in undermining the German people and forcing their +surrender. The American Government extended likewise the blacklist to +South America and other countries, and, in doing so, it bettered the +instruction of Great Britain herself. + +Though the whole story of the blockade thus seems finally to have ended +in a joke, the whole proceeding has its serious side. The United States +had been posing for three years as the champion of neutral rights; the +point of view of Washington had been that there was a great principle at +stake. If such a principle were involved, it was certainly present in +just the same degree after the United States became belligerent as in +the days when we were neutrals. The lofty ideals by which the +Administration had professed to be guided should have still controlled +its actions; the mere fact that we, as a belligerent, could obtain +certain advantages would hardly have justified a great and high-minded +nation in abandoning its principles. Yet abandon them we did from the +day that we declared war. We became just as remorseless in disregarding +the rights of small states as Great Britain--according to our numerous +blockade notes--had been. Possibly, therefore, Mr. Balfour's mirth was +not merely sympathetic or humorous; it perhaps echoed his discovery that +our position for three years had really been nothing but a sham; that +the State Department had been forcing points in which it did not really +believe, or in which it did not believe when American interests were +involved. At any rate, this ending of our long argument with Great +Britain was a splendid justification for Page; his contention had always +been that the preservation of civilization was more important than the +technicalities of the international lawyers. And now the Wilson +Administration, by throwing into the waste basket all the finespun +theories with which it had been embarrassing the Allied cause since +August 4, 1914, accepted--and accepted joyously--his point of view. + + +II + +One of the first things which Mr. Balfour did, on his arrival in +Washington, was personally to explain to President Wilson about the +so-called "secret treaties." The "secret treaty" that especially preyed +upon Mr. Wilson's mind, and which led to a famous episode at the +Versailles Conference, was that which had been made with Italy in 1915, +as consideration for Italy's participation in the war. Mr. Balfour, in +telling the President of these territorial arrangements with Italy, +naturally did not criticise his ally, but it was evident that he +regarded the matter as something about which the United States should be +informed. + +"This is the sort of thing you have to do when you are engaged in a +war," he explained, and then he gave Mr. Wilson the details. + +Probably the most important information which Mr. Balfour and the French +and Italian Commissions brought to Washington was the desperate +situation of the Allied cause. On that point not one of the visiting +statesmen or military and naval advisers made the slightest attempt at +concealment. Mr. Balfour emphasized the seriousness of the crisis in one +of his earliest talks with Mr. McAdoo, Secretary of the Treasury. The +British statesman was especially interested in the financial situation +and he therefore took up this matter at an early date with the Treasury +Department. + +"Mr. Balfour," said Mr. McAdoo, "before we make any plans of financial +assistance it is absolutely necessary that we know precisely where we +stand. The all-important thing is the question as to how long the war is +likely to last. If it is only to last a few months, it is evident that +we need to make very different arrangements than if it is to last +several years. Just what must we make provision for? Let us assume that +the United States goes in with all its men and resources--that we +dedicate all our money, our manufacturing plants, our army, our navy, +everything we have got, to bringing the war to an end. How long will it +take?" + +Mr. Balfour replied that it would be necessary to consult his naval and +military advisers before he answered that question. He said that he +would return in a day or two and make an explicit statement. He did so +and his answer was this: Under these circumstances--that the United +States should make war to the full limit of its power, in men and +resources--the war could not be ended until the summer or the autumn of +1919. Mr. McAdoo put the same question in the same form to the French +and Italian Missions and obtained precisely the same answer. + +Page's papers show that Mr. Balfour, in the early stages of American +participation, regarded the financial situation as the thing which +chiefly threatened the success of the Allied cause. So much greater +emphasis has been laid upon the submarine warfare that this may at first +seem rather a misreading of Great Britain's peril. Yet the fact is that +the high rate of exchange and the depredatory U-boat represented almost +identically the same danger. The prospect that so darkened the horizon +in the spring of 1917 was the possible isolation of Great Britain. +England's weakness, as always, consisted in the fact that she was an +island, that she could not feed herself with her own resources and that +she had only about six weeks' supply of food ahead of her at any one +time. If Germany could cut the lines of communication and so prevent +essential supplies from reaching British ports, the population of Great +Britain could be starved into surrender in a very brief time, France +would be overwhelmed, and the triumph of the Prussian cause would be +complete. That the success of the German submarine campaign would +accomplish this result was a fact that the popular mind readily grasped. +What it did not so clearly see, however, was that the financial collapse +of Great Britain would cut these lines of communication quite as +effectually as the submarine itself. The British were practically +dependent for their existence upon the food brought from the United +States, just as the Allied armies were largely dependent upon the steel +which came from the great industrial plants of this country. If Great +Britain could not find the money with which to purchase these supplies, +it is quite apparent that they could not be shipped. The collapse of +British credit therefore would have produced the isolation of the +British Isles and led to a British surrender, just as effectively as +would the success of the German submarine campaign. + +As soon as Bernstorff was sent home, therefore, and the participation of +this country in the war became extremely probable, Mr. Balfour took up +the financial question with Page. + + _To the President_ + March 5, 1917. + + The inquiries which I have made here about financial conditions + disclose an international situation which is most alarming to the + financial and industrial outlook of the United States. England has + not only to pay her own war bills, but is obliged to finance her + Allies as well. Up to the present time she has done these tasks out + of her own capital. But she cannot continue her present extensive + purchases in the United States without shipping gold as payment for + them, and there are two reasons why she cannot make large + shipments of gold. In the first place, both England and France must + keep the larger part of the gold they have to maintain issues of + their paper at par; and, in the second place, the German U-boat has + made the shipping of gold a dangerous procedure even if they had it + to ship. There is therefore a pressing danger that the + Franco-American and Anglo-American exchange will be greatly + disturbed; the inevitable consequence will be that orders by all + the Allied Governments will be reduced to the lowest possible + amount and that trans-Atlantic trade will practically come to an + end. The result of such a stoppage will be a panic in the United + States. The world will therefore be divided into two hemispheres, + one of them, our own, will have the gold and the commodities; the + other, Great Britain and Europe, will need these commodities, but + it will have no money with which to pay for them. Moreover, it will + have practically no commodities of its own to exchange for them. + The financial and commercial result will be almost as bad for the + United States as for Europe. We shall soon reach this condition + unless we take quick action to prevent it. Great Britain and France + must have a credit in the United States which will be large enough + to prevent the collapse of world trade and the whole financial + structure of Europe. + + If the United States declare war against Germany, the greatest help + we could give Great Britain and its Allies would be such a credit. + If we should adopt this policy, an excellent plan would be for our + Government to make a large investment in a Franco-British loan. + Another plan would be to guarantee such a loan. A great advantage + would be that all the money would be kept in the United States. We + could keep on with our trade and increase it, till the war ends, + and after the war Europe would purchase food and an enormous supply + of materials with which to reëquip her peace industries. We should + thus reap the profit of an uninterrupted and perhaps an enlarging + trade over a number of years and we should hold their securities in + payment. + + On the other hand, if we keep nearly all the gold and Europe cannot + pay for reëstablishing its economic life, there may be a world-wide + panic for an indefinite period. + + Of course we cannot extend such a credit unless we go to war with + Germany. But is there no way in which our Government might + immediately and indirectly help the establishment in the United + States of a large Franco-British credit without violating armed + neutrality? I do not know enough about our own reserve bank law to + form an opinion. But these banks would avert such a danger if they + were able to establish such a credit. Danger for us is more real + and imminent, I think, than the public on either side the Atlantic + understands. If it be not averted before its manifestations become + apparent, it will then be too late to save the day. + + The pressure of this approaching crisis, I am certain, has gone + beyond the ability of the Morgan financial agency for the British + and French governments. The financial necessities of the Allies are + too great and urgent for any private agency to handle, for every + such agency has to encounter business rivalries and sectional + antagonisms. + + It is not improbable that the only way of maintaining our present + preëminent trade position and averting a panic is by declaring war + on Germany. The submarine has added the last item to the danger of + a financial world crash. There is now an uncertainty about our + being drawn into the war; no more considerable credits can be + privately placed in the United States. In the meantime a collapse + may come. + + PAGE. + +Urgent as this message was, it really understated the desperate +condition of British and Allied finances. That the warring powers were +extremely pressed for money has long been known; but Page's papers +reveal for the first time the fact that they were facing the prospect of +bankruptcy itself. "The whole Allied combination on this side the ocean +are very much nearer the end of their financial resources," he wrote in +July, "than anybody has guessed or imagined. We only can save them.... +The submarines are steadily winning the war. Pershing and his army have +bucked up the French for the moment. But for his coming there was more +or less danger of a revolution in Paris and of serious defection in the +army. Everybody here fears that the French will fail before another +winter of the trenches. Yet--the Germans must be still worse off." + +The matter that was chiefly pressing at the time of the Balfour visit +was the fact that the British balances in the New York banks were in a +serious condition. It should always be remembered, however, that Great +Britain was financing not only herself, but her Allies, and that the +difficult condition in which she now found herself was caused by the not +too considerate demands of the nations with which she was allied in the +war. Thus by April 6, 1917, Great Britain had overdrawn her account with +J.P. Morgan to the extent of $400,000,000 and had no cash available with +which to meet this overdraft. This obligation had been incurred in the +purchase of supplies, both for Great Britain and the allied governments; +and securities, largely British owned stocks and bonds, had been +deposited to protect the bankers. The money was now coming due; if the +obligations were not met, the credit of Great Britain in this country +would reach the vanishing point. Though at first there was a slight +misunderstanding about this matter, the American Government finally +paid this over-draft out of the proceeds of the first Liberty Loan. This +act saved the credit of the allied countries; it was, of course, only +the beginning of the financial support that America brought to the +allied cause; the advances that were afterward furnished from the +American Treasury made possible the purchases of food and supplies in +enormous quantities. The first danger that threatened, the isolation and +starvation of Great Britain, was therefore overcome. It was the joint +product of Page's work in London and that of the Balfour Commission in +the United States. + + +III + +Until these financial arrangements had been made there was no certainty +that the supplies which were so essential to victory would ever leave +the United States; this obstruction at the source had now been removed. +But the greater difficulty still remained. The German submarines were +lying off the waters south and west of Ireland ready to sink the supply +ships as soon as they entered the prohibited zone. Mr. Balfour and his +associates were working also on this problem in Washington; and, at the +same time, Page and Admiral Sims and the British Admiralty were bending +all their energies in London to obtain immediate coöperation. + +A remark which Mr. Balfour afterward made to Admiral Sims shows the +frightful nature of the problem which was confronting Great Britain at +that time. + +"That was a terrible week we spent at sea in that voyage to the United +States," Mr. Balfour said. "We knew that the German submarine campaign +was succeeding. Their submarines were destroying our shipping and we +had no means of preventing it. I could not help thinking that we were +facing the defeat of Great Britain." + +Page's papers show that as early as February 25th he understood in a +general way the disheartening proportions of the German success. "It is +a momentous crisis," he wrote at that time. "The submarines are +destroying shipping at an appalling rate." Yet it was not until Admiral +Sims arrived in London, on April 9th, that the Ambassador learned all +the details. In sending the Admiral to England the Navy Department had +acted on an earnest recommendation from Page. The fact that the American +Navy was inadequately represented in the British capital had long been a +matter of embarrassment to him. The ability and personal qualifications +of our attachés had been unquestioned; but none of them during the war +had been men of high rank, and this in itself proved to be a constant +impediment to their success. While America was represented by +Commanders, Japan, Italy, and France had all sent Admirals to London. +Page's repeated requests for an American Admiral had so far met with no +response, but the probability that this country would become involved in +the war now gave new point to his representations. In the latter part of +March, Page renewed his request in still more urgent form, and this time +the President and the Navy Department responded favourably. The result +was that, on April 9th, three days after the American declaration of +war, Admiral Sims and his flag-lieutenant, Commander Babcock, presented +themselves at the American Embassy. There was little in the appearance +of these men to suggest a violent naval demonstration against Germany. +Both wore civilian dress, their instructions having commanded them not +to bring uniforms; both were travelling under assumed names, and both +had no more definite orders than to investigate the naval situation and +cable the results to Washington. In spite of these attempts at secrecy, +the British had learned that Admiral Sims was on the way; they rejoiced +not only in this fact, but in the fact that Sims had been chosen, for +there was no American naval officer whose professional reputation stood +so high in the British Navy or who was so personally acceptable to +British officialdom and the British public. The Admiralty therefore met +Admiral Sims at Liverpool, brought him to London in a special train, +and, a few hours after his arrival, gave him the innermost secrets on +the submarine situation--secrets which were so dangerous that not all +the members of the British Cabinet had been let into them. + +Page welcomed Admiral Sims with a cordiality which that experienced sea +veteran still gratefully remembers. He at once turned over to him two +rooms in the Embassy. "You can have everything we've got," the +Ambassador said. "If necessary to give you room, we'll turn the whole +Embassy force out into the street." The two men had not previously met, +but in an instant they became close friends. A common sympathy and a +common enthusiasm were greatly needed at that crisis. As soon as Admiral +Sims had finished his interview with Admiral Jellicoe, he immediately +sought out the Ambassador and laid all the facts before him. Germany was +winning the war. Great Britain had only six weeks' food supply on hand, +and the submarines were sinking the ships at a rate which, unless the +depredations should be checked, meant an early and unconditional +surrender of the British Empire. Only the help of the United States +could prevent this calamity. + +Page, of course, was aghast: the facts and figures Admiral Sims gave him +disclosed a situation which was even more desperate than he had +imagined. He advised the Admiral to cable the whole story immediately to +Washington. Admiral Sims at first had some difficulty in obtaining the +Admiralty's consent to doing this, and the reason was the one with which +Page had long been familiar--the fear, altogether too justified, that +the news would "leak" out of Washington. Of course there was no +suspicion in British naval circles of the good faith of the Washington +officials, but important facts had been sent so many times under the +seal of the strictest secrecy and had then found their way into the +newspapers that there was a deep distrust of American discretion. +Certainly no greater damage could have been done the allied cause at +that time than to have the Germans learn how successfully their +submarine campaign was progressing. The question was referred to the +Imperial War Council and its consent obtained. The report, however, was +sent to the Navy Department in the British naval code, and decoded in +the British Embassy in Washington. + +Admiral Sims's message gave all the facts about the submarine situation, +and concluded with the recommendation that the United States should +assemble all floating craft that could be used in the anti-submarine +warfare, destroyers, tugs, yachts, light cruisers, and similar vessels, +and send them immediately to Queenstown, where they would do valuable +service in convoying merchant vessels and destroying the U-boats. At +that time the American Navy had between fifty and sixty destroyers that +were patrolling the American coast; these could have been despatched, +almost immediately, to the scene of operations; but, in response to this +request, the Department sent six to Queentown. + +The next few months were very unhappy ones for Admiral Sims. He was the +representative in London of one of the world's greatest naval powers, +participating in the greatest war that had ever enlisted its energies, +yet his constant appeals for warships elicited the most inadequate +response, his well-reasoned recommendations for meeting the crisis were +frequently unanswered and at other times were met with counter-proposals +so childish that they seemed almost to have originated in the brains of +newspaper amateurs, and his urgent pictures of a civilization rapidly +going to wreck were apparently looked upon with suspicion as the +utterances of a man who had been completely led astray by British guile. +To give a fair idea of Washington's neglect during this period it is +only necessary to point out that, for four months, Admiral Sims occupied +the two rooms in the Embassy directly above Page's, with Commander +Babcock as his only aid. Sims's repeated requests to Secretary Daniels +for an additional staff went unheeded. Had it not been for the Admiral's +constant daily association with Page and the comfort and encouragement +which the Ambassador gave him, this experience would have been almost +unbearable. In the latter part of April, the Admiral's appeals to +Washington having apparently fallen on deaf ears, he asked Page to +second his efforts. The Admiral and Commander Babcock wrote another +message, and drove in a motor car to Brighton, where Page was taking a +little rest. The Admiral did not know just how strong a statement the +Ambassador would care to sponsor, and so he did not make this +representation as emphatic as the judgment of both men would have +preferred. + +The Admiral handed Page the paper, saying that he had prepared it with +the hope that the Ambassador would sign it and send it directly to +President Wilson. + +"It is quite apparent," Admiral Sims said, "that the Department doesn't +believe what I have been saying. Or they don't believe what the British +are saying. They think that England is exaggerating the peril for +reasons of its own. They think I am hopelessly pro-British and that I +am being used. But if you'll take it up directly with the President, +then they may be convinced." + +Page put on his spectacles, took the paper, and read it through. Then, +looking over the rim of his glasses in his characteristic way, he leaned +toward Admiral Sims and said: + +"Admiral, it isn't half strong enough! I think I can write a better +despatch than that, myself! At least let me try." + +He immediately took a pen and paper and in a few minutes he had written +his own version which he gave the Admiral to read. The latter was +delighted with it and in a brief time it was on its way to Washington. + + From: Ambassador Page. + To: Secretary of State. + Sent: 27 April, 1917. + + _Very confidential for Secretary and President_ + + There is reason for the greatest alarm about the issue of the war + caused by the increasing success of the German submarines. I have + it from official sources that during the week ending 22nd April, 88 + ships of 237,000 tons, allied and neutral, were lost. The number of + vessels unsuccessfully attacked indicated a great increase in the + number of submarines in action. + + This means practically a million tons lost every month till the + shorter days of autumn come. By that time the sea will be about + clear of shipping. Most of the ships are sunk to the westward and + southward of Ireland. The British have in that area every available + anti-submarine craft, but their force is so insufficient that they + hardly discourage the submarines. + + The British transport of troops and supplies is already strained to + the utmost, and the maintenance of the armies in the field is + threatened. There is food enough here to last the civil population + only not more than six weeks or two months. + + Whatever help the United States may render at any time in the + future, or in any theatre of the war, our help is now more + seriously needed in this submarine area for the sake of all the + Allies than it can ever be needed again, or anywhere else. + + After talking over this critical situation with the Prime Minister + and other members of the Government, I can not refrain from most + strongly recommending the immediate sending over of every destroyer + and all other craft that can be of anti-submarine use. This seems + to me the sharpest crisis of the war, and the most dangerous + situation for the Allies that has arisen or could arise. + + If enough submarines can be destroyed in the next two or three + months, the war will be won, and if we can contribute effective + help immediately, it will be won directly by our aid. I cannot + exaggerate the pressing and increasing danger of this situation. + Thirty or more destroyers and other similar craft sent by us + immediately would very likely be decisive. + + There is no time to be lost. + + (Signed) PAGE. + +This cablegram had a certain effect. The reply came from Washington that +"eventually" thirty-six destroyers would be sent. + + * * * * * + +Page's letters of this period are full of the same subject. + + _To the President_ + + London, May 4, 1917. + + Dear Mr. President: + + The submarines have become a very grave danger. The loss of British + and allied tonnage increases with the longer and brighter days--as + I telegraphed you, 237,000 tons last week; and the worst of it is, + the British are not destroying them. The Admiralty publishes a + weekly report which, though true, is not the whole truth. It is + known in official circles here that the Germans are turning out at + least two a week--some say three; and the British are not + destroying them as fast as new ones are turned out. If merely the + present situation continue, the war will pretty soon become a + contest of endurance under hunger, with an increasing proportion of + starvation. Germany is yet much the worse off, but it will be + easily possible for Great Britain to suffer to the danger point + next winter or earlier unless some decided change be wrought in + this situation. + + The greatest help, I hope, can come from us--our destroyers and + similar armed craft--provided we can send enough of them quickly. + The area to be watched is so big that many submarine hunters are + needed. Early in the war the submarines worked near shore. There + are very many more of them now and their range is one hundred + miles, or even two hundred, at sea. + + The public is becoming very restive with its half information, and + it is more and more loudly demanding all the facts. There are + already angry threats to change the personnel of the Admiralty; + there is even talk of turning out the Government. "We must have + results, we must have results." I hear confidentially that Jellicoe + has threatened to resign unless the Salonica expedition is brought + back: to feed and equip that force requires too many ships. + + And there are other troubles impending. Norway has lost so many of + her ships that she dare not send what are left to sea. Unarmed + they'll all perish. If she arms them, Germany will declare war + against her. There is a plan on foot for the British to charter + these Norwegian ships and to arm them, taking the risk of German + war against Norway. If war comes (as it is expected) England must + then defend Norway the best she can. And _then England may ask for + our big ships to help in these waters_. All this is yet in the + future, but possibly not far in the future. + + For the present the only anti-submarine help is the help we may be + able to give to patrol the wide area off Ireland. If we had one + hundred destroyers to send, the job there could, I am told, be + quickly done. A third of that number will help mightily. At the + present rate of destruction more than four million tons will be + sunk before the summer is gone. + + Such is this dire submarine danger. The English thought that they + controlled the sea; the Germans, that they were invincible on land. + Each side is losing where it thought itself strongest. + + Admiral Sims is of the greatest help imaginable. Of course, I gave + him an office in one of our Embassy buildings, and the Admiralty + has given him an office also with them. He spends much of his time + there, and they have opened all doors and all desks and drawers to + him. He strikes me (and the English so regard him) as a man of + admirable judgment--unexcitable and indefatigable. I hope we'll + soon send a general over, to whom the War Department will act + similarly. Hoover, too, must have a good man here as, I dare say, + he has already made known. These will cover the Navy, the Army, + Food, and Shipping. Perhaps a Censor and an Intelligence (Secret + Service) group ought to come. I mean these for permanent--at least + indefinite--service. Exchange visits by a Congressional Committee + (such as the French and British make) and by high official persons + such as members of your Cabinet (such also as the French and + British make)--you will have got ideas about these from Mr. + Balfour. + + W.H.P. + +In the latter part of June Admiral Sims went to Queenstown. Admiral +Bayly, who directed the operation of the anti-submarine forces there, +had gone away for a brief rest, and Admiral Sims had taken over the +command of both the British and American forces at that point. This +experience gave Admiral Sims a first-hand picture of a really deplorable +situation. The crisis was so desperate that he made another appeal to +Page. + + _From Admiral William S. Sims_ + + Admiralty House, Queenstown, + June 25, 1917. + + My Dear Mr. Page: + + I enclose herewith a letter on the submarine situation[61]. + + I think I have made it plain therein that the Allies are losing the + war; that it will be already lost when the loss of shipping reaches + the point where fully adequate supplies cannot be maintained on the + various battle fronts. + + I cannot understand why our Government should hesitate to send the + necessary anti-submarine craft to this side. + + There are at least seventeen more destroyers employed on our + Atlantic coast, _where there is no war_, not to mention numerous + other very useful anti-submarine craft, including sea-going tugs, + etc. + + Can you not do something to bring our Government to an + understanding of how very serious the situation is? Would it not be + well to send another telegram to Mr. Lansing and the President, and + also send them the enclosed correspondence? + + I am sending this by mail because I may be somewhat delayed in + returning to London. + + Very sincerely yours, + + Wm. S. Sims. + +Page immediately acted on this suggestion. + + _Most confidential for the Secretary of State and President only_ + + Sims sends me by special messenger from Queenstown the most + alarming reports of the submarine situation which are confirmed by + the Admiralty here. He says that the war will be won or lost in + this submarine zone within a few months. Time is of the essence of + the problem, and anti-submarine craft which cannot be assembled in + the submarine zone almost immediately may come too late. There is, + therefore, a possibility that this war may become a war between + Germany and the United States alone. Help is far more urgently and + quickly needed in this submarine zone than anywhere else in the + whole war area. + + Page. + +The United States had now been in the war for three months and only +twenty-eight of the sixty destroyers which were available had been sent +into the field. Yet this latest message of Page produced no effect, and, +when Admiral Sims returned from Queenstown, the two men, almost in +despair, consulted as to the step which they should take next. What was +the matter? Was it that Washington did not care to get into the naval +war with its full strength, or was it that it simply refused to believe +the representations of its Admiral and its Ambassador? Admiral Sims and +Page went over the whole situation and came to the conclusion that +Washington regarded them both as so pro-British that their reports were +subject to suspicion. Just as Page had found that the State Department, +and its "trade advisers," had believed that the British were using the +blockade as a means of destroying American trade for the benefit of +Britain, so now he believed that Mr. Daniels and Admiral Benson, the +Chief of Naval Operations, evidently thought that Great Britain was +attempting to lure American warships into European waters, to undergo +the risk of protecting British commerce, while British warships were +kept safely in harbour. Page suggested that there was now only one thing +left to do, and that was to request the British Government itself to +make a statement to President Wilson that would substantiate his own +messages. + +"Whatever else they think of the British in Washington," he said, "they +know one thing--and that is that a British statesman like Mr. Balfour +will not lie." + +Mr. Balfour by this time had returned from America. The fact that he had +established these splendid personal relations with Mr. Wilson, and that +he had impressed the American public so deeply with his sincerity and +fine purpose, made him especially valuable for this particular appeal. +Page and Admiral Sims therefore went to the Foreign Office and laid all +the facts before him. Their own statements, Page informed the Foreign +Secretary, were evidently regarded as hysterical and biased by an +unreasoning friendliness to Great Britain. If Mr. Balfour would say the +same things over his own signature, then they would not be disbelieved. + +Mr. Balfour gladly consented. He called in Admiral Jellicoe and asked +him to draft a despatch, so that all the technical facts would be +completely accurate. He also consulted with Sir Edward Carson, the First +Lord of the Admiralty. Then Mr. Balfour put the document in its final +shape and signed it. It was as follows: + + _Mr. Balfour to the President_ + + June 30, 1917. + + The forces at present at the disposal of the British Admiralty are + not adequate to protect shipping from submarine attack in the + danger zone round the British Islands. Consequently shipping is + being sunk at a greater rate than it can be replaced by new tonnage + of British origin. + + The time will come when, if the present rate of loss continues, the + available shipping, apart from American contribution, will be + insufficient to bring to this country sufficient foodstuffs and + other essentials, including oil fuel. The situation in regard to + our Allies, France, and Italy, is much the same. + + Consequently, it is absolutely necessary to add to our forces as a + first step, pending the adoption or completion of measures which + will, it is hoped, eventually lead to the destruction of enemy + submarines at a rate sufficient to ensure safety of our sea + communications. + + The United States is the only allied country in a position to help. + The pressing need is for armed small craft of every kind available + in the area where commerce concentrates near the British and French + coasts. Destroyers, submarines, gunboats, yachts, trawlers, and + tugs would all give invaluable help, and if sent in sufficient + numbers would undoubtedly save a situation which is manifestly + critical. But they are required now and in as great numbers as + possible. There is no time for delay. The present method of + submarine attack is almost entirely by torpedo with the submarine + submerged. The gun defense of merchant ships keeps the submarine + below the surface but does no more; offensively against a submerged + submarine it is useless, and the large majority of the ships + torpedoed never see the attacking submarine until the torpedo has + hit the ship[62]. + + The present remedy is, therefore, to prevent the submarine from + using its periscope for fear of attack by bomb or ram from small + craft, and this method of defense for the shipping and offense + against the submarine requires small craft in very large numbers. + + The introduction of the convoy system, provided there are + sufficient destroyers to form an adequate screen to the convoy, + will, it is hoped, minimize losses when it is working, and the + provision of new offensive measures is progressing; but for the + next few months there is only one safeguard, viz., the immediate + addition to patrols of every small vessel that can possibly be sent + to European waters. + +Page, moreover, kept up his own appeal: + + _To the President_ + + July 5th. + + _Strictly confidential to the President and the Secretary_ + + The British Cabinet is engaging in a threatening controversy about + the attitude which they should take toward the submarine peril. + There is a faction in the Admiralty which possesses the + indisputable facts and which takes a very disheartening view of + the situation. This group insists that the Cabinet should make a + confession at least to us of the full extent of the danger and that + it should give more information to the public. The public does not + feel great alarm simply because it has been kept in too great + ignorance. But the political faction is so far the stronger. It + attempts to minimize the facts, and, probably for political + reasons, it refuses to give these discouraging facts wide + publicity. The politicians urge that it is necessary to conceal the + full facts from the Germans. They also see great danger in throwing + the public into a panic. + + Mr. Lloyd George is always optimistic and he is too much inclined + to yield his judgment to political motives. In his recent address + in Glasgow he gave the public a comforting impression of the + situation. But the facts do not warrant the impression which he + gave. + + This dispute among the political factions is most unfortunate and + it may cause an explosion of public feeling at any time. Changes in + the Cabinet may come in consequence. If the British public knew all + the facts or if the American people knew them, the present British + Government would probably fall. It is therefore not only the + submarine situation which is full of danger. The political + situation is in a dangerous state also. + + PAGE. + + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + + Wilsford Manor, Salisbury, + + July 8, 1917. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + Since admirals and generals began to come from home, they and the + war have taken my time so completely, day and night, that I haven't + lately written you many things that I should like to tell you. I'll + try here--a house of a friend of ours where the only other guest + besides your mother and me is Edward Grey. This is the first time + I've seen him since he left office. Let me take certain big + subjects in order and come to smaller things later: + + 1. The German submarines are succeeding to a degree that the public + knows nothing about. These two things are true: (a) The Germans are + building submarines faster than the English sink them. In this way, + therefore, they are steadily gaining. (b) The submarines are + sinking freight ships faster than freight ships are being built by + the whole world. In this way, too, then, the Germans are + succeeding. Now if this goes on long enough, the Allies' game is + up. For instance, they have lately sunk so many fuel oil ships, + that this country may very soon be in a perilous condition--even + the Grand Fleet may not have enough fuel. Of course the chance is + that oil ships will not continue to fall victims to the U-boats and + we shall get enough through to replenish the stock. But this + illustrates the danger, and it is a very grave danger. + + The best remedy so far worked out is the destroyer. The submarines + avoid destroyers and they sink very, very few ships that are + convoyed. If we had destroyers enough to patrol the whole approach + (for, say, 250 miles) to England, the safety of the sea would be + very greatly increased; and if we had enough to patrol and to + convoy every ship going and coming, the damage would be reduced to + a minimum. The Admiral and I are trying our best to get our + Government to send over 500 improvised destroyers--yachts, + ocean-going tugs--any kind of swift craft that can be armed. Five + hundred such little boats might end the war in a few months; for + the Germans are keeping the spirit of their people and of their + army up by their submarine success. If that success were stopped + they'd have no other cry half so effective. If they could see this + in Washington as we see it, they'd do it and do it not halfway but + with a vengeance. If they don't do it, the war may be indefinitely + prolonged and a wholly satisfactory peace may never be made. The + submarine is the most formidable thing the war has produced--by + far--and it gives the German the only earthly chance he has to win. + And he _may_ substantially win by it yet. That's what the British + conceal. In fact, half of them do not see it or believe it. But + nothing is truer, or plainer. One hundred thousand submarine + chasers next year may be worth far less than 500 would be worth + now, for next year see how few ships may be left! The mere arming + of ships is not enough. Nearly all that are sunk are armed. The + submarine now carries a little periscope and a big one, each + painted the colour of the sea. You can't see a little periscope + except in an ocean as smooth as glass. It isn't bigger than a + coffee cup. The submarine thus sinks its victims without ever + emerging or ever being seen. As things now stand, the Germans are + winning the war, and they are winning it on the sea; that's the + queer and the most discouraging fact. My own opinion is that all + the facts ought to be published to all the world. Let the Germans + get all the joy they can out of the confession. No matter, if the + Government and the people of the United States knew all the facts, + we'd have 1,000 improvised destroyers (yachts, tugs, etc., etc.) + armed and over here very quickly. Then the tide would turn. + + Then there'd be nothing to fear in the long run. For the military + authorities all agree that the German Army is inferior to the + British and French and will be whipped. That may take a long time + yet; but of the result nobody who knows seems to have any + doubt--unless the French get tired and stop. They have periods of + great war weariness and there is real danger that they may quit and + make a separate peace. General Pershing's presence has made the + situation safe for the moment. But in a little while something else + spectacular and hopeful may be required to keep them in line. + + Such is an accurate picture of the war as it is now, and it is a + dangerous situation. + + 2. The next grave danger is financial. The European Allies have so + bled the English for money that the English would by this time + probably have been on a paper money basis (and of course all the + Allies as well) if we had not come to their financial aid. And + we've got to keep our financial aid going to them to prevent this + disastrous result. That wouldn't at once end the war, if they had + all abandoned specie payments; but it would be a frightfully severe + blow and it might later bring defeat. That is a real danger. And + the Government at Washington, I fear, does not know the full extent + of the danger. They think that the English are disposed to lie down + on them. They don't realize the cost of the war. This Government + has bared all this vast skeleton to me; but I fear that Washington + imagines that part of it is a deliberate scare. It's a very real + danger. + + Now, certain detached items: + + Sims is the idol of the British Admiralty and he is doing his job + just as well as any man could with the tools and the chance that he + has. He has made the very best of the chance and he has completely + won the confidence and admiration of this side of the world. + + Pershing made an admirable impression here, and in France he has + simply set them wild with joy. His coming and his little army have + been worth what a real army will be worth later. It is well he came + to keep the French in line. + + The army of doctors and nurses have had a similar effect. + + Even the New England saw-mill units have caused a furor of + enthusiasm. They came with absolute Yankee completeness of + organization--with duplicate parts of all their machinery, tents, + cooks, pots, and pans, and everything ship-shape. The only question + they asked was: "Say, where the hell are them trees you want sawed + up?" That's the way to do a job! Yankee stock is made high here by + such things as that. + + We're getting a crowd of Yankee lecturers on the United States to + go up and down this Kingdom. There's the greatest imaginable + curiosity to hear about the United States in all kinds of society + from munition workers to universities. I got the British Government + to write Buttrick[63] to come as its guest, and the Rockefeller + Boards rose to the occasion. He'll probably be along presently. If + he hasn't already sailed when you get this, see him and tell him to + make arrangements to have pictures sent over to him to illustrate + his lectures. Who else could come to do this sort of a job? + + I am myself busier than I have ever been. The kind of work the + Embassy now has to do is very different from the work of the days + of neutrality. It continues to increase--especially the work that I + have to do myself. But it's all pleasant now. We are trying to help + and no longer to hinder. To save my life I don't see how the + Washington crowd can look at themselves in a mirror and keep their + faces straight. Yesterday they were bent on sending everything into + European neutral states. The foundations of civilization would give + way if neutral trade were interfered with. Now, nothing must go in + except on a ration basis. Yesterday it must be a peace without + victory. Now it must be a complete victory, every man and every + dollar thrown in, else no peace is worth having. I don't complain. + I only rejoice. But I'm glad that kind of a rapid change is not a + part of my record. The German was the same beast yesterday that he + is to-day; and it makes a simple-minded, straight-minded man like + me wonder which attitude was the (or is the) attitude of real + conviction. But this doesn't bother me now as a real problem--only + as a speculation. What we call History will, I presume, in time + work this out. But History is often a kind of lie. But never mind + that. The only duty of mankind now is to win. Other things can + wait. + + I walked over to Stonehenge and back (about six miles) with Lord + Grey (Sir Edward, you know) and we, like everybody else, fell to + talking about when the war may end. We know as well as anybody and + no better than anybody else. I have very different moods about + it--no convictions. It seems to me to depend, as things now are, + more on the submarines than on anything else. If we could + effectually discourage them so that the Germans would have to + withdraw them and could no more keep up the spirit of their people + by stories of the imminent starvation of England, I have a feeling + that the hunger and the war weariness of the German people would + lead them to force an end. But, the more they are called on to + suffer the more patriotic do they think themselves and they _may_ + go on till they drop dead in their tracks. + + What I am really afraid of is that the Germans may, before winter, + offer all that the Western Allies most want--the restoration of + Belgium and France, the return of Alsace-Lorraine, etc., in the + West and the surrender of the Colonies--provided Austria is not + dismembered. That would virtually leave them the chance to work out + their Middle Europe scheme and ultimately there'd probably have to + be another war over that question. That's the real eventuality to + be feared--a German defeat in the West but a German victory in the + Southeast. Everybody in Europe is so war weary that such a plan + _may_ succeed. + + On the other hand, what Hoover and Northcliffe fear may come + true--that the Germans are going to keep up the struggle for + years--till their armies are practically obliterated, as Lee's army + was. If the Allies were actually to kill (not merely wound, but + actually kill) 5,000 Germans a day for 300 days a year, it would + take about four years to obliterate the whole German Army. There is + the bare possibility, therefore, of a long struggle yet. But I + can't believe it. My dominant mood these days is an end within a + very few months after the submarines are knocked out. Send over, + therefore, 1,000 improvised destroyers the next two months, and + I'll promise peace by Christmas. Otherwise I can make no promises. + That's all that Lord Grey and I know, and surely we are two wise + men. What, therefore, is the use in writing any more about this? + + The chief necessity that grows upon me is that all the facts must + be brought out that show the kinship in blood and ideals of the two + great English-speaking nations. We were actually coming to believe + ourselves that we were part German and Slovene and Pole and + What-not, instead of essentially being Scotch and English. Hence + the unspeakable impudence of your German who spoke of eliminating + the Anglo-Saxon element from American life! The truth should be + forcibly and convincingly told and repeated to the end of the + chapter, and our national life should proceed on its natural + historic lines, with its proper historic outlook and background. We + can do something to bring this about. + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + +The labour of getting the American Navy into the war was evidently at +first a difficult one, but the determination of Page and Admiral Sims +triumphed, and, by August and September, our energies were fully +engaged. And the American Navy made a record that will stand +everlastingly to its glory. Without its help the German submarines could +never have been overcome. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 58: The reference is to the attack made in October, 1916, by +the German Submarine U-53, off Nantucket on several British ships. An +erroneous newspaper account said that the _Benham_, an American +destroyer, had moved in a way that facilitated the operations of the +German submarine. This caused great bitterness in England, until Page +showed the Admiralty a report from the Navy Department proving that the +story was false.] + +[Footnote 59: This, of course, is Franklin D. Roosevelt, Assistant +Secretary of the Navy in 1917.] + +[Footnote 60: This letter is dated London and was probably begun there. +It is evident, however, that the latter part was written at Brighton, +where the Ambassador was taking a brief holiday.] + +[Footnote 61: This was a long document describing conditions in great +detail.] + +[Footnote 62: The Navy Department had taken the position that arming +merchantmen was the best protection against the submarine. This +statement was intended to refute this belief.] + +[Footnote 63: Dr. Wallace Buttrick, President of the General Education +Board, who was sent at this time to deliver lectures throughout Great +Britain on the United States.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +PAGE--THE MAN + + +The entrance of America into the war, followed by the successful +promotion of the Balfour visit, brought a period of quiet into Page's +life. These events represented for him a personal triumph; there were +many things still to be done, it is true, and Page, as always, was +active in advancing the interests that were nearest his heart; yet the +mighty relief that followed the American declaration was the kind that +one experiences after accomplishing the greatest task of a lifetime. +Page's letters have contained many references to the sense of moral +isolation which his country's policy had forced upon him; he probably +exaggerated his feeling that there was a tendency to avoid him; this was +merely a reflection of his own inclination to keep away from all but the +official people. He now had more leisure and certainly more interest in +cultivating the friends that he had made in Great Britain. For the fact +is that, during all these engrossing years, Page had been more than an +Ambassador; by the time the United States entered the war he had +attained an assured personal position in the life of the British +capital. He had long since demonstrated his qualifications for a post, +which, in the distinction of the men who have occupied it, has few +parallels in diplomacy. The scholarly Lowell, the courtly Bayard, the +companionable Hay, the ever-humorous Choate, had set a standard for +American Ambassadors which had made the place a difficult one for their +successors. Though Page had characteristics in common with all these +men, his personality had its own distinctive tang; and it was something +new to the political and social life of London. And the British capital, +which is extremely exacting and even merciless in its demands upon its +important personages, had found it vastly entertaining. "I didn't know +there could be anything so American as Page except Mark Twain," a +British literary man once remarked; and it was probably this strong +American quality, this directness and even breeziness of speech and of +method, this absence of affectation, this almost openly expressed +contempt for finesse and even for tradition, combined with those other +traits which we like to think of as American--an upright purpose, a +desire to serve not only his own country but mankind--which made the +British public look upon Page as one of the most attractive and useful +figures in a war-torn Europe. + +There was a certain ruggedness in Page's exterior which the British +regarded as distinctly in keeping with this American flavour. The +Ambassador was not a handsome man. To one who had heard much of the +liveliness of his conversation and presence a first impression was +likely to be disappointing. His figure at this time was tall, gaunt, and +lean--and he steadily lost weight during his service in England; his +head was finely shaped--it was large, with a high forehead, his thin +gray hair rather increasing its intellectual aspect; and his big frank +brown eyes reflected that keen zest for life, that unsleeping interest +in everything about him, that ever-working intelligence and sympathy +which were the man's predominant traits. But a very large nose at first +rather lessened the pleasing effects of his other features, and a rather +weather-beaten, corrugated face gave a preliminary suggestion of +roughness. Yet Page had only to begin talking and the impression +immediately changed. "He puts his mind to yours," Dr. Johnson said, +describing the sympathetic qualities of a friend, and the same was true +of Page. Half a dozen sentences, spoken in his quick, soft, and +ingratiating accents, accompanied by the most genial smile, at once +converted the listener into a friend. Few men have ever lived who more +quickly responded to this human relationship. The Ambassador, at the +simple approach of a human being, became as a man transformed. Tired +though he might be, low in spirits as he not infrequently was, the press +of a human hand at once changed him into an animated and radiating +companion. This responsiveness deceived all his friends in the days of +his last illness. His intimates who dropped in to see Page invariably +went away much encouraged and spread optimistic reports about his +progress. A few minutes' conversation with Page would deceive even his +physicians. The explanation was a simple one: the human presence had an +electric effect upon him, and it is a revealing sidelight on Page's +character that almost any man or woman could produce this result. As an +editor, the readiness with which he would listen to suggestions from the +humblest source was a constant astonishment to his associates. The +office boy had as accessible an approach to Page as had his partners. He +never treated an idea, even a grotesque one, with contempt; he always +had time to discuss it, to argue it out, and no one ever left his +presence thinking that he had made an absurd proposal. Thus Page had a +profound respect for a human being simply because he was a human being; +the mere fact that a man, woman, or child lived and breathed, had his +virtues and his failings, constituted in Page's imagination a tremendous +fact. He could not wound such a living creature any more than he could +wound a flower or a tree; consequently he treated every person as an +important member of the universe. Not infrequently, indeed, he stormed +at public men, but his thunder, after all, was not very terrifying; his +remarks about such personages as Mr. Bryan merely reflected his +indignation at their policies and their influence but did not indicate +any feeling against the victims themselves. Page said "Good morning" to +his doorman with the same deference that he showed to Sir Edward Grey, +and there was not a little stenographer in the building whose joys and +sorrows did not arouse in him the most friendly interest. Some of the +most affecting letters written about Page, indeed, have come from these +daily associates of more humble station. "We so often speak of Mr. +Page," writes one of the Embassy staff--"Findlater, Short, and +Frederick"--these were all English servants at the Embassy; "we all +loved him equally, and hardly a day passes that something does not +remind us of him, and I often fancy that I hear his laugh, so full of +kindness and love of life." And the impression left on those in high +position was the same. "I have seen ladies representing all that is most +worldly in Mayfair," writes Mr. Ellery Sedgwick, the editor of the +_Atlantic Monthly_, "start at the sudden thought of Page's illness, +their eyes glistening with tears." + +Perhaps what gave most charm to this human side was the fact that Page +was fundamentally such a scholarly man. This was the aspect which +especially delighted his English friends. He preached democracy +and Americanism with an emphasis that almost suggested the +back-woodsman--the many ideas on these subjects that appear in his +letters Page never hesitated to set forth with all due resonance at +London dinner tables--yet he phrased his creed in language that was +little less than literary style, and illuminated it with illustrations +and a philosophy that were the product of the most exhaustive reading. +"Your Ambassador has taught us something that we did not know before," +an English friend remarked to an American. "That is that a man can be a +democrat and a man of culture at the same time." The Greek and Latin +authors had been Page's companions from the days when, as the holder of +the Greek Fellowship at Johns Hopkins, he had been a favourite pupil of +Basil L. Gildersleeve. British statesmen who had been trained at +Balliol, in the days when Greek was the indispensable ear-mark of a +gentleman, could thus meet their American associate on the most +sympathetic terms. Page likewise spoke a brand of idiomatic English +which immediately put him in a class by himself. He regarded words as +sacred things. He used them, in his writing or in his speech, with the +utmost care and discrimination; yet this did not result in a halting or +stilted style; he spoke with the utmost ease, going rapidly from thought +to thought, choosing invariably the one needful word, lighting up the +whole with whimsicalities all his own, occasionally emphasizing a good +point by looking downward and glancing over his eyeglasses, perhaps, if +he knew his companion intimately, now and then giving him a monitory tap +on the knee. Page, in fact, was a great and incessant talker; hardly +anything delighted him more than a companionable exchange of ideas and +impressions; he was seldom so busy that he would not push aside his +papers for a chat; and he would talk with almost any one, on almost any +subject--his secretaries, his stenographers, his office boys, and any +crank who succeeded in getting by the doorman--for, in spite of his +lively warnings against the breed, Page did really love cranks and took +a collector's joy in uncovering new types. Page's voice was normally +quiet; though he had spent all his early life in the South, the +characteristic Southern accents were ordinarily not observable; yet his +intonation had a certain gentleness that was probably an inheritance of +his Southern breeding. Thus, when he first began talking, his words +would ripple along quietly and rapidly; a characteristic pose was to sit +calmly, with one knee thrown over the other, his hands folded; as his +interest increased, however, he would get up, perhaps walk across the +room, or stand before the fireplace, his hands behind his back; a large +cigar, sometimes unlighted, at other times emitting huge clouds of +smoke, would oscillate from one side of his mouth to the other; his talk +would grow in earnestness, his voice grow louder, his words come faster +and faster, until finally they would gush forth in a mighty torrent. + +All Page's personal traits are explained by that one characteristic +which tempered all others, his sense of humour. That Page was above all +a serious-minded man his letters show; yet his spirits were constantly +alert for the amusing, the grotesque, and the contradictory; like all +men who are really serious and alive to the pathos of existence, he +loved a hearty laugh, especially as he found it a relief from the gloom +that filled his every waking moment in England. Page himself regarded +this ability to smile as an indispensable attribute to a well-rounded +life. "No man can be a gentleman," he once declared, "who does not have +a sense of humour." Only he who possessed this gift, Page believed, had +an imaginative insight into the failings and the virtues of his +brothers; only he could have a tolerant attitude toward the stupidities +of his fellows, to say nothing of his own. And humour with him assumed +various shades; now it would flash in an epigram, or smile indulgently +at a passing human weakness; now and then it would break out into genial +mockery; occasionally it would manifest itself as sheer horse-play; and +less frequently it would become sardonic or even savage. It was in this +latter spirit that he once described a trio of Washington statesmen, +whose influence he abhorred as, "three minds that occupy a single +vacuum." He once convulsed a Scottish audience by describing the +national motto of Scotland--and doing so with a broad burr in his voice +that seemed almost to mark the speaker a native to the heath--as +"Liber-r-ty, fra-a-ternity and f-r-r-u-gality." The policy of his +country occasioned many awkward moments which, thanks to his talent for +amiable raillery, he usually succeeded in rendering harmless. Not +infrequently Page's fellow guests at the dinner table would think the +American attitude toward Germany a not inappropriate topic for small +talk. "Mr. Page," remarked an exaltedly titled lady in a conversational +pause, "when is your country going to get into the war?" The more +discreet members of the company gasped, but Page was not disturbed. +"Please give us at least ninety days," he answered, and an exceedingly +disagreeable situation was thus relieved by general laughter. + +On another occasion his repudiation of this flippant spirit took a more +solemn and even more effective form. The time was a few days before the +United States had declared war. Bernstorff had been dismissed; events +were rapidly rushing toward the great climax; yet the behaviour of the +Washington Administration was still inspiring much caustic criticism. +The Pages were present at one of the few dinners which they attended in +the course of this crisis; certain smart and tactless guests did not +seem to regard their presence as a bar to many gibes against the +American policy. Page sat through it all impassive, never betraying the +slightest resentment. + +Presently the ladies withdrew. Page found himself sitting next to Mr. +Harold Nicolson, an important official in the Foreign Office. It so +happened that Mr. Nicolson and Page were the only two members of the +company who were the possessors of a great secret which made ineffably +silly all the chatter that had taken place during the dinner; this was +that the United States had decided on war against Germany and would +issue the declaration in a few days. + +"Well, Mr. Nicolson," said Page, "I think that you and I will drink a +glass of wine together." + +The two men quietly lifted their glasses and drank the silent toast. +Neither made the slightest reference to the forthcoming event. Perhaps +the other men present were a little mystified, but in a few days they +understood what it had meant, and also learned how effectively they had +been rebuked. + +"Is it any wonder," says Mr. Nicolson, telling this story, "that I think +that Mr. Page is perhaps the greatest gentleman I have ever known? He +has only one possible competitor for this distinction--and that is +Arthur Balfour." + +The English newspapers took delight in printing Page's aphorisms, and +several anecdotes that came from America afforded them especial joy. One +went back to the days when the Ambassador was editor of the _Atlantic +Monthly_. A woman contributor had sent him a story; like most literary +novices she believed that editors usually rejected the manuscripts of +unknown writers without reading them. She therefore set a trap for Page +by pasting together certain sheets. The manuscript came back promptly, +and, as the prospective contributor had hoped, these sheets had not been +disturbed. These particular sections had certainly not been read. The +angry author triumphantly wrote to Page, explaining how she had caught +him and denouncing the whole editorial tribe as humbugs. "Dear Madam," +Page immediately wrote in reply, "when I break an egg at breakfast, I do +not have to eat the whole of it to find out that it is bad." Page's +treatment of authors, however, was by no means so acrimonious as this +little note might imply. Indeed, the urbanity and consideration shown in +his correspondence with writers had long been a tradition in American +letters. The remark of O. Henry in this regard promises to become +immortal: "Page could reject a story with a letter that was so +complimentary," he said, "and make everybody feel so happy that you +could take it to a bank and borrow money on it." + +Another anecdote reminiscent of his editorial days was his retort to +S.S. McClure, the editor of _McClure's Magazine_. + +"Page," said Mr. McClure, "there are only three great editors in the +United States." + +"Who's the third one, Sam?" asked Page. + +Plenty of stories, illustrating Page's quickness and aptness in retort, +have gathered about his name in England. Many of them indicate a mere +spirit of boyish fun. Early in his Ambassadorship he was spending a few +days at Stratford-on-Avon, his hostess being an American woman who had +beautifully restored an Elizabethan house; the garden contained a +mulberry tree which she liked to think had been planted by Shakespeare +himself. The dignitaries of Stratford, learning that the American +Ambassador had reached town, asked permission to wait upon him; the Lord +Mayor, who headed the procession, made an excellent speech, to which +Page appropriately replied, and several hundred people were solemnly +presented. After the party had left Page turned to his hostess: + +"Have they all gone?" + +"Yes." + +"All?" + +"Yes." + +"Are you sure?" + +"Yes." + +"Then let's take hands and dance around the mulberry tree!" + +Page was as good as his word; he danced as gaily as the youngest member +of the party, to the singing of the old English song. + +The great service in St. Paul's Cathedral, in commemoration of America's +entry into the war, has already been described. A number of wounded +Americans, boys whose zeal for the Allies had led them to enlist in the +Canadian Army, were conspicuous participants in this celebration. After +the solemn religious ceremonies, the Ambassador and these young men +betook themselves for lunch to a well-known London restaurant. In an +interval of the conversation one of the Americans turned to Page. + +"Mr. Ambassador, there was just one thing wrong with that service." + +"What was that?" + +"We wanted to yell, and we couldn't." + +"Then why don't you yell now?" + +The boy jumped on a chair and began waving his napkin. "The Ambassador +says we may yell," he cried. "Let's yell!" + +"And so," said Page, telling the story, "they yelled for five minutes +and I yelled with them. We all felt better in consequence." + +This geniality, this disposition not to take life too solemnly, +sometimes lightened up the sombre atmosphere of the Foreign Office +itself. "Mr. Balfour went on a sort of mild rampage yesterday," Page +records. "The British and American navies had come to an arrangement +whereby the Brazilian ships that are coming over to help us fight +should join the American unit, not the British, as was at first +proposed. Washington telegraphed me that the British Minister at Rio was +blocking the game by standing out for the first British idea--that the +Brazilian ships should join the British. It turned out in the +conversation that the British Minister had not been informed of the +British-American naval arrangement. Mr. Balfour sent for Lord Hardinge. +He called in one of the private secretaries. Was such a thing ever heard +of? + +"Did you ever know,' said the indignant Mr. Balfour, turning to me, 'of +such a thing as a minister not even being informed of his Government's +decisions?' 'Yes,' I said, 'if I ransack my memory diligently, I think I +could find such cases.' The meeting went into laughter!" + +Evidently the troubles which Page was having with his own State +Department were not unfamiliar to British officialdom. + +Page's letters sufficiently reveal his fondness for Sir Edward Grey and +the splendid relations that existed between them. The sympathetic chords +which the two men struck upon their first meeting only grew stronger +with time. A single episode brings out the bonds that drew them +together. It took place at a time when the tension over the blockade was +especially threatening. One afternoon Page asked for a formal interview; +he had received another exceedingly disagreeable protest from +Washington, with instructions to push the matter to a decision; the +Ambassador left his Embassy with a grave expression upon his face; his +associates were especially worried over the outcome. So critical did the +situation seem that the most important secretaries gathered in the +Ambassador's room, awaiting his return, their nerves strung almost to +the breaking point. An hour went by and nothing was heard from Page; +another hour slowly passed and still the Ambassador did not return. The +faces of the assembled staff lengthened as the minutes went by; what was +the Ambassador doing at the Foreign Office? So protracted an interview +could portend only evil; already, in the minds of these nervous young +men, ultimatums were flying between the United States and Great Britain, +and even war might be hanging in the balance. Another hour drew out its +weary length; the room became dark, dinner time was approaching, and +still Page failed to make his appearance. At last, when his distracted +subordinates were almost prepared to go in search of their chief, the +Ambassador walked jauntily in, smiling and apparently carefree. What had +happened? What was to be done about the detained ships? + +"What ships?" asked Page, and then suddenly he remembered. "Oh, +yes--those." That was all right; Sir Edward had at once promised to +release them; it had all been settled in a few minutes. + +"Then why were you so long?" + +The truth came out: Sir Edward and Page had quickly turned from +intercepted cargoes to the more congenial subject of Wordsworth, +Tennyson, and other favourite poets, and the rest of the afternoon had +been consumed in discussing this really important business. + +Perhaps Page was not so great a story-teller as many Americans, but he +excelled in a type of yarn that especially delights Englishmen, for it +is the kind that is native to the American soil. He possessed an +inexhaustible stock of Negro anecdotes, and he had the gift of bringing +them out at precisely the right point. There was one which the +Archbishop of York never tired of repeating. Soon after America entered +the war, the Archbishop asked Page how long his country was "in for." +"I can best answer that by telling you a story," said Page. "There were +two Negroes who had just been sentenced to prison terms. As they were +being taken away in the carriage placed at their disposal by the United +States Government, one said to the other, 'Sam, how long is you in fo'?' +'I guess dat it's a yeah or two yeahs,' said Sam. 'How long is you in +fo'?' 'I guess it's from now on,' said the other darky." "From now on," +remarked the Archbishop, telling this story. "What could more eloquently +have described America's attitude toward the war?" + +The mention of the Archbishop suggests another of Page's talents--the +aptness of his letters of introduction. In the spring of 1918 the +Archbishop, at the earnest recommendation of Page and Mr. Balfour, came +to the United States. Page prepared the way by letters to several +distinguished Americans, of which this one, to Theodore Roosevelt, is a +fair sample: + + _To Theodore Roosevelt_ + + London, January 16, 1918. + + DEAR MR. ROOSEVELT: + + The Archbishop of York goes to the United States to make some + observations of us and of our ways and to deliver addresses--on the + invitation of some one of our church organizations; a fortunate + event for us and, I have ventured to tell him, for him also. + + During his brief stay in our country, I wish him to make your + acquaintance, and I have given him a card of introduction to you, + and thus I humbly serve you both. + + The Archbishop is a man and a brother, a humble, learned, earnest, + companionable fellow, with most charming manners and an attractive + personality, a good friend of mine, which argues much for him and + (I think) implies also something in my behalf. You will enjoy him. + + I am, dear Mr. Roosevelt, + + Sincerely yours, + + WALTER H. PAGE. + +Greatly as Page loved England he never ceased to preach his Americanism. +That he preferred his own country to any other and that he believed that +it was its greatest destiny to teach its institutions to the rest of the +world, Page's letters show; yet this was with him no cheap +spread-eagleism; it was a definite philosophy which the Ambassador had +completely thought out. He never hesitated to express his democratic +opinions in any company, and only once or twice were there any signs +that these ideas jarred a little in certain strongholds of conservatism. +Even in the darkest period of American neutrality Page's faith in the +American people remained complete. After this country had entered the +war and the apparent slowness of the Washington Administration had +raised certain questionings, Page never doubted that the people +themselves, however irresolute and lukewarm their representatives might +be, would force the issue to its only logical end. Even so friendly a +man as Mr. Balfour once voiced a popular apprehension that the United +States might not get into the war with all its strength or might +withdraw prematurely. This was in the early period of our participation. +"Who is going to stop the American people and how?" Page quickly +replied. "I think that was a good answer," he said, as he looked back at +the episode in the summer of 1918, when hundreds of thousands of +Americans were landing in France every month. A scrap of his writing +records a discussion at a dinner party on this question: "If you could +have a month in any time and any country, what time and what country +would you choose?" The majority voted for England in the time of +Elizabeth, but Page's preference was for Athens in the days of Pericles. +Then came a far more interesting debate: "If you could spend a second +lifetime when and where would you choose to spend it?" On this Page had +not a moment's hesitation: "In the future and in the U.S.A.!" and he +upheld his point with such persuasiveness that he carried the whole +gathering with him. His love of anything suggesting America came out on +all occasions. One of his English hostesses once captivated him by +serving corn bread at a luncheon. "The American Ambassador and corn +bread!" he exclaimed with all the delight of a schoolboy. Again he was +invited, with another distinguished American, to serve as godfather at +the christening of the daughter of an American woman who had married an +Englishman. When the ceremony was finished he leaned over the font +toward his fellow godfather. "Born on July 4th," he exclaimed, "of an +American mother! And we two Yankee godfathers! We'll see that this child +is taught the Constitution of the United States!" + +One day an American duchess came into Page's office. + +"I am going home for a little visit and I want a passport," she said. + +"But you don't get a passport here," Page replied. "You must go to the +Foreign Office." + +His visitor was indignant. + +"Not at all," she answered. "I am an American: you know that I am; you +knew my father. I want an American passport." + +Page patiently explained the citizenship and naturalization laws and +finally convinced his caller that she was now a British subject and must +have a British passport. As this American duchess left the room he +shook at her a menacing forefinger. + +"Don't tell me," was the Ambassador's parting shot, "that you thought +that you could have your Duke and Uncle Sam, too!" + +The judgments which Page passed on men and things were quick and they +were not infrequently wise. One of these judgments had historic +consequences the end of which cannot even yet be foreseen. On the +outbreak of hostilities, as already related, an American Relief +Committee was organized in London to look out for the interests of +stranded Americans. Page kept a close eye on its operations, and soon +his attention was attracted by the noiseless efficiency of an American +engineer of whom he had already caught a few fleeting glimpses in the +period of peace. After he had finished his work with the American +Committee, Mr. Herbert C. Hoover began to make his arrangements to leave +for the United States. His private affairs had been disorganized; he had +already sent his family home, and his one ambition was to get on the +first ship sailing for the United States. The idea of Belgian relief, or +of feeding starving people anywhere, had never occurred to him. At this +moment an American, Mr. Millard K. Shaler, came from Brussels and gave +the most harrowing account of conditions in Belgium. Mr. Hoover took Mr. +Shaler to Page, who immediately became sympathetic. The Ambassador +arranged an interview between Mr. Hoover and Sir Edward Grey, who +likewise showed great interest and promised government support. Soon +afterward three Belgians arrived and described the situation as +immediately alarming: Brussels had only food enough to feed the people +for thirty-six hours; after that, unless help were forthcoming, the +greatest distress would set in. Five men--Page, the three Belgians, and +Mr. Hoover--at once got together at the American Embassy. Upon the +result of that meeting hung the fate of millions of people. Who before +had ever undertaken a scheme for feeding an entire nation for an +indefinite period? That there were great obstacles in the way all five +men knew; the British Admiralty in particular were strongly opposed; +there was a fear that the food, if it could be acquired and sent to +Belgium, would find its way to the German Army. Unless the British +Government could be persuaded that this could be prevented, the +enterprise would fail at the start. How could it be done? + +"There is only one way," said Page. "Some government must give its +guarantee that this food will get to the Belgian people." "And, of +course," he added, "there is only one government that can do that. It +must be the American Government." + +Mr. Hoover pointed out that any such guarantee involved the management +of transportation; only by controlling the railroads could the American +Government make sure that this food would reach its destination. + +And that, added Page, involved a director--some one man who could take +charge of the whole enterprise. Who should it be? + +Then Page turned quickly to the young American. + +"Hoover, you're It!" + +Mr. Hoover made no reply; he neither accepted nor rejected the proposal. +He merely glanced at the clock, then got up and silently left the room. +In a few minutes he returned and entered again into the discussion. + +"Hoover, why did you get up and leave us so abruptly?" asked Page, a +little puzzled over this behaviour. + +"I saw by the clock," came the answer--and it was a story that Page was +fond of telling, as illustrating the rapidity with which Mr. Hoover +worked--"that there was an hour left before the Exchange closed in New +York. So I went out and cabled, buying several millions of bushels of +wheat--for the Belgians, of course." + + * * * * * + +For what is usually known as "society" Page had little inclination. Yet +for social intercourse on a more genuine plane he had real gifts. Had he +enjoyed better health, week ends in the country would have afforded him +welcome entertainment. He also liked dinner parties but indulged in them +very moderately. He was a member of many London clubs but he seldom +visited any of them. There were a number of organizations, however, +which he regularly attended. The Society of Dilettanti, a company of +distinguished men interested in promoting the arts and improving the +public taste, which has been continuously in existence since 1736, +enrolling in each generation the greatest painters and writers of the +time, elected Page to membership. He greatly enjoyed its dinners in the +Banquet Hall of the Grafton Gallery. "Last night," he writes, describing +his initial appearance, "I attended my first Dilettanti dinner and was +inducted, much as a new Peer is inducted into the House of Lords. Lord +Mersey in the chair--in a red robe. These gay old dogs have had a fine +time of it for nearly 200 years--good wine, high food, fine +satisfaction. The oldest dining society in the Kingdom. The blue blood +old Briton has the art of enjoying himself reduced to a very fine point +indeed." Another gathering whose meetings he seldom missed was that of +the Kinsmen, an informal club of literary men who met occasionally for +food and converse in the Trocadero Restaurant. Here Page would meet such +congenial souls as Sir James Barrie and Sir Arthur Pinero, all of whom +retain lively memories of Page at these gatherings. "He was one of the +most lovable characters I have ever had the good fortune to encounter," +says Sir Arthur Pinero, recalling these occasions. "In what special +quality or qualities lay the secret of his charm and influence? Surely +in his simplicity and transparent honesty, and in the possession of a +disposition which, without the smallest loss of dignity, was responsive +and affectionate. Distinguished American Ambassadors will come and go, +and will in their turn win esteem and admiration. But none, I venture to +say, will efface the recollection of Walter Page from the minds of those +who were privileged to gain his friendship." + +One aspect of Page that remains fixed in the memory of his associates is +his unwearied industry with the pen. His official communications and his +ordinary correspondence Page dictated; but his personal letters he wrote +with his own hand. He himself deplored the stenographer as a deterrent +to good writing; the habit of dictating, he argued, led to wordiness and +general looseness of thought. Practically all the letters published in +these volumes were therefore the painstaking work of Page's own pen. His +handwriting was so beautiful and clear that, in his editorial days, the +printers much preferred it as "copy" to typewritten matter. This habit +is especially surprising in view of the Ambassador's enormous epistolary +output. It must be remembered that the letters included in the present +book are only a selection from the vast number that he wrote during his +five years in England; many of these letters fill twenty and thirty +pages of script; the labour involved in turning them out; day after day, +seems fairly astounding. Yet with Page this was a labour of love. All +through his Ambassadorship he seemed hardly contented unless he had a +pen in his hand. As his secretaries would glance into his room, there +they would see the Ambassador bending over his desk-writing, writing, +eternally writing; sometimes he would call them in, and read what he had +written, never hesitating to tear up the paper if their unfavourable +criticisms seemed to him well taken. The Ambassador kept a desk also in +his bedroom, and here his most important correspondence was attended to. +Page's all-night self-communings before his wood fire have already been +described, and he had another nocturnal occupation that was similarly +absorbing. Many a night, after returning late from his office or from +dinner, he would put on his dressing gown, sit at his bedroom desk, and +start pouring forth his inmost thoughts in letters to the President, +Colonel House, or some other correspondent. His pen flew over the paper +with the utmost rapidity and the Ambassador would sometimes keep at his +writing until two or three o'clock in the morning. There is a frequently +expressed fear that letter writing is an art of the past; that the +intervention of the stenographer has destroyed its spontaneity; yet it +is evident that in Page the present generation has a letter writer of +the old-fashioned kind, for he did all his writing with his own hand and +under circumstances that would assure the utmost freshness and vividness +to the result. + +An occasional game of golf, which he played badly, a trip now and then +to rural England--these were Page's only relaxations from his duties. +Though he was not especially fond of leaving his own house, he was +always delighted when visitors came to him. And the American Embassy, +during the five years from 1913 to 1918, extended a hospitality which +was fittingly democratic in its quality but which gradually drew within +its doors all that was finest in the intellect and character of +England. Page himself attributed the popularity of his house to his +wife. Mrs. Page certainly embodied the traits most desirable in the +Ambassadress of a great Republic. A woman of cultivation, a tireless +reader, a close observer of people and events and a shrewd commentator +upon them, she also had an unobtrusive dignity, a penetrating sympathy, +and a capacity for human association, which, while more restrained and +more placid than that of her husband, made her a helpful companion for a +sorely burdened man. The American Embassy under Mr. and Mrs. Page was +not one of London's smart houses as that word is commonly understood in +this great capital. But No. 6 Grosvenor Square, in the spaciousness of +its rooms, the simple beauty of its furnishings, and especially in its +complete absence of ostentation, made it the worthy abiding place of an +American Ambassador. And the people who congregated there were precisely +the kind that appeal to the educated American. "I didn't know I was +getting into an assembly of immortals," exclaimed Mr. Hugh Wallace, when +he dropped in one Thursday afternoon for tea, and found himself +foregathered with Sir Edward Grey, Henry James, John Sargent, and other +men of the same type. It was this kind of person who most naturally +gravitated to the Page establishment, not the ultra-fashionable, the +merely rich, or the many titled. The formal functions which the position +demanded the Pages scrupulously gave; but the affairs which Page most +enjoyed and which have left the most lasting remembrances upon his +guests were the informal meetings with his chosen favourites, for the +most part literary men. Here Page's sheer brilliancy of conversation +showed at its best. Lord Bryce, Sir John Simon, John Morley, the +inevitable companions, Henry James and John Sargent--"What things have +I seen done at the Mermaid"; and certainly these gatherings of wits and +savants furnished as near an approach to its Elizabethan prototype as +London could then present. + +Besides his official activities Page performed great services to the two +countries by his speeches. The demands of this kind on an American +Ambassador are always numerous, but Page's position was an exceptional +one; it was his fortune to represent America at a time when his own +country and Great Britain were allies in a great war. He could therefore +have spent practically all his time in speaking had he been so disposed. +Of the hundreds of invitations received he was able to accept only a +few, but most of these occasions became memorable ones. In any +spectacular sense Page was not an orator; he rather despised the grand +manner, with its flourishes and its tricks; the name of public speaker +probably best describes his talents on the platform. Here his style was +earnest and conversational: his speech flowed with the utmost readiness; +it was invariably quiet and restrained; he was never aiming at big +effects, but his words always went home. Of the series of speeches that +stand to his credit in England probably the one that will be longest +remembered is that delivered at Plymouth on August 4, 1917, the third +anniversary of the war. This not only reviewed the common history of the +two nations for three hundred years, and suggested a programme for +making the bonds tighter yet, but it brought the British public +practical assurances as to America's intentions in the conflict. Up to +that time there had been much vagueness and doubt; no official voice had +spoken the clear word for the United States; the British public did not +know what to expect from their kinsmen overseas. But after Page's +Plymouth speech the people of Great Britain looked forward with +complete confidence to the coöperation of the two countries and to the +inevitable triumph of this coöperation. + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + Knebworth House, Knebworth, + August 11, 1917. + + Dear Arthur: + + First of all, these three years have made me tired. I suppose + there's no doubt about that, if there were any scientific way of + measuring it. While of course the strain now is nothing like what + it was during the days of neutrality, there's yet some strain. + + I went down to Plymouth to make a speech on the anniversary of the + beginning of the war--went to tell them in the west of England + something about relations with the United States and something + about what the United States is doing in the war. It turned out to + be a great success. The Mayor met me at the train; there was a + military company, the Star Spangled Banner and real American + applause. All the way through the town the streets were lined with + all the inhabitants and more--apparently millions of 'em. They made + the most of it for five solid days. + + On the morning of August 4th the Mayor gave me an official + luncheon. Thence we went to the esplanade facing the sea, where + soldiers and sailors were lined up for half a mile. The American + Flag was flung loose, the Star Spangled Banner broke forth from the + band, and all the people in that part of the world were there + gathered to see the show. After all this salute the Mayor took me + to the stand and he and I made speeches, and the background was a + group of dozens of admirals and generals and many smaller fry. Then + I reviewed the troops; then they marched by me and in an hour or + two the show was over. + + Then the bowling club--the same club and the same green as when + Drake left the game to sail out to meet the Armada. + + Then a solemn service in the big church, where the prayers were + written and the hymns selected with reference to our part in the + war. + + Then, of course, a dinner party. At eight o'clock at night, the + Guildhall, an enormous town hall, was packed with people and I made + my speech at 'em. A copy (somewhat less good than the version I + gave them) goes to you, along with a leader from the _Times_. They + were vociferously grateful for any assuring word about the United + States. It's strange how very little the provincial Englander knows + about what we have done and mean to do. They took the speech + finely, and I have had good letters about it from all sorts of + people in every part of the Kingdom. + + Then followed five days of luncheons and dinners and garden + parties--and (what I set out to say) I got back to London last + night dead tired. To-day your mother and I came here--about + twenty-five miles from London--for a fortnight. + + This is Bulwer-Lytton's house--a fine old English place hired this + year by Lady Strafford, whom your mother is visiting for a + fortnight or more, and they let me come along, too. They have given + me the big library, as good a room as I want--with as bad pens as + they can find in the Kingdom. + + Your mother is tired, too. Since the American Red Cross was + organized here, she has added to her committee and hospitals. But + she keeps well and very vigorous. A fortnight here will set her up. + She enjoyed Plymouth very much in spite of the continual rush, and + it was a rush. + + What the United States is doing looks good and large at this + distance. The gratitude here is unbounded; but I detect a feeling + here and there of wonder whether we are going to keep up this + activity to the end. + + I sometimes feel that the German collapse _may_ come next winter. + Their internal troubles and the lack of sufficient food and raw + materials do increase. The breaking point may be reached before + another summer. I wish I could prove it or even certainly predict + it. But it is at least conceivable. Alas, no one can _prove_ + anything about the war. The conditions have no precedents. The sum + of human misery and suffering is simply incalculable, as is the + loss of life; and the gradual and general brutalization goes on and + on and on far past any preceding horrors. + + With all my love to you and Mollie and the trio, + + W.H.P. + +And so for five busy and devastating years Page did his work. The +stupidities of Washington might drive him to desperation, ill-health +might increase his periods of despondency, the misunderstandings that he +occasionally had with the British Government might add to his +discouragements, but a naturally optimistic and humorous temperament +overcame all obstacles, and did its part in bringing about that united +effort which ended in victory. And that it was a great part, the story +of his Ambassadorship abundantly proves. Page was not the soldier +working in the blood and slime of Flanders, nor the sea fighter spending +day and night around the foggy coast of Ireland, nor the statesman +bending parliaments to his will and manipulating nations and peoples in +the mighty game whose stake was civilization itself. But history will +indeed be ungrateful if it ever forget the gaunt and pensive figure, +clad in a dressing gown, sitting long into the morning before the +smouldering fire at 6 Grosvenor Square, seeking to find some way to +persuade a reluctant and hesitating President to lead his country in the +defense of liberty and determined that, so far as he could accomplish +it, the nation should play a part in the great assize that was in +keeping with its traditions and its instincts. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A RESPITE AT ST. IVES + + + _To Edward M. House_ + + Knebworth House + Sunday, September,[sic] 1917. + + Dear House: + + ... By far the most important peace plan or utterance is the + President's extraordinary answer to the Pope[64]. His flat and + convincing refusal to take the word of the present rulers of + Germany as of any value has had more effect here than any other + utterance and it is, so far, the best contribution we have made to + the war. The best evidence that I can get shows also that it has + had more effect in Germany than anything else that has been said by + anybody. That hit the bull's-eye with perfect accuracy; and it has + been accepted here as _the_ war aim and _the_ war condition. So far + as I can make out it is working in Germany toward peace with more + effect than any other deliverance made by anybody. And it steadied + the already unshakable resolution here amazingly. + + I can get any information here of course without danger of the + slightest publicity--an important point, because even the mention + of peace now is dangerous. All the world, under this long strain, + is more or less off the normal, and all my work--even routine + work--is done with the profoundest secrecy: it has to be. + + Our energetic war preparations call forth universal admiration and + gratitude here on all sides and nerve up the British and hearten + them more than I know how to explain. There is an eager and even + pathetic curiosity to hear all the details, to hear, in fact, + anything about the United States; and what the British do not know + about the United States would fill the British Museum. They do + know, however, that they would soon have been obliged to make an + unsatisfactory peace if we hadn't come in when we did and they + freely say so. The little feeling of jealousy that we should come + in and win the war at the end has, I think, been forgotten, + swallowed up in their genuine gratitude. + + Sincerely yours, + + WALTER H. PAGE. + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + American Embassy, + London, Sept. 3, 1917. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + ... The President has sent Admiral Mayo over to study the naval + situation. So far as I can learn the feeling at Washington is that + the British Navy has done nothing. Why, it hasn't attacked the + German naval bases and destroyed the German navy and ended the war! + Why not? I have a feeling that Mayo will supplement and support + Sims in his report. Then gradually the naval men at Washington may + begin to understand and they may get the important facts into the + President's head. Meantime the submarine work of the Germans + continues to win the war, although the government and the people + here and in the United States appear not to believe it. They are + still destroying seventy-five British ships a month besides an + additional (smaller) number of allied and neutral ships. And all + the world together is not turning out seventy-five ships a month; + nor are we all destroying submarines as fast as the Germans are + turning _them_ out. Yet all the politicians are putting on a + cheerful countenance about it because the Germans are not starving + England out and are not just now sinking passenger ships. They may + begin this again at any time. They have come within a few feet of + torpedoing two of our American liners. The submarine _is_ the war + yet, but nobody seems disposed to believe it. They'll probably wake + up with a great shock some day--or the war may possibly end before + the destruction of ships becomes positively fatal. + + The President's letter to the Pope gives him the moral and actual + leadership now. The Hohenzollerns must go. Somehow the subjects and + governments of these Old World kingdoms have not hitherto laid + emphasis on this. There's still a divinity that doth hedge a king + in most European minds. To me this is the very queerest thing in + the whole world. What again if Germany, Austria, Spain should + follow Russia? Whether they do or not crowns will not henceforth be + so popular. There is an unbounded enthusiasm here for the + President's letter and for the President in general. + + In spite of certain details which it seems impossible to make + understood on the Potomac, the whole American preparation and + enthusiasm seem from this distance to be very fine. The _people_ + seem in earnest. When I read about tax bills, about the food + regulation and a thousand other such things, I am greatly + gratified. And it proves that we were right when we said that + during the days of neutrality the people were held back. It all + looks exceedingly good from this distance, and it makes me + homesick. + + _To Frank N. Doubleday_ + + American Embassy. + + [Undated, but written about October I, 1917] + + DEAR EFFENDI: + + ... The enormous war work and war help that everybody seems to be + doing in the United States is heartily appreciated here--most + heartily. The English eat out of our hands. You can see American + uniforms every day in London. Every ship brings them. Everybody's + thrilled to see them. The Americans here have great houses opened + as officers' clubs, and scrumptious huts for men where countesses + and other high ladies hand out sandwiches and serve ice cream and + ginger beer. Our two admirals are most popular with all classes, + from royalty down. English soldiers salute our officers in the + street and old gentlemen take off their hats when they meet nurses + with the American Red Cross uniform. My Embassy now occupies four + buildings for offices, more than half of them military and naval. + And my own staff, proper, is the biggest in the world and keeps + growing. When I go, in a little while, to receive the Freedom of + the City of Edinburgh, I shall carry an Admiral or a General as my + aide! + + That's the way we keep a stiff upper lip. + + And Good Lord! it's tiresome. Peace? We'd all give our lives for + the right sort of peace, and never move an eyelid. But only the + wrong sort has yet come within reach. The other sort is coming, + however; for these present German contortions are the beginning of + the end. But the weariness of it, and the tragedy and the cost. No + human creature was ever as tired as I am. Yet I keep well and keep + going and keep working all my waking hours. When it ends, I shall + collapse and go home and have to rest a while. So at least I feel + now. And, if I outlive the work and the danger and the weariness, + I'll praise God for that. And it doesn't let up a single day. And + I'm no worse off than everybody else. + + So this over-weary world goes, dear Effendi; but the longest day + shades at last down to twilight and rest; and so this will be. And + poor old Europe will then not be worth while for the rest of our + lives--a vast grave and ruin where unmated women will mourn and + starvation will remain for years to come. + + God bless us. + + Sincerely yours, with my love to all the boys, + W.H.P. + + _To Frank N. Doubleday_ + + London, November 9, 1917. + + DEAR EFFENDI: + + ... This infernal thing drags its slow length along so that we + cannot see even a day ahead, not to say a week, or a year. If any + man here allowed the horrors of it to dwell on his mind he would go + mad, so we have to skip over these things somewhat lightly and try + to keep the long, definite aim in our thoughts and to work away + distracted as little as possible by the butchery and by the + starvation that is making this side of the world a shambles and a + wilderness. There is hardly a country on the Continent where people + are not literally starving to death, and in many of them by + hundreds of thousands; and this state of things is going to + continue for a good many years after the war. God knows we (I mean + the American people) are doing everything we can to alleviate it + but there is so much more to be done than any group of forces can + possibly do, that I have a feeling that we have hardly touched the + borders of the great problem itself. Of course here in London we + are away from all that. In spite of the rations we get quite enough + to eat and it's as good as it is usually in England, but we have no + right to complain. Of course we are subject to air raids, and the + wise air people here think that early next spring we are going to + be bombarded with thousands of aeroplanes, and with new kinds of + bombs and gases in a well-organized effort to try actually to + destroy London. Possibly that will come; we must simply take our + chance, every man sticking to his job. Already the slate shingles + on my roof have been broken, and bricks have been knocked down my + chimney; the sky-light was hit and glass fell down all through the + halls, and the nose of a shrapnel shell, weighing eight pounds, + fell just in front of my doorway and rolled in my area. This is the + sort of thing we incidentally get, not of course from the enemy + directly, but from the British guns in London which shoot these + things at German aeroplanes. What goes up must come down. Between + our own defences and the enemy, God knows which will kill us first! + + In spite of all this I put my innocent head on my pillow every + night and get a good night's sleep after the bombing is done, and I + thank Heaven that nothing interrupts my sleep. This, and a little + walking, which is all I get time to do in these foggy days, + constitute my life outdoors and precious little of it is outdoors. + + Then on every block that I know of in London there is a hospital or + supply place and the ambulances are bringing the poor fellows in + all the time. We don't get any gasolene to ride so we have to walk. + We don't get any white bread so we have to eat stuff made of flour + and corn meal ground so fine that it isn't good. While everybody + gets a little thinner, the universal opinion is that they also get + a little better, and nobody is going to die here of hunger. We + feel a little more cheerful about the submarines than we did some + time ago. For some reason they are not getting so many ships. One + reason, I am glad to believe, is that they are getting caught + themselves. If I could remember all the stories that I hear of good + fighting with the submarines I could keep you up two nights when I + get home, but in these days one big thing after another crowds so + in men's minds that the Lord knows if, when I get home, I shall + remember anything. + + Always heartily yours, + + W.H.P. + + _To the President_ + + London, December 3, 1917. + + DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: + + ... Some of the British military men in London are not hopeful of + an early end of the war nor even cheerful about the result. They + are afraid of the war-weariness that overcame Russia and gave Italy + a setback. They say the military task, though long and slow and + hard, can be done if everybody will pull together and keep at the + job without weariness--_be done by our help_. But they have fits of + fear of France. They are discouraged by the greater part of Lord + Lansdowne's letter[65]. I myself do not set great value on this + military feeling in London, for the British generals in France do + not share it. Lord French once said to me and General Robertson, + too, that when they feel despondent in London, they go to the front + and get cheered up. But it does seem to be a long job. Evidently + the Germans mean to fight to the last man unless they can succeed + in inducing the Allies to meet them to talk it over without naming + their terms in advance. That is what Lord Lansdowne favours, and no + public outgiving by any prominent man in England has called forth + such a storm of protest since the war began. I think I see the + genesis of his thought, and it is this: there is nothing in his + letter and there was nothing in the half dozen or more rather long + conversations that I have had with him on other subjects to show + that he has the slightest conception of democracy as a social creed + or as a political system. He is, I think, the most complete + aristocrat that I have ever met. He doesn't see the war at all as a + struggle between democracy and its opposite. He sees it merely as a + struggle between Germany and the Allies; and inferentially he is + perfectly willing the Kaiser should remain in power. He is of + course a patriotic man and a man of great cultivation. But he + doesn't see the deeper meaning of the conflict. Add to this defect + of understanding, a long period of bad health and a lasting + depression because of the loss of his son, and his call to the + war-weary ceases to be a surprise. + + I am, dear Mr. President, + Sincerely yours, + WALTER H. PAGE. + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + American Embassy, + London, December 23, 1917. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + I sent you a Christmas cable yesterday for everybody. That's about + all I can send in these days of slow mail and restricted shipping + and enormously high prices; and you gave all the girls each $100 + for me, for the babies and themselves? That'll show 'em that at + least we haven't forgotten them. Forgotten? Your mother and I are + always talking of the glad day when we can go home and live among + them. We get as homesick as small boys their first month at a + boarding school. Do you remember the day I left you at + Lawrenceville, a forlorn and lonely kid?--It's like that. + + A wave of depression hangs over the land like a London fog. And + everybody on this tired-out side of the world shows a disposition + to lean too heavily on us--to depend on us so completely that the + fear arises that they may unconsciously relax their own utmost + efforts when we begin to fight. Yet they can't in the least afford + to relax, and, when the time comes, I dare say they will not. Yet + the plain truth is, the French may give out next year for lack of + men. I do not mean that they will quit, but that their fighting + strength will have passed its maximum and that they will be able to + play only a sort of second part. Except the British and the French, + there's no nation in Europe worth a tinker's damn when you come to + the real scratch. The whole continent is rotten or tyrannical or + yellow-dog. I wouldn't give Long Island or Moore County for the + whole of continental Europe, with its kings and itching palms. + + ... Waves of depression and of hope--if not of elation--come and + go. I am told, and I think truly, that waves of weariness come in + London far oftener and more depressingly than anywhere else in the + Kingdom. There is no sign nor fear that the British will give up; + they'll hold on till the end. Winston Churchill said to me last + night: "We can hold on till next year. But after 1918, it'll be + your fight. We'll have to depend on you." I told him that such a + remark might well be accepted in some quarters as a British + surrender. Then he came up to the scratch: "Surrender? Never." But + I fear we need--in some practical and non-ostentatious way--now + and then to remind all these European folk that we get no + particular encouragement by being unduly leaned on. + + It is, however, the weariest Christmas in all British annals, + certainly since the Napoleonic wars. The untoward event after the + British advance toward Cambrai caused the retirement of six British + generals and deepened the depression here. Still I can see it now + passing. Even a little victory will bring back a wave of + cheerfulness. + + Depression or elation show equally the undue strain that British + nerves are under. I dare say nobody is entirely normal. News of + many sorts can now be circulated only by word of mouth. The + queerest stories are whispered about and find at least temporary + credence. For instance: The report has been going around that the + revolution that took place in Portugal the other day was caused by + the Germans (likely enough); that it was a monarchical movement and + that the Germans were going to put the King back on the throne as + soon as the war ended. Sensation-mongers appear at every + old-woman's knitting circle. And all this has an effect on conduct. + Two young wives of noble officers now in France have just run away + with two other young noblemen--to the scandal of a large part of + good society in London. It is universally said that the morals of + more hitherto good people are wrecked by the strain put upon women + by the absence of their husbands than was ever before heard of. + Everybody is overworked. Fewer people are literally truthful than + ever before. Men and women break down and fall out of working ranks + continuously. The number of men in the government who have + disappeared from public view is amazing, the number that would like + to disappear is still greater--from sheer overstrain. The Prime + Minister is tired. Bonar Law in a long conference that Crosby and + I had with him yesterday wearily ran all round a circle rather than + hit a plain proposition with a clear decision. Mr. Balfour has kept + his house from overwork a few days every recent week. I lunched + with Mr. Asquith yesterday; even he seemed jaded; and Mrs. Asquith + assured me that "everything is going to the devil damned fast." + Some conspicuous men who have always been sober have taken to + drink. The very few public dinners that are held are served with + ostentatious meagreness to escape criticism. I attended one last + week at which there was no bread, no butter, no sugar served. All + of which doesn't mean that the world here is going to the bad--only + that it moves backward and forward by emotions; and this is + normally a most unemotional race. Overwork and the loss of Sons and + friends--the list of the lost grows--always make an abnormal + strain. The churches are fuller than ever before. So, too, are the + "parlours" of the fortune-tellers. So also the theatres--in the + effort to forget one's self. There are afternoon dances for young + officers at home on leave: the curtains are drawn and the music is + muffled. More marriages take place--blind and maimed, as well as + the young fellows just going to France--than were ever celebrated + in any year within men's memory. Verse-writing is rampant. I have + received enough odes and sonnets celebrating the Great Republic and + the Great President to fill a folio volume. Several American + Y.M.C.A. workers lately turned rampant Pacifists and had to be sent + home. Colonial soldiers and now and then an American sailor turn up + at our Y.M.C.A. huts as full as a goat and swear after the event + that they never did such a thing before. Emotions and strain + everywhere! + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + +In March Page, a very weary man--as these letters indicate--took a brief +holiday at St. Ives, on the coast of Cornwall. As he gazed out on the +Atlantic, the yearning for home, for the sandhills and the pine trees of +North Carolina, again took possession of his soul. Yet it is evident, +from a miscellaneous group of letters written at this time, that his +mind revelled in a variety of subjects, ranging all the way from British +food and vegetables to the settlement of the war and from secret +diplomacy to literary style. + + _To Mrs. Charles G. Loring_ + St. Ives, Cornwall, March 3, 1918. + + DEAR KITTY: + + Your mother of course needed a rest away from London after the + influenza got done with her; and I discovered that I had gone + stale. So she and I and the golf clubs came here yesterday--as near + to the sunlit land of Uncle Sam as you can well get on this island. + We look across the ocean--at least out into it--in your direction, + but I must confess that Labrador is not in sight. The place is all + right, the hotel uncommonly good, but it's Greenlandish in its + temperature--a very cold wind blowing. The golf clubs lean up + against the wall and curse the weather. But we are away from the + hordes of people and will have a little quiet here. It's as quiet + as any far-off place by the sea, and it's clean. London is the + dirtiest town in the world. + + By the way that picture of Chud came (by Col. Honey) along with + Alice Page's adorable little photograph. As for the wee chick, I + see how you are already beginning to get a lot of fun with her. And + you'll have more and more as she gets bigger. Give her my love and + see what she'll say. You won't get so lonesome, dear Kitty, with + little Alice; and I can't keep from thinking as well as hoping + that the war will not go on as long as it sometimes seems that it + must. The utter collapse of Russia has given Germany a vast victory + on that side and it may turn out that this will make an earlier + peace possible than would otherwise have come. And the Germans may + be--in fact, _must_ be, very short of some of the essentials of war + in their metals or in cotton. They are in a worse internal plight + than has been made known, I am sure. I can't keep from hoping that + peace may come this year. Of course, my guess may be wrong; but + everything I hear points in the direction of my timid prediction. + + Bless you and little Alice, + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + +Page's oldest son was building a house and laying out a garden at +Pinehurst, North Carolina, a fact which explains the horticultural and +gastronomical suggestions contained in the following letter: + + _To Ralph W. Page_ + + Tregenna Castle Hotel, + St. Ives, Cornwall, England, + March 4, 1918. + +DEAR RALPH: + + Asparagus + Celery + Tomatoes + Butter Beans + Peas + Sweet Corn + Sweet Potatoes + Squash--the sort you cook in the rind + Cantaloupe + Peanuts + Egg Plant + Figs + Peaches + Pecans + Scuppernongs + Peanut-bacon, in glass jars + Razor-back hams, divinely cured + Raspberries + Strawberries + etc. etc. etc. etc. + + You see, having starved here for five years, my mind, as soon as it + gets free, runs on these things and my mouth waters. All the + foregoing things that grow can be put up in pretty glass jars, too. + + Add cream, fresh butter, buttermilk, fresh eggs. Only one of all + the things on page one grows with any flavour here at + all--strawberries; and only one or two more grow at all. Darned if + I don't have to confront Cabbage every day. I haven't yet + surrendered, and I never shall unless the Germans get us. Cabbage + and Germans belong together: God made 'em both the same stinking + day. + + Now get a bang-up gardener no matter what he costs. Get him + started. Put it up to him to start toward the foregoing programme, + to be reached in (say) three years--two if possible. He must learn + to grow these things absolutely better than they are now grown + anywhere on earth. He must get the best seed. He must get muck out + of the swamp, manure from somewhere, etc. etc. He must have the + supreme flavour in each thing. Let him take room enough for + each--plenty of room. He doesn't want much room for any one thing, + but good spaces between. + + This will be the making of the world. Talk about fairs? If he fails + to get every prize he must pay a fine for every one that goes to + anybody else. + + How we'll live! I can live on these things and nothing else. But + (just to match this home outfit) I'll order tea from Japan, ripe + olives from California, grape fruit and oranges from Florida. Then + poor folks will hang around, hoping to be invited to dinner! + + Plant a few fig trees now; and pecans? Any good? + + The world is going to come pretty close to starvation not only + during the war but for five or perhaps ten years afterward. An acre + or two _done right_--divinely right--will save us. An acre or two + on my land in Moore County--no king can live half so well if the + ground be got ready this spring and such a start made as one + natural-born gardener can make. The old Russian I had in Garden + City was no slouch. Do you remember his little patch back of the + house? That far, far, far excelled anything in all Europe. And + you'll recall that we jarred 'em and had good things all winter. + + This St. Ives is the finest spot in England that I've ever seen. + To-day has been as good as any March day you ever had in North + Carolina--a fine air, clear sunshine, a beautiful sea--looking out + toward the United States; and this country grows--the best golf + links that I've ever seen in the world, and nothing else worth + speaking of but--tin. Tin mines are all about here. Tin and golf + are good crops in their way, but they don't feed the belly of man. + As matters stand the only people that have fit things to eat now in + all Europe are the American troops in France, and their food comes + out of tins chiefly. Ach! Heaven! In these islands man is + amphibious and carnivorous. It rains every day and meat, meat, + meat is the only human idea of food. God bless us, one acre of the + Sandhills is worth a vast estate of tin mines and golf links to + feed the innards of + + Yours affectionately, + + W.H.P. + + P.S. And cornfield peas, of just the right rankness, cooked with + just the right dryness. + + When I become a citizen of the Sandhills I propose to induce some + benevolent lover of good food to give substantial prizes to the + best grower of each of these things and to the best cook of each + and to the person who serves each of them most daintily. + + We can can and glass jar these things and let none be put on the + market without the approval of an expert employed by the community. + Then we can get a reputation for Sandhill Food and charge double + price. + + W.H.P. + + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + St. Ives, Cornwall, + + England, March 8, 1918. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + Your letter, written from the University Club, is just come. It + makes a very distinct impression on my mind which my own + conclusions and fears have long confirmed. Let me put it at its + worst and in very bald terms: The Great White Chief is at bottom + pacifist, has always been so and is so now. Of course I do not mean + a pacifist at any price, certainly not a cowardly pacifist. But + (looked at theoretically) war is, of course, an absurd way of + settling any quarrel, an irrational way. Men and nations are + wasteful, cruel, pigheaded fools to indulge in it. Quite true. But + war is also the only means of adding to a nation's territory the + territory of other nations which they do not wish to sell or to + give up--the robbers' only way to get more space or to get booty. + This last explains this war. Every Hohenzollern (except the present + Emperor's father, who reigned only a few months) since Frederick + the Great has added to Prussian and German area of rule. Every one, + therefore, as he comes to the throne, feels an obligation to make + his addition to the Empire. For this the wars of Prussia with + Austria, with Denmark, with France were brought on. They succeeded + and won the additions that old William I made to the Empire. Now + William II must make _his_ addition. He prepared for more than + forty years; the nation prepared before he came to the throne and + his whole reign has been given to making sure that he was ready. + It's a robber's raid. Of course, the German case has been put so as + to direct attention from this bald fact. + + Now the philosophical pacifists--I don't mean the cowardly, + yellow-dog ones--have never quite seen the war in this aspect. They + regard it as a dispute about something--about trade, about more + seaboard, about this or that, whereas it is only a robber's + adventure. They want other people's property. They want money, + treasure, land, indemnities, minerals, raw materials; and they set + out to take them. + + Now confusing this character of the war with some sort of rational + dispute about something, the pacifists try in every way to stop it, + so that the "issue" may be reasoned out, debated, discussed, + negotiated. Surely the President tried to reach peace--tried as + hard and as long as the people would allow him. The Germans argued + away time with him while they got their submarine fleet built. Then + they carried out the programme they had always had in mind and had + never thought of abandoning. Now they wish to gain more time, to + slacken the efforts of the Allies, if possible to separate them by + asking for "discussions"--peace by "negotiation." When you are + about to kill the robber, he cries out, "For God's sake, let's + discuss the question between us. We can come to terms."--Now here's + where the danger comes from the philosophical pacifist--from any + man who does not clearly understand the nature of the war and of + the enemy. To discuss the difference between us is so very + reasonable in sound--so very reasonable in fact if there were a + discussable difference. It is a programme that would always be in + order except with a burglar or a robber. + + The yet imperfect understanding of the war and of the nature of the + German in the United States, especially at Washington--more + especially in the White House--herein lies the danger. + + ... This little rest down here is a success. The weather is a + disappointment--windy and cold. But to be away from London and away + from folks--that's much. Shoecraft is very good[66]. He sends us + next to nothing. Almost all we've got is an invitation to lunch + with Their Majesties and they've been good enough to put that off. + It's a far-off country, very fine, I'm sure in summer, and with + most beautiful golf links. The hill is now so windy that no sane + man can play there. + + We're enjoying the mere quiet. And your mother is quite well again. + + Affectionately, + + W.H.P. + + To Mrs. Charles G. Loring + St. Ives, Cornwall, + March 10, 1918. + + DEAR KITTY: + + A week here. No news. Shoecraft says we've missed nothing in + London. What we came for we've got: your mother's quite well. She + climbs these high hills quite spryly. We've had a remarkable week + in this respect--we haven't carried on a conversation with any + human being but ourselves. I don't think any such thing has ever + happened before. I can stand a week, perhaps a fortnight of this + now. But I don't care for it for any long period. At the bottom of + this high and steep hill is the quaintest little town I ever saw. + There are some streets so narrow that when a donkey cart comes + along the urchins all have to run to the next corner or into doors. + There is no sidewalk, of course; and the donkey cart takes the + whole room between the houses. Artists take to the town, and they + have funny little studios down by the water front in tiny houses + built of stone in pieces big enough to construct a tidewater front. + Imagine stone walls made of stone, each weighing tons, built into + little houses about as big as your little back garden! There's one + fellow here (an artist) whom I used to know in New York, so small + has the world become! + + On another hill behind us is a triangular stone monument to John + Knill. He was once mayor of the town. When he died in 1782, he left + money to the town. If the town is to keep the money (as it has) the + Mayor must once in every five years form a procession and march up + to this monument. There ten girls, natives of the town, and two + widows must dance around the monument to the playing of a fiddle + and a drum, the girls dressed in white. This ceremony has gone on, + once in five years, all this time and the town has old Knill's + money! + + Your mother and I--though we are neither girls nor widows--danced + around it this morning, wondering what sort of curmudgeon old John + Knill was. + + Don't you see how easily we fall into an idle mood? Well, here's a + photograph of little Alice looking up at me from the table where I + write--a good, sweet face she has. + + And you'll never get another letter from me in a time and from a + place whereof there is so little to tell. + + Affectionately, dear Kitty, + + W.H.P. + + + To Ralph W. Page + Tregenna Castle Hotel, + St. Ives, Cornwall, + March 12, 1918. + + MY DEAR RALPH: + + Arthur has sent me Gardiner's 37-page sketch of American-British + Concords and Discords--a remarkable sketch; and he has reminded me + that your summer plan is to elaborate (into a popular style) your + sketch of the same subject. You and Gardiner went over the same + ground, each in a very good fashion. That's a fascinating task, and + it opens up a wholly new vista of our History and of Anglo-Saxon, + democratic history. Much lies ahead of that. And all this puts it + in my mind to write you a little discourse on _style_. Gardiner has + no style. He put his facts down much as he would have noted on a + blue print the facts about an engineering project that he sketched. + The style of your article, which has much to be said for it as a + magazine article, is not the best style for a book. + + Now, this whole question of style--well, it's the gist of good + writing. There's no really effective writing without it. Especially + is this true of historical writing. Look at X Y Z's writings. He + knows his American history and has written much on it. He's written + it as an Ohio blacksmith shoes a horse--not a touch of literary + value in it all; all dry as dust--as dry as old Bancroft. + + Style is good breeding--and art--in writing. It consists of the + arrangement of your matter, first; then, more, of the gait; the + manner and the manners of your expressing it. Work every group of + facts, naturally and logically grouped to begin with, into a + climax. Work every group up as a sculptor works out his idea or a + painter, each group complete in itself. Throw out any superfluous + facts or any merely minor facts that prevent the orderly working up + of the group--that prevent or mar the effect you wish to present. + + Then, when you've got a group thus presented, go over what you've + made of it, to make sure you've used your material and its + arrangement to the best effect, taking away merely extraneous or + superfluous or distracting facts, here and there adding concrete + illustrations--putting in a convincing detail here, and there a + touch of colour. + + Then go over it for your vocabulary. See that you use no word in a + different meaning than it was used 100 years ago and will be used + 100 years hence. You wish to use only the permanent words--words, + too, that will be understood to carry the same meaning to English + readers in every part of the world. Your vocabulary must be chosen + from the permanent, solid, stable parts of the language. + + Then see that no sentence contains a hint of obscurity. + + Then go over the words you use to see if they be the best. Don't + fall into merely current phrases. If you have a long word, see if a + native short one can be put in its place which will be more natural + and stronger. Avoid a Latin vocabulary and use a plain English + one--short words instead of long ones. + + Most of all, use _idioms_--English idioms of force. Say an + agreement was "come to." Don't say it was "consummated." For the + difference between idioms and a Latin style, compare Lincoln with + George Washington. One's always interesting and convincing. The + other is dull in spite of all his good sense. How most folk do + misuse and waste words! + + Freeman went too far in his use of one-syllable words. It became an + affectation. But he is the only man I can think of that ever did go + too far in that direction. X--would have written a great history if + he had had the natural use of idioms. As it is, he has good sense + and no style; and his book isn't half so interesting as it would + have been if he had some style--some proper value of short, + clear-cut words that mean only one thing and that leave no + vagueness. + + You'll get a good style if you practice it. It is in your blood and + temperament and way of saying things. But it's a high art and must + be laboriously cultivated. + + Yours affectionately, + + W.H.P. + +This glimpse of a changing and chastened England appears in a letter of +this period: + + * * * * * + +The disposition shown by an endless number of such incidents is +something more than a disposition of gratitude of a people helped when +they are hard pressed. All these things show the changed and changing +Englishman. It has already come to him that he may be weaker than he +had thought himself and that he may need friends more than he had once +imagined; and, if he must have helpers and friends, he'd rather have his +own kinsmen. He's a queer "cuss," this Englishman. But he isn't a liar +nor a coward nor any sort of "a yellow dog." He's true, and he never +runs--a possible hero any day, and, when heroic, modest and quiet and +graceful. The trouble with him has been that he got great world power +too easily. In the times when he exploited the world for his own +enrichment, there were no other successful exploiters. It became an easy +game to him. He organized sea traffic and sea power. Of course he became +rich--far, far richer than anybody else, and, therefore, content with +himself. He has, therefore, kept much of his mediæval impedimenta, his +dukes and marquesses and all that they imply--his outworn ceremonies and +his mediæval disregard of his social inferiors. Nothing is well done in +this Kingdom for the big public, but only for the classes. The railway +stations have no warm waiting rooms. The people pace the platform till +the train comes, and milord sits snugly wrapt up in his carriage till +his footman announces the approach of the train. And occasional +discontent is relieved by emigration to the Colonies. If any man becomes +weary of his restrictions he may go to Australia and become a gentleman. +The remarkable loyalty of the Colonies has in it something of a +servant's devotion to his old master. + +Now this trying time of war and the threat and danger of extinction are +bringing--have in fact already brought--the conviction that many changes +must come. The first sensible talk about popular education ever heard +here is just now beginning. Many a gentleman has made up his mind to try +to do with less than seventeen servants for the rest of his life since +he now _has_ to do with less. Privilege, on which so large a part of +life here rests, is already pretty well shot to pieces. A lot of old +baggage will never be recovered after this war: that's certain. During a +little after-dinner speech in a club not long ago I indulged in a +pleasantry about excessive impedimenta. Lord Derby, Minister of War and +a bluff and honest aristocrat, sat near me and he whispered to +me--"That's me." "Yes," I said, "that's you," and the group about us +made merry at the jest. The meaning of this is, they now joke about what +was the most solemn thing in life three years ago. + +None of this conveys the idea I am trying to explain--the change in the +English point of view and outlook--a half century's change in less than +three years, radical and fundamental change, too. The mother of the Duke +of X came to see me this afternoon, hobbling on her sticks and feeble, +to tell me of a radiant letter she had received from her granddaughter +who has been in Washington visiting the Spring Rices. "It's all very +wonderful," said the venerable lady, "and my granddaughter actually +heard the President make a speech!" Now, knowing this lady and knowing +her son, the Duke, and knowing how this girl, his daughter, has been +brought up, I dare swear that three years ago not one of them would have +crossed the street to hear any President that ever lived. They've simply +become different people. They were very genuine before. They are very +genuine now. + +It is this steadfastness in them that gives me sound hope for the +future. They don't forget sympathy or help or friendship. Our going into +the war has eliminated the Japanese question. It has shifted the virtual +control of the world to English-speaking peoples. It will bring into the +best European minds the American ideal of service. It will, in fact, +give us the lead and make the English in the long run our willing +followers and allies. I don't mean that we shall always have plain +sailing. But I do mean that the direction of events for the next fifty +or one hundred years has now been determined. + +[Illustration: Lord Robert Cecil, Minister of Blockade, 1916-18, +Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1918] + +[Illustration: General John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the +American Expeditionary Force in the Great War] + + * * * * * + +Yet Page found one stolid opposition to his attempts to establish the +friendliest relations between the two peoples. That offish attitude of +the Washington Administration, to which reference has already been made, +did not soften with the progress of events. Another experience now again +brought out President Wilson's coldness toward his allies. About this +time many rather queer Americans--some of the "international" +breed--were coming to England on more or less official missions. Page +was somewhat humiliated by these excursions; he knew that his country +possessed an almost unlimited supply of vivid speakers, filled with zeal +for the allied cause, whose influence, if they could be induced to cross +the Atlantic, would put new spirit into the British. The idea of having +a number of distinguished Americans come to England and tell the British +public about the United States and especially about the American +preparations for war, was one that now occupied his thoughts. In June, +1917, he wrote his old friend Dr. Wallace Buttrick, extending an +invitation to visit Great Britain as a guest of the British Government. +Dr. Buttrick made a great success; his speeches drew large crowds and +proved a source of inspiration to the British masses. So successful were +they, indeed, that the British Government desired that other Americans +of similar type should come and spread the message. In November, +therefore, Dr. Buttrick returned to the United States for the purpose of +organizing such a committee. Among the eminent Americans whom he +persuaded to give several months of their time to this work of +heartening our British allies were Mr. George E. Vincent, President of +the Rockefeller Foundation, Mr. Harry Pratt Judson, President of Chicago +University, Mr. Charles H. Van Hise, President of the University of +Wisconsin, Mr. Edwin A. Alderman, President of the University of +Virginia, Mr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, and Bishop Lawrence of +Massachusetts. It was certainly a distinguished group, but it was the +gentleman selected to be its head that gave it almost transcendent +importance in the eyes of the British Government. This was ex-President +William H. Taft. The British lay greater emphasis upon official rank +than do Americans, and the fact that an ex-President of the United +States was to head this delegation made it almost an historic event. Mr. +Taft was exceedingly busy, but he expressed his willingness to give up +all his engagements for several months and to devote his energies to +enlightening the British public about America and its purposes in the +war. An official invitation was sent him from London and accepted. + +Inasmuch as Mr. Taft was an ex-President and a representative of the +political party opposed to the one in power, he thought it only +courteous that he call upon Mr. Wilson, explain the purpose of his +mission, and obtain his approval. He therefore had an interview with the +President at the White House; the date was December 12, 1917. As soon as +Mr. Wilson heard of the proposed visit to Great Britain he showed signs +of irritation. He at once declared that it met with his strongest +disapproval. When Mr. Taft remarked that the result of such an +enterprise would be to draw Great Britain and the United States more +closely together, Mr. Wilson replied that he seriously questioned the +desirability of drawing the two countries any more closely together than +they already were. He was opposed to putting the United States in a +position of seeming in any way to be involved with British policy. There +were divergencies of purpose, he said, and there were features of the +British policy in this war of which he heartily disapproved. The motives +of the United States in this war, the President continued, "were +unselfish, but the motives of Great Britain seemed to him to be of a +less unselfish character." Mr. Wilson cited the treaty between Great +Britain and Italy as a sample of British statesmanship which he regarded +as proving this contention. The President's reference to this Italian +treaty has considerable historic value; there has been much discussion +as to when the President first learned of its existence, but it is +apparent from this conversation with ex-President Taft that he must have +known about it on December 12, 1917, for President Wilson based his +criticism of British policy largely upon this Italian convention[67]. + +The President showed more and more feeling about the matter as the +discussion continued. "There are too many Englishmen," he said, "in this +country and in Washington now and I have asked the British Ambassador to +have some of them sent home." + +Mr. Wilson referred to the jealousy of France at the close relations +which were apparently developing between Great Britain and the United +States. This was another reason, he thought, why it was unwise to make +the bonds between them any tighter. He also called Mr. Taft's attention +to the fact that there were certain elements in the United States which +were opposed to Great Britain--this evidently being a reference to the +Germans and the Irish--and he therefore believed that any conspicuous +attempts to increase the friendliness of the two countries for each +other would arouse antagonism and resentment. + +As Mr. Taft was leaving he informed Mr. Wilson that the plan for his +visit and that of the other speakers had originated with the American +Ambassador to Great Britain. This, however, did not improve the +President's temper. + +"Page," said the President, "is really an Englishman and I have to +discount whatever he says about the situation in Great Britain." + +And then he added, "I think you ought not to go, and the same applies to +the other members of the party. I would like you to make my attitude on +this question known to those having the matter in charge." + +Despite this rebuff Dr. Buttrick and Mr. Taft were reluctant to give up +the plan. An appeal was therefore made to Colonel House. Colonel House +at once said that the proposed visit was an excellent thing and that he +would make a personal appeal to Mr. Wilson in the hope of changing his +mind. A few days afterward Colonel House called up Dr. Buttrick and +informed him that he had not succeeded. "I am sorry," wrote Colonel +House to Page, "that the Buttrick speaking programme has turned out as +it has. The President was decidedly opposed to it and referred to it +with some feeling." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 64: August 1, 1917, Pope Benedict XV sent a letter to the +Powers urging them to bring the war to an end and outlining possible +terms of settlement. On August 29th President Wilson sent his historic +reply. This declared, in memorable language, that the Hohenzollern +dynasty was unworthy of confidence and that the United States would have +no negotiations with its representatives. It inferentially took the +stand that the Kaiser must abdicate, or be deposed, and the German +autocracy destroyed, as part of the conditions of peace.] + +[Footnote 65: On November 29, 1917, the London _Daily Telegraph_ +published a letter from the Marquis of Lansdowne, which declared that +the war had lasted too long and suggested that the British restate their +war aims. This letter was severely condemned by the British press and by +practically all representative British statesmen. It produced a most +lamentable impression in the United States also.] + +[Footnote 66: Eugene C. Shoecraft, the Ambassador's secretary.] + +[Footnote 67: As related in Chapter XXII, page 267, President Wilson was +informed of the so-called "secret treaties" by Mr. Balfour, in the +course of his memorable visit to the White House.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +GETTING THE AMERICAN TROOPS TO FRANCE + + +A group of letters, written at this time, touch upon a variety of topics +which were then engaging the interest of all countries: + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + London, January 19, 1918. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + While your letter is still fresh in my mind I dictate the following + in answer to your question about Palestine. + + It has not been settled--and cannot be, I fancy, until the Peace + Conference--precisely what the British will do with Palestine, but + I have what I think is a correct idea of their general attitude on + the subject. First, of course, they do not propose to allow it to + go back into Turkish hands; and the same can be said also of + Armenia and possibly of Mesopotamia. Their idea of the future of + Palestine is that whoever shall manage the country, or however it + shall be managed, the Jews shall have the same chance as anybody + else. Of course that's quite an advance for the Jews there, but + their idea is not that the Jews should have command of other + populations there or control over them--not in the least. My guess + at the English wish, which I have every reason to believe is the + right guess, is that they would wish to have Palestine + internationalized, whatever that means. That is to say, that it + should have control of its own local affairs and be a free country + but that some great Power, or number of Powers, should see to it + that none of the races that live there should be allowed to impose + upon the other races. I don't know just how such a guarantee can be + given by the great Powers or such a responsibility assumed except + by an agreement among two or three of them, or barely possibly by + the English keeping control themselves; but the control by the + English after the war of the former German colonies will put such a + large task on them that they will not be particularly eager to + extend the area of their responsibility elsewhere. Of course a + difficult problem will come up also about Constantinople and the + Dardanelles. The Dardanelles must be internationalized. + + I have never been able to consider the Zionist movement seriously. + It is a mere religious sentiment which will express itself in + action by very few people. I have asked a number of Jews at various + times who are in favour of the Zionist movement if they themselves + are going there. They always say no. The movement, therefore, has + fixed itself in my mind as a Jewish movement in which no Jew that + you can lay your hands on will ever take part but who wants other + Jews to take part in it. Of course there might be a flocking to + Palestine of Jews from Russia and the adjoining countries where + they are not happy, but I think the thing is chiefly a sentiment + and nothing else. Morgenthau[68] is dead right. I agree with him + _in toto_. I do not think anybody in the United States need be the + least concerned about the Zionist movement because there isn't a + single Jew in our country such a fool as to go to Palestine when he + can stay in the United States. The whole thing is a sentimental, + religious, more or less unnatural and fantastic idea and I don't + think will ever trouble so practical a people as we and our Jews + are. + +The following memorandum is dated February 10, 1918: + + General Bliss[69] has made a profound and the best possible + impression here by his wisdom and his tact. The British have a deep + respect for him and for his opinions, and in inspiring and keeping + high confidence in us he is worth an army in himself. I have seen + much of him and found out a good deal about his methods. He is + simplicity and directness itself. Although he is as active and + energetic as a boy, he spends some time by himself to think things + out and even to say them to himself to see how his conclusions + strike the ear as well as the mind. He has been staying here at the + house of one of our resident officers. At times he goes to his room + and sits long by the fire and argues his point--out loud--oblivious + to everything else. More than once when he was so engaged one of + his officers has knocked at the door and gone in and laid telegrams + on the table beside him and gone out without his having known of + the officer's entrance. Then he comes out and tries his conclusion + on someone who enjoys his confidence. And then he stands by it and + when the time comes delivers it slowly and with precision; and + there he is; and those who hear him see that he has thought the + matter out on all sides and finally. + + Our various establishments in London have now become big--the + Embassy proper, the Naval and Army Headquarters, the Red Cross, the + War Trade Board's representatives, and now (forthwith) the Shipping + Board, besides Mr. Crosby of the Treasury. The volume of work is + enormous and it goes smoothly, except for the somewhat halting + Army Headquarters, the high personnel of which is now undergoing a + change; and that will now be all right. I regularly make the rounds + of all the Government Departments with which we deal to learn if + they find our men and methods effective, and the rounds of all our + centres of activity to find whether there be any friction with the + British The whole machine moves very well. For neither side + hesitates to come to me whenever they strike even small snags. All + our people are at work on serious tasks and (so far as I know) + there are now none of those despicable creatures here who used + during our neutrality days to come from the United States on peace + errands and what-not to spy on the Embassy and me (their inquiries + and their correspondence were catalogued by the police). I have + been amazed at the activity of some of them whose doings I have + since been informed of. + + We now pay this tribute to the submarines--that we have entered the + period of compulsory rations. There is enough to eat in spite of + the food that has gone to feed the fishes. But no machinery of + distribution to a whole population can be uniformly effective. The + British worker with his hands is a greedy feeder and a sturdy + growler and there will be trouble. But I know no reason to + apprehend serious trouble. + + The utter break-up of Russia and the German present occupation of + so much of the Empire as she wants have had a contrary effect on + two sections of opinion here, as I interpret the British mind. On + the undoubtedly enormously dominant section of opinion these events + have only stiffened resolution. They say that Germany now must be + whipped to a finish. Else she will have doubled her empire and will + hold the peoples of her new territory as vassals without regard to + their wishes and the war lord caste will be more firmly seated + than ever before. If her armies be literally whipped she'll have to + submit to the Allies' terms, which will dislodge her from + overlordship over these new unwilling subjects--and she can be + dislodged in no other way. This probably means a long war, now that + after a time she can get raw materials for war later and food from + Rumania and the Ukraine, etc. This will mean a fight in France and + Belgium till a decisive victory is won and the present exultant + German will is broken. + + The minority section of public opinion--as I judge a small + minority--has the feeling that such an out-and-out military victory + cannot be won or is not worth the price; and that the enemies of + Germany, allowing her to keep her Eastern accretions, must make the + best terms they can in the East; that there's no use in running the + risk of Italy's defeat and defection before some sort of bargain + could be made about Belgium, Alsace-Lorraine, and Serbia. Of course + this plan would leave the German warlordship intact and would bring + no sort of assurance of a prolonged peace. It would, too, leave + European Russia at least to German mercy, and would leave the + Baltic and the Black Seas practically wholly under German + influence. As for the people of Russia, there seems small chance + for them in this second contingency. The only way to save them is + to win a decisive victory. + + As matters stand to-day Lord Lansdowne and his friends (how + numerous they are nobody knows) are the loudest spokesmen for such + a peace as can be made. But it is talked much of in Asquith circles + that the time may come when this policy will be led by Mr. Asquith, + in a form somewhat modified from the Lansdowne formula. Mr. Asquith + has up to this time patriotically supported the government and he + himself has said nothing in public which could warrant linking his + name with an early peace-seeking policy. But his friends openly + and incessantly predict that he will, at a favourable moment, take + this cue. I myself can hardly believe it. Political victory in + Great Britain doesn't now lie in that direction. + + The dominant section of opinion is much grieved at Russia's + surrender, but they refuse to be discouraged by it. They recall how + Napoleon overran most of Europe, and the French held practically + none of his conquests after his fall. + + Such real political danger as exists here--if any exists, of which + I am not quite sure--comes not only now mainly of this split in + public opinion but also and to a greater degree from the personal + enemies of the present government. Lloyd George is kept in power + because he is the most energetic man in sight--by far. Many who + support him do not like him nor trust him-except that nobody doubts + his supreme earnestness to win the war. On all other subjects he + has enemies of old and he makes new ones. His intense and superb + energy has saved him in two notable crises. His dismissal of Sir + William Robertson[70] has been accepted in the interest of greater + unity of military control, but it was a dangerous rapids that he + shot, for he didn't do it tactfully. Yet there's a certain danger + to the present powers in the feeling that some of them are wearing + out. Parliament itself--an old one now--is thought to have gone + stale. Bonar Law is over-worked and tired; Balfour is often said to + be too philosophical and languid; but, when this feeling seems in + danger of taking definite shape, he makes a clearer statement than + anybody else and catches on his feet. The man of new energy, not + yet fagged, is Geddes[71], whose frankness carries conviction. + + _To the President_ + + London, March 17, 1918. + + DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: + + The rather impatient and unappreciative remarks made by the Prime + Minister before a large meeting of preachers of the "free" churches + about a League of Nations reminds me to write you about the state + of British opinion on that subject. What Lloyd George said to these + preachers is regrettable because it showed a certain impatience of + mind from which he sometimes suffers; but it is only fair to him to + say that his remarks that day did not express a settled opinion. + For on more than one previous occasion he has spoken of the subject + in a wholly different tone--much more appreciatively. On that + particular day he had in mind only the overwhelming necessity to + win the war--other things, _all_ other things must wait. In a way + this is his constant mood--the mood to make everybody feel that the + only present duty is to win the war. He has been accused of almost + every defect in the calendar except of slackness about the war. + Nobody has ever doubted his earnestness nor his energy about + _that_. And the universal confidence in his energy and earnestness + is what keeps him in office. Nobody sees any other man who can push + and inspire as well as he does. It would be a mistake, therefore, + to pay too much heed to any particular utterance of this electrical + creature of moods, on any subject. + + Nevertheless, he hasn't thought out the project of a league to + enforce peace further than to see the difficulties. He sees that + such a league might mean, in theory at least, the giving over in + some possible crisis the command of the British Fleet to an officer + of some other nationality. That's unthinkable to any red-blooded + son of these islands. Seeing a theoretical possibility even of + raising such a question, the British mind stops and refuses to go + further--refuses in most cases even to inquire seriously whether + any such contingency is ever likely to come. + + The British Grand Fleet, in fact, is a subject that stands alone in + power and value and in difficulties. It classifies itself with + nothing else. Since over and over again it has saved these islands + from invasion when nothing else could have saved them and since + during this war in particular it has saved the world from German + conquest--as every Englishman believes--it lies in their reverence + and their gratitude and their abiding convictions as a necessary + and perpetual shield so long as Great Britain shall endure. If the + Germans are thrashed to a frazzle (and we haven't altogether done + that yet) and we set about putting the world in order, when we come + to discuss Disarmament, the British Fleet will be the most + difficult item in the world to dispose of. It is not only a Fact, + with a great and saving history, it is also a sacred Tradition and + an Article of Faith. + + The first reason, therefore, why the British general mind has not + firmly got hold on a league is the instinctive fear that the + formation of any league may in some conceivable way affect the + Grand Fleet. Another reason is the general inability of a somewhat + slow public opinion to take hold on more than one subject at a time + or more than one urgent part of one subject. The One Subject, of + course, is winning the war. Since everything else depends on that, + everything else must wait on that. + + The League, therefore, has not taken hold on the public imagination + here as it has in the United States. The large mass of the people + have not thought seriously about it: it has not been strongly and + persistently presented to the mass of the people. There is no + popular or general organization to promote it. There is even, here + and there, condemnation of the idea. The (London) _Morning Post_, + for example, goes out of its way once in a while to show the + wickedness of the idea because, so it argues, it will involve the + sacrifice, more or less, of nationality. But the _Morning Post_ is + impervious to new ideas and is above all things critical in its + activities and very seldom constructive. The typical Tory mind in + general sees no good in the idea. The typical Tory mind is the + insular mind. + + On the other hand, the League idea is understood as a necessity and + heartily approved by two powerful sections of public opinion--(1) + the group of public men who have given attention to it, such as + Bryce, Lord Robert Cecil, and the like, and (2) some of the best + and strongest leaders of Labour. There is good reason to hope that + whenever a fight and an agitation is made for a League these two + sections of public opinion will win; but an agitation and a fight + must come. Lord Bryce, in the intervals of his work as chairman of + a committee to make a plan for the reorganization of the House of + Lords, which, he remarked to me the other day, "involves as much + labour as a Government Department," has fits of impatience about + pushing a campaign for a league, and so have a few other men. They + ask me if it be not possible to have good American public speakers + come here--privately, of course, and in no way connected with our + Government nor speaking for it--to explain the American movement + for a League in order to arouse a public sentiment on the subject. + + Thus the case stands at present. + + Truth and error alike and odd admixtures of them come in waves over + this censored land where one can seldom determine what is true, + before the event, from the newspapers. "News" travels by word of + mouth, and information that one can depend on is got by personal + inquiry from sources that can be trusted. + + There is a curious wave of fear just now about what Labour may do, + and the common gossip has it that there is grave danger in the + situation. I can find no basis for such a fear. I have talked with + labour leaders and I have talked with members of the government who + know most about the subject. There is not a satisfactory + situation--there has not been since the war began. There has been a + continuous series of labour "crises," and there have been a good + many embarrassing strikes, all of which have first been hushed up + and settled--at least postponed. One cause of continuous trouble + has been the notion held by the Unions, sometimes right and + sometimes wrong, that the employers were making abnormal profits + and that they were not getting their due share. There have been and + are also other causes of trouble. It was a continuous quarrel even + in peace times. But I can find no especial cause of fear now. Many + of the Unions have had such advances of wages that the Government + has been severely criticized for giving in. Just lately a large + wing of the Labour Party put forth its war aims which--with + relatively unimportant exceptions--coincide with the best + declarations made by the Government's own spokesmen. + + Of course, no prudent man would venture to make dogmatic + predictions. There have been times when for brief intervals any one + would have been tempted to fear that these quarrels might cause an + unsatisfactory conclusion of the war. But the undoubted patriotism + of the British workman has every time saved the situation. While a + danger point does lie here, there is no reason to be more fearful + now than at any preceding time when no especial trouble was + brewing. This wave of gossip and fear has no right to sweep over + the country now. + + Labour hopes and expects and is preparing to win the next General + Election--whether with good reason or not I cannot guess. But most + men expect it to win the Government at some time--most of them + _after_ the war. I recall that Lord Grey once said to me, before + the war began, that a general political success of the Labour Party + was soon to be expected. + + Another wave which, I hear, has swept over Rome as well as London + is a wave of early peace expectation. The British newspapers have + lately been encouraging this by mysterious phrases. Some men here + of good sense and sound judgment think that this is the result of + the so-called German "peace offensive," which makes the present the + most dangerous period of the war. + + W.H.P. + + _To David F. Houston_[72] + + London, March 23, 1918. + + MY DEAR HOUSTON: + + It is very kind of you indeed to write so generously about the + British visitors who are invading our sacred premises, such as the + Archbishop of York, and it is good to hear from you anyhow about + any subject and I needn't say that it is quite a rare experience + also. I wish you would take a little of your abundant leisure and + devote it to good letters to me. + + And in some one of your letters tell me this.--The British send + over men of this class that you have written about to see us, but + they invite over here--and we permit to come--cranks on + prohibition, experts in the investigation of crime, short-haired + women who wish to see how British babies are reared, peace cranks + and freaks of other kinds[73]. Our Government apparently won't let + plain, honest, normal civilians come over, but if a fellow comes + along who wants to investigate some monstrosity then one half of + the Senate, one half of the House of Representatives, and a number + of the executive offices of the Government give him the most + cordial letters. Now there are many things, of course, that I don't + know, but it has been my fate to have a pretty extensive + acquaintance with cranks of every description in the United States. + I don't think there is any breed of them that didn't haunt my + office while I was an editor. Now I am surely punished for all my + past sins by having those fellows descend on me here. I know them, + nearly all, from past experience and now just for the sake of + keeping the world as quiet as possible I have to give them time + here far out of proportion to their value. + + Now, out of your great wisdom, I wish you would explain to me why + the deuce we let all this crew come over here instead of sending a + shipload of perfectly normal, dignified, and right-minded + gentlemen. These thug reformers!--Baker will be here in a day or + two and if I can remember it I am going to suggest to him that he + round them all up and put them in the trenches in France where + those of them who have so far escaped the gallows ought to be put. + + I am much obliged to have the illuminating statement about our + crops. I am going to show it to certain gentlemen here who will be + much cheered by it. By gracious, you ought to hear their + appreciation of what we are doing! We are not doing it for the sake + of their appreciation, but if we were out to win it we could not do + it better. Down at bottom the Englishman is a good fellow. He has + his faults but he doesn't get tired and he doesn't suffer spasms of + emotion. + + Give my love to Mrs. Houston, and do sit down and write me a + good long letter--a whole series of them, in fact. + + Believe me, always most heartily yours, + + WALTER HINES PAGE. + +[Illustration: From a painting by Irving R. Wiles Admiral William Sowden +Sims, Commander of American naval forces operating in European waters +during the Great War] + +[Illustration: A silver model of the _Mayflower_, the farewell gift of +the Plymouth Council to Mr. Page] + + _To Frank L. Polk_ + + London, March 22, 1918. + + DEAR MR. POLK: + + You are good enough to mention the fact that the Embassy has some + sort of grievance against the Department. Of course it has, and you + are, possibly, the only man that can remove it. It is this: You + don't come here to see the war and this government and these people + who are again saving the world as we are now saving them. I thank + Heaven and the Administration for Secretary Baker's visit. It is a + dramatic moment in the history of the race, of democracy, and of + the world. The State Department has the duty to deal with foreign + affairs--the especial duty--and yet no man in the State Department + has been here since the war began. This doesn't look pretty and it + won't look pretty when the much over-worked "future historian" + writes it down in a book. Remove that grievance. + + The most interesting thing going on in the world to-day--a thing + that in History will transcend the war and be reckoned its greatest + gain--is the high leadership of the President in formulating the + struggle, in putting its aims high, and in taking the democratic + lead in the world, a lead that will make the world over--and in + taking the democratic lead of the English-speaking folk. Next most + impressive to that is to watch the British response to that lead. + Already they have doubled the number of their voters, and even more + important definite steps in Democracy will be taken. My aim--and + it's the only way to save the world--is to lead the British in this + direction. They are the most easily teachable people in our way of + thinking and of doing. Of course everybody who works toward such an + aim provokes the cry from a lot of fools among us who accuse him of + toadying to the English and of "accepting the conventional English + conclusion." They had as well talk of missionaries to India + accepting Confucius or Buddha. Their fleet has saved us four or + five times. It's about time we were saving them from this bloods + Thing that we call Europe, for our sake and for theirs. + + The bloody Thing will get us all if we don't fight our level best; + and it's only by _our_ help that we'll be saved. That clearly gives + us the leadership. Everybody sees that. Everybody acknowledges it. + The President authoritatively speaks it--speaks leadership on a + higher level than it was ever spoken before to the whole world. As + soon as we get this fighting job over, the world procession toward + freedom--our kind of freedom--will begin under our lead. This being + so, can't you delegate the writing of telegrams about "facilitating + the license to ship poppy seed to McKesson and Robbins," and come + over and see big world-forces at work? + + I cannot express my satisfaction at Secretary Baker's visit. It was + historic--the first member of the Cabinet, I think, who ever came + here while he held office. He made a great impression and received + a hearty welcome. + + That's the only grievance I can at the moment unload on you. We're + passing out of our old era of isolation. These benighted heathen on + this island whom we'll yet save (since they are well worth saving) + will be with us as we need them in future years and centuries. + Come, help us heighten this fine spirit. + + Always heartily yours, + + WALTER HINES PAGE. + + P.S. You'd see how big our country looks from a distance. It's + gigantic, I assure you. + +The above letter was written on what was perhaps the darkest day of the +whole war. The German attack on the Western Front, which had been long +expected, had now been launched, and, at the moment that Page was +penning this cheery note to Mr. Polk, the German armies had broken +through the British defenses, had pushed their lines forty miles ahead, +and, in the judgment of many military men, had Paris almost certainly +within their grasp. A great German gun, placed about seventy miles from +the French capital, was dropping shells upon the apparently doomed city. +This attack had been regarded as inevitable since the collapse of +Russia, which had enabled the Germans to concentrate practically all +their armies on the Western Front. + +The world does not yet fully comprehend the devastating effect of this +apparently successful attack upon the allied morale. British statesmen +and British soldiers made no attempt to conceal from official Americans +the desperate state of affairs. It was the expectation that the Germans +might reach Calais and thence invade England. The War Office discussed +these probabilities most freely with Colonel Slocum, the American +military attaché. The simple fact was that both the French and the +British armies were practically bled white. + +"For God's sake, get your men over!" they urged General Slocum. "You +have got to finish it." + +Page was writing urgently to President Wilson to the same purpose. Send +the men and send them at once. "I pray God," were his solemn words to +Mr. Wilson, "that you will not be too late!" + +One propitious event had taken place at the same time as the opening of +the great German offensive. Mr. Newton D. Baker, the American Secretary +of War, had left quietly for France in late February, 1918, and had +reached the Western Front in time to obtain a first-hand sight of the +great March drive. No visit in history has ever been better timed, and +no event could have better played into Page's hands. He had been urging +Washington to send all available forces to France at the earliest +possible date; he knew, as probably few other men knew, the extent to +which the Allies were depending upon American troops to give the final +blow to Germany; and the arrival of Secretary Baker at the scene of +action gave him the opportunity to make a personal appeal. Page +immediately communicated with the Secretary and persuaded him to come at +once to London for a consultation with British military and political +leaders. The Secretary spent only three days in London, but the visit, +brief as it was, had historic consequences. He had many consultations +with the British military men; he entered into their plans with +enthusiasm; he himself received many ideas that afterward took shape in +action, and the British Government obtained from him first-hand +information as to the progress of the American Army and the American +determination to cooperate to the last man and the last dollar. "Baker +went straight back to France," Page wrote to his son Arthur, "and our +whole coöperation began." + +Page gave a dinner to Mr. Baker at the Embassy on March 23rd--two days +after the great March drive had begun. This occasion gave the visitor a +memorable glimpse of the British temperament. Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. +Balfour, Lord Derby, the War Secretary, General Biddle, of the United +States Army, and Admiral Sims were the Ambassador's guests. Though the +mighty issues then overhanging the world were not ignored in the +conversation the atmosphere hardly suggested that the existence of the +British Empire, indeed that of civilization itself, was that very night +hanging in the balance. Possibly it was the general sombreness of events +that caused these British statesmen to find a certain relief in jocular +small talk and reminiscence. For the larger part of the evening not a +word was said about the progress of the German armies in France. Mr. +Lloyd George and Mr. Balfour, seated on opposite sides of the table, +apparently found relaxation in reviewing their political careers and +especially their old-time political battles. They would laughingly +recall occasions when, in American parlance, they had put each other "in +a hole"; the exigencies of war had now made these two men colleagues in +the same government, but the twenty years preceding 1914 they had spent +in political antagonism. Page's guests on this occasion learned much +political history of the early twentieth century, and the mutual +confessions of Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Balfour gave these two men an +insight into each others' motives and manoeuvres which was almost as +revealing. "Yes, you caught me that time," Mr. Lloyd George would say, +and then he would counter with an episode of a political battle in which +he had got the better of Mr. Balfour. The whole talk was lively and +bantering, and accompanied with much laughter; and all this time shells +from that long-distance gun were dropping at fifteen minute intervals +upon the devoted women and children of Paris and the Germans were every +hour driving the British back in disorder. At times the conversation +took a more philosophic turn. Would the men present like to go back +twenty-five years and live their lives all over again? The practically +unanimous decision of every man was that he would not wish to do so. + +All this, of course, was merely on the surface; despite the laughter and +the banter, there was only one thing which engrossed the Ambassador's +guests, although there were not many references to it. That was the +struggle which was then taking place in France. At intervals Mr. Lloyd +George would send one of the guests, evidently a secretary, from the +room. The latter, on his return, would whisper something in the Prime +Minister's ear, but more frequently he would merely shake his head. +Evidently he had been sent to obtain the latest news of the battle. + +At one point the Prime Minister did refer to the great things taking +place in France. + +"This battle means one thing," he said. "That is a generalissimo." + +"Why couldn't you have taken this step long ago?" Admiral Sims asked Mr. +Lloyd George. + +The answer came like a flash. + +"If the cabinet two weeks ago had suggested placing the British Army +under a foreign general, it would have fallen. Every cabinet in Europe +would also have fallen, had it suggested such a thing." + + _Memorandum on Secretary Baker's visit_ + + Secretary Baker's visit here, brief as it was, gave the heartiest + satisfaction. So far as I know, he is the first member of an + American Cabinet who ever came to England while he held office, as + Mr. Balfour was the first member of a British Cabinet who ever went + to the United States while he held office. The great governments of + the English-speaking folk have surely dealt with one another with + mighty elongated tongs. Governments of democracies are not exactly + instruments of precision. But they are at least human. But personal + and human neglect of one another by these two governments over so + long a period is an astonishing fact in our history. The wonder is + that we haven't had more than two wars. And it is no wonder that + the ignorance of Englishmen about America and the American + ignorance of England are monumental, stupendous, amazing, passing + understanding. I have on my mantelpiece a statuette of Benjamin + Franklin, an excellent and unmistakable likeness which was made + here during his lifetime; and the inscription burnt on its base is + _Geo. Washington_. It serves me many a good turn with my English + friends. I use it as a measure of their ignorance of us. Of course + this is a mere little error of a statuette-maker, an error, + moreover, of a hundred years ago. But it tells the story of to-day + also. If I had to name the largest and most indelible impression + that has been made on me during my five years' work here, I should + say the ignorance and aloofness of the two peoples--not an + ignorance of big essential facts but of personalities and + temperaments--such as never occur except between men who had never + seen one another. + + But I was writing about Mr. Baker's visit and I've got a long way + from that. I doubt if he knows himself what gratification it gave; + for these men here have spoken to me about it as they could not + speak to him. + + Here is an odd fact: For sixty years, so far as I know, members of + the Administration have had personal acquaintance with some of the + men in power in Salvador, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Peru, etc., etc., + and members of the British Government have had personal + acquaintance with some men in authority in Portugal, Serbia, + Montenegro and Monte Carlo; but during this time (with the single + exception of John Hay) I think no member of any Administration had + a real personal acquaintance while he held office with any member + of the British Government while he held office, and vice + versa--till Mr. Balfour's visit. Suspicion grows out of ignorance. + The longer I live here the more astonished I become at the + fundamental ignorance of the British about us and of our + fundamental ignorance about them. So colossal is this ignorance + that every American sent here is supposed to be taken in, to become + Anglophile; and often when one undertakes to enlighten Englishmen + about the United States one becomes aware of a feeling inside the + English of unbelief, as if he said, "Oh, well! you are one of those + queer people who believe in republican government." All this is + simply amazing. Poor Admiral Sims sometimes has a sort of mania, a + delusion that nobody at Washington trusts his judgment because he + said seven or eight years ago that he liked the English. Yet every + naval officer who comes here, I understand, shares his views about + practically every important naval problem or question. I don't + deserve the compliment (it's a very high one) that some of my + secretaries sometimes pay me when they say that I am the only man + they know who tries to tell the whole truth to our Government in + favour of the Englishman as well as against him. It is certain that + American public opinion is universally supposed to suspect any + American who tries to do anything with the British lion except to + twist his tail--a supposition that I never believed to be + true.--But it is true that the mutual ignorance is as high as the + Andes and as deep as the ocean. Personal acquaintance removes it + and nothing else will. + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + American Embassy, + London, April 7, 1918. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + I daresay you remember this epic: + + Old Morgan's wife made butter and cheese; + Old Morgan drank the whey. + There came a wind from West to East + And blew Old Morgan away. + + I'm Old Morgan and your mother got ashamed of my wheyness and made + the doctor prescribe cream for me. There's never been such a + luxury, and anybody who supposes that I am now going to get fat and + have my cream stopped simply doesn't know me. So, you see why I'm + intent on shredded wheat biscuits. That's about the best form of + real wheat that will keep. And there's no getting real wheat-stuff, + pure and simple, in any other form. + + There's no use in talking about starving people--except perhaps in + India and China. White men can live on anything. The English could + fight a century on cabbage and Brussels sprouts. I've given up hope + of starving the Germans. A gut of dogmeat or horse flesh and a + potato will keep them in fighting trim forever. I've read daily for + two years of impending starvation across the Rhine; but I never + even now hear of any dead ones from hunger. Cold steel or lead is + the only fatal dose for them. + + Therefore I know that shredded wheat will carry me through. + + You'll see, I hope, from the clippings that I enclose that I'm not + done for yet anyhow. Two speeches a day is no small stunt; and I + did it again yesterday--hand running; and I went out to dinner + afterward. It was a notable occasion--this celebration of the + anniversary of our coming into the war[74]. + + Nobody here knows definitely just what to fear from the big battle; + but everybody fears more or less. It's a critical time--very. I am + told that that long-range gunning of Paris is the worst form of + frightfulness yet tried. The shells do not kill a great many + people. But their falling every fifteen minutes gets on people's + nerves and they can't sleep. I hear they are leaving Paris in great + numbers. Since the big battle began and the Germans have needed all + their planes and more in France, they've let London alone. But + nobody knows when they will begin again. + + Nobody knows any future thing about the war, and everybody faces a + fear. + + Secretary Baker stayed with me the two days and three nights he was + here. He made a good impression but he received a better one. He + now knows something about the war. I had at dinner to meet him: + + Lloyd George, Prime Minister. + + Balfour, Foreign Secretary. + + The Chief of Staff. + + Lord Derby, War Secretary. + + General Biddle, U.S.A., in command in London. + + Admiral Sims, U.S.N. + + The talk was to the point--good and earnest. Baker went straight + back to France and our _whole_ coöperation began. With the first + group of four he had conferences besides for two days. His coming + was an admirable move. + + Yours affectionately, + W.H.P. + + _To Ralph W. Page_ + + London, April 13, 1918. + + DEAR RALPH: + + Your cheery letters about entertaining governors, planting trees + and shrubbery and your mother's little orchard give us much + pleasure. The Southern Pines paper brings news of very great damage + to the peach crop. I hope it is much exaggerated. Is it? + + We haven't any news here, and I send you my weekly note only to + keep my record clear. The great battle--no one talks or thinks of + anything else. We have suffered and still suffer a good deal of + fear and anxiety, with real reason, too. But the military men are + reassuring. Yet I don't know just how far to trust their judgment + or to share their hopes. Certainly this is the most dangerous + situation that modern civilization was ever put in. If we can keep + them from winning any _great_ objective, like Paris or a channel + port, we ought to end the war this year. If not, either they win or + at the least prolong the war indefinitely. It's a hazardous and + trying time. + + There were never such casualties on either side as now. Such a + bloody business cannot keep up all summer. But before everybody is + killed or a decisive conclusion is reached, the armies will, no + doubt, dig themselves in and take a period of comparative rest. + People here see and feel the great danger. But the extra effort now + _may_ come too late. Still we keep up good hope. The British are + hard to whip. They never give up. And as for the French army, I + always remember Verdun and keep my courage up. + + The wounded are coming over by the thousand. We are incomparably + busy and in great anxiety about the result (though still pretty + firm in the belief that the Germans will lose), and luckily we keep + very well. + + Affectionately, + W.H.P. + + _To Ralph W. Page_ + + London, April 7, 1918. + + DEAR RALPH: + + There used to be a country parson down in Wake County who, when + other subjects were talked out, always took up the pleasing topic + of saving your soul. That's the way your mother and I do--with the + subject of going home. We talk over the battle, we talk over the + boys, we talk over military and naval problems, we discuss the + weather and all the babies, and then take up politics, and talk + over the gossip of the wiseacres; but we seldom finish a + conversation without discussing going home. And we reach just about + as clear a conclusion on our topic as the country parson reached on + his. I've had the doctors going over me (or rather your mother has) + as an expert accountant goes over your books; and I tried to bribe + them to say that I oughtn't to continue my arduous duties here + longer. They wouldn't say any such thing. Thus that device + failed--dead. It looks as if I were destined for a green old age + and no _martyr_ business at all. + + All this is disappointing; and I don't see what to do but to go on. + I can't keep from hoping that the big battle may throw some light + on the subject; but there's no telling when the big battle will + end. Nothing ends--that's the trouble. I sometimes feel that the + war may never end, that it may last as the Napoleonic Wars did, for + 20 years; and before that time we'll all have guns that shoot 100 + miles. We can stay at home and indefinitely bombard the enemy + across the Rhine--have an endless battle at long range. + + So, we stick to it, and give the peach trees time to grow up. + + We had a big day in London yesterday--the anniversary of our entry + into the war. I send you some newspaper clippings about it. + + The next best news is that we have a little actual sunshine--a very + rare thing--and some of the weather is now almost decent.... + + Affectionately, + W.H.P. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 68: Mr. Henry Morgenthau, American Ambassador to Turkey, +1913-16, an American of Jewish origin who opposed the Zionist movement +as un-American and deceptive.] + +[Footnote 69: American member of the Supreme War Council. Afterward +member of the American Commission to Negotiate Peace.] + +[Footnote 70: Sir Henry Wilson had recently succeeded Sir William +Robertson as Chief of the Imperial General Staff.] + +[Footnote 71: First Lord of the Admiralty.] + +[Footnote 72: Secretary of Agriculture.] + +[Footnote 73: See Chapter XXIV.] + +[Footnote 74: This meeting, on April 6, 1918, was held at the Mansion +House. Page and Mr. Balfour were the chief speakers.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +LAST DAYS IN ENGLAND + + +In spite of the encouraging tone of the foregoing letters, everything +was not well with Page. All through the winter of 1917-1918 his +associates at the Embassy had noticed a change for the worse in his +health. He seemed to be growing thinner; his face was daily becoming +more haggard; he tired easily, and, after walking the short distance +from his house to his Embassy, he would drop listlessly into his chair. +His general bearing was that of a man who was physically and nervously +exhausted. It was hoped that the holiday at St. Ives would +help him; that he greatly enjoyed that visit, especially the +westward--homeward--outlook on the Atlantic which it gave him, his +letters clearly show; there was a temporary improvement also in his +health, but only a temporary one. The last great effort which he made in +the interest of the common cause was Secretary Baker's visit; the +activities which this entailed wearied him, but the pleasure he obtained +from the resultant increase in the American participation made the +experience one of the most profitable of his life. Indeed, Page's last +few months in England, though full of sad memories for his friends, +contained little but satisfaction for himself. He still spent many a +lonely evening by his fire, but his thoughts were now far more +pleasurable than in the old _Lusitania_ days. The one absorbing subject +of contemplation now was that America was "in." His country had +justified his deep confidence. The American Navy had played a +determining part in defeating the submarine, and American shipyards +were turning out merchant ships faster than the Germans were destroying +them. American troops were reaching France at a rate which necessarily +meant the early collapse of the German Empire. Page's own family had +responded to the call and this in itself was a cause of great +contentment to a sick and weary man. The Ambassador's youngest son, +Frank, had obtained a commission and was serving in France; his +son-in-law, Charles G. Loring, was also on the Western Front; while from +North Carolina Page's youngest brother Frank and two nephews had sailed +for the open battle line. The bravery and success of the American troops +did not surprise the Ambassador but they made his last days in England +very happy. + +Indeed, every day had some delightful experience for Page. The +performance of the Americans at Cantigny especially cheered him. The day +after this battle he and Mrs. Page entertained Mr. Lloyd George and +other guests at lunch. The Prime Minister came bounding into the room +with his characteristic enthusiasm, rushed up to Mrs. Page with both +hands outstretched and shook hands joyously. + +"Congratulations!" he exclaimed. "The Americans have done it! They have +met the Prussian guard and defeated them!" + +Mr. Lloyd George was as exuberant over the achievement as a child. + +This was now the kind of experience that had become Page's daily +routine. Lively as were his spirits, however, his physical frame was +giving way. In fact Page, though he did not know it at the time, was +suffering from a specific disease--nephritis; and its course, after +Christmas of 1917, became rapid. His old friend, Dr. Wallace Buttrick, +had noted the change for the worse and had attempted to persuade him to +go home. + +"Quit your job, Page," he urged. "You have other big tasks waiting you +at home. Why don't you go back?" + +"No--no--not now." + +"But, Page," urged Dr. Buttrick, "you are going to lay down your life." + +"I have only one life to lay down," was the reply. "I can't quit now." + + _To Mary E. Page_[75] + + London, May 12, 1918. + + DEAR MARY: + + You'll have to take this big paper and this paint brush pen--it's + all the pen these blunt British have. This is to tell you how very + welcome your letter to Alice is--how very welcome, for nobody + writes us the family news and nothing is so much appreciated. I'll + try to call the shorter roll of us in the same way: + + After a miserable winter we, too, are having the rare experience of + a little sunshine in this dark, damp world of London. The constant + confinement in the city and _in the house_ (that's the worst of + it--no outdoor life or fresh air) has played hob with my digestion. + It's not bad, but it's troublesome, and for some time I've had the + feeling of being one half well. It occurred to me the other day + that I hadn't had leave from my work for four years, except my + short visit home nearly two years ago. I asked for two months off, + and I've got it. We are going down by the shore where there is + fresh air and where I can live outdoors and get some exercise. We + have a house that we can get there and be comfortable. To get away + from London when the weather promises to be good, and to get away + from people seemed a joyous prospect. I can, at any time I must, + come to London in two hours. + + The job's too important to give up at this juncture. This, then, is + the way we can keep it going. I've no such hard task now as I had + during the years of our neutrality, which, praise God! I somehow + survived, though I am now suffering more or less from the physical + effects of that strain. Yet, since I have had the good fortune to + win the confidence of this Government and these people, I feel that + I ought to keep on now until some more or less natural time to + change comes. + + Alice keeps remarkably well--since her influenza late in the + winter; but a rest away from London is really needed as much by her + as by me. They work her to death. In a little while she is to go, + by the invitation of the Government and the consent of the King, to + christen a new British warship at Newcastle. It will be named the + "Eagle." Meantime I'll be trying to get outdoor life at Sandwich. + + Yesterday a regiment of our National Army marched through the + streets of London and were reviewed by the King and me; and the + town made a great day of it. While there is an undercurrent of + complaint in certain sections of English opinion because we didn't + come into the war sooner, there is a very general and very genuine + appreciation of everything we have done and of all that we do. + Nothing could be heartier than the welcome given our men here + yesterday. Nor could any men have made a braver or better showing + than they made. They made us all swell with pride. + + They are coming over now, as you know, in great quantities. There + were about 8,000 landed here last week and about 30,000 more are + expected this week. I think that many more go direct to France + than come through England. On their way through England they do not + come to London. Only twice have we had them here, yesterday and one + day last summer when we had a parade of a regiment of engineers. + For the _army_ London is on a sidetrack--is an out of the way + place. For our navy, of course, it's the European headquarters, + since Admiral Sims has his headquarters here. We thus see a good + many of our sailors who are allowed to come to London on leave. A + few days ago I had a talk with a little bunch of them who came from + one of our superdreadnaughts in the North Sea. They had just + returned from a patrol across to the coast of Norway. "Bad luck, + bad luck," they said, "on none of our long patrol trips have we + seen a single Hun ship!" + + About the war, you know as much as I know. There is a general + confidence that the Allies will hold the Germans in their + forthcoming effort to get to Calais or to Paris. Yet there is an + undercurrent of fear. Nobody knows just how to feel about it. + Probably another prodigious onslaught will be made before you + receive this letter. It seems to me that we can make no intelligent + guess until this German effort is finished in France--no guess + about the future. If the Germans get the French ports (Calais, for + example) the war will go on indefinitely. If they are held back, it + _may_ end next autumn or winter--partly because of starvation in + Germany and partly because the Germans will have to confess that + they can't whip our armies in France. But, even then, since they + have all Russia to draw on, they may keep going for a long time. + One man's guess is as good as another's. + + One sad thing is certain: we shall at once begin to have heavy + American casualties. Our Red Cross and our army here are getting + hospitals ready for such American wounded as are brought over to + England--the parts of our army that are fighting with the British. + + We have a lot of miserable politics here which interfere with the + public feeling. The British politician is a worse yellow dog than + the American--at times he is, at least; and we have just been going + through such a time. Another such time will soon come about the + Irish. + + Well, we have an unending quantity of work and wear--no very acute + bothers but a continuous strain, the strain of actual work, of + uneasiness, of seeing people, of uncertainty, of great expense, of + doubt and fear at times, of inability to make any plans--all which + is only the common lot now all over the world, except that most + persons have up to this time suffered incomparably worse than we. + And there's nothing to do but to go on and on and on and to keep + going with the stoutest hearts we can keep up till the end do at + last come. But the Germans now (as the rest of us) are fighting for + their lives. They are desperate and their leaders care nothing for + human life. + + The Embassy now is a good deal bigger than the whole State + Department ever was in times of peace. I have three buildings for + offices, and a part of our civil force occupies two other + buildings. Even a general supervision of so large a force is in + itself a pretty big job. The army and the Navy have each about the + same space as the Embassy proper. Besides, our people have huts and + inns and clubs and hospitals all over the town. Even though there + be fewer vexing problems than there were while we were neutral, + there is not less work--on the contrary, more. Nor will there be an + end to it for a very long time--long after my time here. The + settling of the war and the beginning of peace activities, whenever + these come, will involve a great volume of work. But I've no + ambition to have these things in hand. As soon as a natural time of + relief shall come, I'll go and be happier in my going than you or + anybody else can guess. + + Now we go to get my digestion stiffened up for another long + tug--unless the Germans proceed forthwith to knock us out--which + they cannot do. + + With my love to everybody on the Hill, + + Affectionately yours, + W.H.P. + +Mr. and Mrs. Waldorf Astor--since become Viscount and Viscountess +Astor--had offered the Pages the use of their beautiful seaside house at +Sandwich, Kent, and it was the proposed vacation here to which Page +refers in this letter. He obtained a six weeks' leave of absence and +almost the last letters which Page wrote from England are dated from +this place. These letters have all the qualities of Page at his best: +but the handwriting is a sad reminder of the change that was +progressively taking place in his physical condition. It is still a +clear and beautiful script, but there are signs of a less steady hand +than the one that had written the vigorous papers of the preceding four +years. + + _Memorandum_ + + Sandwich, Kent, Sunday, 19 May, 1918. + +We're at Rest Harrow and it's a fine, sunny early spring Carolina day. +The big German drive has evidently begun its second phase. We hear the +guns distinctly. We see the coast-guard aeroplanes at almost any time +o'day. What is the mood about the big battle? + +The soldiers--British and French--have confidence in their ability to +hold the Germans back from the Channel and from Paris. Yet can one rely +on the judgment of soldiers? They have the job in hand and of course +they believe in themselves. While one does not like in the least to +discount their judgment and their hopefulness, for my part I am not +_quite_ so sure of their ability to make sound judgments as I wish I +were. The chances are in favour of their success; but--suppose they +should have to yield and give up Calais and other Channel ports? Well, +they've prepared for it as best they can. They have made provision for +commandeering most of the hotels in London that are not yet taken +over--for hospitals for the wounded now in France. + +And the war would take on a new phase. Whatever should become of the +British and American armies, the Germans would be no nearer having +England than they now are. They would not have command of the sea. The +combined British and American fleets could keep every German ship off +the ocean and continue the blockade by sea--indefinitely; and, if the +peoples of the two countries hold fast, a victory would be won at +last--at sea. + + _To Ralph W. Page_ + + Rest Harrow, Sandwich, Kent. + May 19, 1918. + + DEAR RALPH: + + I felt very proud yesterday when I read T.R.'s good word in the + _Outlook_ about your book[76]. If I had written what he said + myself--I mean, if I had written what I think of the book--I should + have said this very thing. And there is one thing more I should + have said, viz.:--All your life and all my life, we have cultivated + the opinion at home that we had nothing to do with the rest of the + world, nothing to do with Europe in particular--and in our + political life our hayseed spokesmen have said this over and over + again till many people, perhaps most people, came really to believe + that it was true. Now this aloofness, this utterly detached + attitude, was a pure invention of the shirt-sleeve statesman at + home. I have long concluded, for other reasons as well as for this, + that these men are the most ignorant men in the whole world; more + ignorant--because they are viciously ignorant--than the Negro boys + who act as caddies at Pinehurst; more ignorant than the inmates of + the Morganton Asylum; more ignorant than sheep or rabbits or + idiots. They have been the chief hindrances of our country--worse + than traitors, in effect. It is they, in fact, who kept our people + ignorant of the Germans, ignorant of the English, ignorant of our + own history, ignorant of ourselves. Now your book, without + mentioning the subject, shows this important fact clearly, by + showing that our aloofness has all been a fiction. _We've been in + the world--and right in the middle of the world--the whole time_. + + And our public consciousness of this fact has enormously slipped + back. Take Franklin, Madison, Monroe, Jefferson; take Hay, + Root--and then consider some of our present representatives! One + good result of the war and of our being in it will be the + restoration of our foreign consciousness. Every one of the half + million, or three million, soldiers who go to France will know more + about foreign affairs than all Congress knew two years ago. + + A stay of nearly five years in London (five years ago to-day I was + on the ship coming here) with no absence long enough to give any + real rest, have got my digestion wrong. I've therefore got a real + leave for two months. Your mother and I have a beautiful house here + that has been lent to us, right on the Channel where there's + nothing worth bombing and where as much sunshine and warmth come + as come anywhere in England. We got here last night and to-day is + as fine an early spring day as you ever had in the Sandhills. I + shall golf and try to find me an old horse to ride, and I'll stay + out in the sunshine and try to get the inside machinery going all + right. We may have a few interruptions, but I hope not many, if the + Germans leave us alone. Your mother has got to go to Newcastle to + christen a new British warship--a compliment the Admiralty pays her + "to bind the two nations closer together" etc. etc. And I've got to + go to Cambridge to receive an LL.D. for the President. Only such + things are allowed to interrupt us. And we are very much hoping to + see Frank here. + + We are in sound of the battle. We hear the big guns whenever we go + outdoors. A few miles down the beach is a rifle range and we hear + the practice there. Almost any time of day we can hear aeroplanes + which (I presume) belong to the coast guard. There's no danger of + forgetting the war, therefore, unless we become stone deaf. But + this decent air and sunshine are blessings of the highest kind. I + never became so tired of anything since I had the measles as I've + become of London. My Lord! it sounded last night as if we had + jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Just as we were about to + go to bed the big gun on the beach--just outside the fence around + our yard--about 50 yards from the house, began its thundering + belch--five times in quick succession, rattling the windows and + shaking the very foundation of things. Then after a pause of a few + minutes, another round of five shots. Then the other guns all along + the beach took up the chorus--farther off--and the inland guns + followed. They are planted all the way to London--ninety miles. For + about two hours we had this roar and racket. There was an air raid + on, and there were supposed to be twenty-five or thirty German + planes on their way to London. I hear that it was the worst raid + that London has had. Two of them were brought down--that's the only + good piece of news I've heard about it. Well, we are not supposed + to be in danger. They fly over us on the way to bigger game. At any + rate I'll take the risk for this air and sunshine. Trenches and + barbed wire run all along the beach--I suppose to help in case of + an invasion. But an invasion is impossible in my judgment. Holy + Moses! what a world!--the cannon in the big battle in France + roaring in our ears all the time, this cannon at our door likely to + begin action any night and all the rest along the beach and on the + way to London, and this is what we call rest! The world is upside + down, all crazy, all murderous; but we've got to stop this barbaric + assault, whatever the cost. + + Ray Stannard Baker is spending a few days with us, much to our + pleasure. + + With love to Leila and the babies, + + Yours affectionately, + W.H.P. + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + Rest Harrow, Sandwich Beach, + Sandwich, Kent, England. + May 20, 1918. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + ... I can't get quite to the bottom of the anti-English feeling at + Washington. God knows, this people have their faults. Their social + system and much else here is mediæval. I could write several + volumes in criticism of them. So I could also in criticism of + anybody else. But Jefferson's[77] letter is as true to-day as it + was when he wrote it. One may or may not have a lot of sentiment + about it; but, without sentiment, it's mere common sense, mere + prudence, the mere instinct of safety to keep close to Great + Britain, to have a decent respect for the good qualities of these + people and of this government. Certainly it is a mere + perversity--lost time--lost motion, lost everything--to cherish a + dislike and a distrust of them--a thing that I cannot wholly + understand. While we are, I fear, going to have trade troubles and + controversies, my feeling is, on the whole, in spite of the + attitude of our official life, that an increasing number of our + people are waking up to what England has done and is and may be + depended on to do. Isn't that true? + + We've no news here. We see nobody who knows anything. I am far from + strong--the old stomach got tired and I must gradually coax it back + to work. That's practically my sole business now for a time, and + it's a slow process. But it's coming along and relief from seeing + hordes of people is as good as medicine. + + Affectionately, + W.H.P. + + _To the President_ + + Sandwich, May 24, 1918. + + DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: + + Your speeches have a cumulative effect in cheering up the British. + As you see, if you look over the mass of newspaper clippings that I + send to the Department, or have them looked over, the British press + of all parties and shades of opinion constantly quote them + approvingly and gratefully. They have a cumulative effect, too, in + clearing the atmosphere. Take, for instance, your declaration in + New York about standing by Russia. All the allied governments in + Europe wish to stand by Russia, but their pressing business with + the war, near at hand, causes them in a way to forget Russia; and + certainly the British public, all intent on the German "drive" in + France had in a sense forgotten Russia. You woke them up. And your + "Why set a limit to the American Army?" has had a cheering effect. + As leader and spokesman of the enemies of Germany--by far the best + trumpet-call spokesman and the strongest leader--your speeches are + worth an army in France and more, for they keep the proper moral + elevation. All this is gratefully recognized here. Public opinion + toward us is wholesome and you have a "good press" in this Kingdom. + In this larger matter, all is well. The English faults are the + failings of the smaller men--about smaller matters--not of the + large men nor of the public, about large matters. + + In private, too, thoughtful Englishmen by their fears pay us high + tribute. I hear more and more constantly such an opinion as this: + "You see, when the war is over, you Americans will have much the + largest merchant fleet. You will have much the largest share of + money, and England and France and all the rest of the world will + owe you money. You will have a large share of essential raw + materials. You will have the machinery for marine insurance and for + foreign banking. You will have much the largest volume of + productive labour. And you will know the world as you have never + known it before. What then is going to become of British trade?" + + The best answer I can give is: "Adopt American methods of + manufacture, and the devil take the hindmost. There will be for a + long time plenty for everybody to do; and let us make sure that we + both play the game fairly: that's the chief matter to look out + for." That's what I most fear in the decades following the end of + the war--trade clashes. + + The Englishman's pride will be hurt. I recall a speech made to me + by the friendliest of the British--Mr. Balfour himself: "I confess + that as an Englishman it hurts my pride to have to borrow so much + even from you. But I will say that I'd rather be in your debt than + in anybody else's." + + _To Edward M. House_ + + May 27, 1918. + + MY DEAR HOUSE: + + ... I can write in the same spirit of the Labour Group which left + for home last week. Nobody has been here from our side who had a + better influence than they. They emphatically stuck by their + instructions and took pleasure, against the blandishments of + certain British Socialists, in declaring against any meeting with + anybody from the enemy countries to discuss "peace-by-negotiation" + or anything else till the enemy is whipped. They made admirable + speeches and proved admirable representatives of the bone and sinew + of American manhood. They had dead-earnestness and good-humour and + hard horse-sense. + + This sort of visit is all to the good. Great good they do, too, in + the present English curiosity to see and hear the right sort of + frank, candid Americans. Nobody who hasn't been here lately can + form an idea of the eagerness of all classes to hear and learn + about the United States. There never was, and maybe never will be + again, such a chance to inform the British and--to help them toward + a rights understanding of the United States and our people. We are + not half using the opportunity. There seems to be a feeling on your + side the ocean that we oughtn't to send men here to "lecture" the + British. No typical, earnest, sound American who has been here has + "lectured" the British. They have all simply told facts and + instructed them and won their gratitude and removed misconceptions. + For instance, I have twenty inquiries a week about Dr. Buttrick. He + went about quietly during his visit here and talked to university + audiences and to working-men's meetings and he captured and + fascinated every man he met. He simply told them American facts, + explained the American spirit and aims and left a grateful memory + everywhere. Buttrick cost our Government nothing: he paid his own + way. But if he had cost as much as a regiment it would have been + well spent. The people who heard him, read American utterances, + American history, American news in a new light. And most of his + talk was with little groups of men, much of it even in private + conversation. He did no orating or "lecturing." A hundred such men, + if we had them, would do more for a perfect understanding with the + British people than anything else whatsoever could do. + + Yours sincerely, + WALTER H. PAGE. + + _To Arthur W. Page_ + + Sandwich, May 27, 1918. + + DEAR ARTHUR: + + ... I do get tired--my Lord! how tired!--not of the work but of the + confinement, of the useless things I have to spend time on, of the + bad digestion that has overtaken me, of London, of the weather, of + absence from you all--of the general breaking up of the world, of + this mad slaughter of men. But, after all, this is the common lot + now and I am grateful for a chance to do what I can. That's the + true way to look at it. + + ... Worry? I don't worry about anything except the war in general + and this mad world so threatened by these devil barbarians. And I + have a feeling that, when we get a few thousand flying machines, + we'll put an end to that, alas! with the loss of many of our brave + boys. I hear the guns across the channel as I write--an unceasing + boom! boom! boom! That's what takes the stuff out of me and gets my + inside machinery wrong. Still, I'm gradually getting even that back + to normal. Golf and the poets are fine medicine. I read Keats the + other day, with entire forgetfulness of the guns. Here we have a + comfortable house, our own servants (as many as we need), a + beautiful calm sea, a perfect air and for the present ideal + weather. There's nobody down here but Scottish soldiers. We've + struck up a pleasant acquaintance with them; and some of the + fellows from the Embassy come down week ends. Only the murderous + guns keep their eternal roar. + + Thanks, thanks, a thousand thanks, old man. It'll all work out + right. + + ... I look at it in this way: all's well that ends well. We are now + doing our duty. That's enough. These things don't bother me, + because doing our duty now is worth a million years of past errors + and shortcomings. + + Your mother's well and spry--very, and the best company in the + world. We're having a great time. + + Bully for the kids! Kiss 'em for me and Mollie too. + + Affectionately, + W.H.P. + +Make Shoecraft tell you everything. He's one of the best boys and truest +in the world. + + _To Ralph W. Page_ + + Rest Harrow, Sandwich, Kent. + June 7, 1918. + + MY DEAR RALPH: + + ... I have all along cherished an expectation of two things--(1) + That when we did get an American Army by conscription, if it should + remain at war long enough to learn the game, it would become the + best army that the world ever saw, for the simple reason that its + ranks would contain more capable men than any other country has + ever produced. The proof of this comes at once. Even our new and + raw troops have astonished the veterans of the French and British + armies and (I have no doubt) of the German Army also. It'll be our + men who will whip the Germans, and there are nobody else's men who + could do it. We've already saved the Entente from collapse by our + money. We'll save the day again by our fighting men. That is to + say, we'll save the world, thank God; and I fear it couldn't have + been saved in any other way. (2) Since the people by their mood + command and compel efficiency, the most efficient people will at + last (as recent events show) get at the concrete jobs, in spite of + anybody's preferences or philosophy. And this seems at last to be + taking place. What we have suffered and shall suffer is not failure + but delays and delays and bunglings. But they've got to end by the + sheer pressure of the people's earnestness. These two things, then, + are all to the good. + + I get the morning papers here at noon. And to-day I am all alone. + Your mother went early on her journey to launch a British + battleship. I haven't had a soul to speak to all day but my + servants. At noon, therefore, I was rather eager for the papers. I + saw at a glance that a submarine is at work off the New Jersey + coast! It's an awful thing for the innocent victims, to be + drowned. But their deaths have done us a greater service than 100 + times as many lives lost in battle. If anybody lacked earnestness + about the war, I venture to guess that he doesn't lack it any + longer. If the fools would now only shell some innocent town on the + coast, the journey to Berlin would be shortened. + + If the Germans had practised a chivalrous humanity in their war for + conquest, they'd have won it. Nothing on earth can now save them; + for the world isn't big enough to hold them and civilized people. + Nor is there any room for pacifists till this grim business is + done. + + Affectionately, + W.H.P. + +The last piece of writing from Sandwich is the following memorandum: + + Sandwich, Kent. + June 10, 1918. + + The Germans continue to gain ground in France--more slowly, but + still they gain. The French and British papers now give space to + plans for the final defense--the desperate defense--of Paris. The + Germans are only forty miles away. Slocum, military attaché, thinks + they will get it and he reports the same opinion at the War + Office--because the Germans have taken such a large number of guns + and so much ammunition. Some of these guns were meant for the + American troops, and they cannot now be replaced in time if the + German advance continues. But I do not know enough facts at first + hand to form an opinion. But, if Paris be taken, the war will go on + a long time--unless the English-speaking rulers make a compromise. + And, then, in another form--and forms--it'll go on + indefinitely.--There has been no more perilous or uncertain or + anxious time than now. + + The United States too late, too late, too late: what if it should + turn out so? + + * * * * * + +But it did not turn out so. Even while Page was penning these lines +great events were taking place in France and the American troops were +having a large share in them. In June the Americans stopped the German +troops at Belleau Wood--a battle which proved the mettle of these fresh +levies not only for the benefit of the Germans but of the Allies as +well. Thus Page had the great satisfaction of returning to London while +the city was ringing with the praise of these achievements. He found +that the atmosphere had materially changed since he had last been in the +British capital; when he had left for Sandwich there had been a general +expectation that the Germans would get Paris or the Channel ports; now, +however, there was every confidence of victory. Greatly as Page rejoiced +over the new prospect, however, the fight at Belleau Wood brought him +his last great sorrow. His nephew, Allison M. Page, of Aberdeen, North +Carolina, the son of his youngest brother, Frank, lost his life in that +engagement. At first the young man was reported "missing"; the +investigation set afoot by the Ambassador for some time brought no +definite information. One of the most pathetic of Page's papers is a +brief note addressed by him to Allison Page, asking him for news: "It's +been a long time since we heard from you," Page wrote his nephew. "Write +how it goes with you. Affectionately, Uncle Wat." After travelling over +a considerable part of France, this note found its way back to the +Embassy. The boy--he was only 19--had been killed in action near Belleau +Wood, on June 25th, while leading his detachment in an attack on a +machine gun. Citations and decorations for gallantry in action were +given posthumously by General Pershing, Marshal Pétain, Major-General +Omar Bundy, and Major-General John A. LeJeune. + +And now the shadows began to close in rapidly on Page. In early July +Major Frank C. Page, the Ambassador's youngest son, came over from +France. A brief glance at his father convinced him that he was dying. By +this time the Ambassador had ceased to go to the Chancery, but was +transacting the most imperative business propped up in a chair at home. +His mind was possessed by two yearnings: one was to remain in London +until the end of the war, the other was to get back to his childhood +home in North Carolina. Young Page urged his father to resign, but the +weary invalid insisted on sticking to his post. On this point it seemed +impossible to move him. Knowing that his brother Arthur had great +influence with his father, Frank Page cabled, asking him to come to +England immediately. Arthur took the first boat, reaching London late in +July. + +The Ambassador's two sons then gently pressed upon their father the fact +that he must resign. Weak as he was, the Ambassador was still obdurate. + +"No," he said. "It's quitting on the job. I must see the war through. I +can't quit until it's over." + +But Sir William Osler, Page's physician and devoted friend, exercised +his professional authority and insisted on the resignation. Finally Page +consented. + + _To the President_ + + American Embassy, London, + August 1, 1918. + + MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: + + I have been struggling for a number of months against the necessity + to write you this note; for my doctors now advise me to give up all + work for a period--my London doctor says for six months. I have a + progressive digestive trouble which does not yield to the usual + treatment. It's the war, five London winters, and the unceasing + labour which is now the common lot. I am ashamed to say that these + have brought me to something near a breakdown. I have had Sir + William Osler as well as two distinguished London physicians for + several months. The digestive trouble has brought other ills in its + train; and I am assured that they will yield to freedom from + responsibility and complete rest for a time in a dry, warm climate + and that they are not likely to yield to anything else. + + I see nothing else to do then but to bow to the inevitable and to + ask you to be kind enough to relieve me and to accept my + resignation to take effect as soon as I can go to Washington and + make a somewhat extended report on the work here, which, I hope, + will be of some use to the Department; and I ought to go as soon as + possible--say, in September. I cannot tell you how great my + disappointment is that this request has become necessary. + + If the world and its work were so organized that we could do what + we should like to do, I should like a leave of absence till winter + be broken and then to take up my duties here again till the war + end. But that, of course, is impracticable. And it is now a better + time to change Ambassadors than at any time since the war began. My + five years' service has had two main phases--the difficult period + of our neutrality and the far easier period since we came into the + war. But when the war ends, I fear that there will be again more or + less troublesome tasks arising out of commercial difficulties. + + But for any reasonable period the Embassy's work fortunately can + now go on perfectly well with Mr. Laughlin as Chargé--until my + successor can get here. The Foreign Office like him, he is _persona + grata_ to all other Departments of the Government, and he has had + a long experience; and he is most conscientious and capable. And + the organization is in excellent condition. + + I venture to ask you to have a cable message sent to me (to be + deciphered by me alone). It will require quite a little time to + pack up and to get away. + + I send this, Mr. President, with more regret than I can express and + only after a struggle of more than six months to avoid it. + + Yours sincerely, + WALTER H. PAGE. + +Arthur Page took his father to Banff, in Scotland, for a little rest in +preparation for the voyage. From this place came Page's last letter to +his wife: + + _To Mrs. Page_ + + Duff House, Banff, Scotland. + Sunday, September 2, 1918. + + MY DEAR: + + ... I've put the period of our life in London, in my mind, as + closed. That epoch is ended. And I am glad. It was time it ended. + My job (_that_ job) is done. From the letters that Shoecraft has + sent me and from what the papers say, I think I couldn't have ended + it more happily--or at a better time. I find myself thinking of the + winter down South--of a Thanksgiving Day dinner for the older folks + of our family, of a Christmas tree for the kids, of frolics of all + sorts, of Rest, of some writing (perhaps not much), going over my + papers with Ralph--that's what he wants, you know; etc., etc., + etc.-- + + And I've got to eat more. I myself come into my thinking and + planning in only two ways--(1) I'm going to have a suit like old + Lord N.'s and (2) I'm going to get all the good things to eat that + there are! + + Meantime, my dear, how are you? Don't you let this getting ready + wear you out. Let something go undone rather. Work Miss Latimer and + the boys and the moving and packing men, and Petherick and the + servants. Take it very easy yourself. + + Nine and a half more days here--may they speed swiftly. Comfortable + as I am, I'm mortal tired of being away from you--dead tired. + + Praise God it's only 9-1/2 days. If it were 9-3/4, I should not + stand it, but break for home prematurely. + + Yours, dear Allie, with all my love, + W.H.P. + +On August 24th came the President's reply: + + I have received your communication of August 1st. It caused me + great regret that the condition of your health makes it necessary + for you to resign. Under the circumstances I do not feel I have the + right to insist on such a sacrifice as your remaining in London. + Your resignation is therefore accepted. As you request it will take + effect when you report to Washington. Accept my congratulations + that you have no reason to fear a permanent impairment of your + health and that you can resign knowing that you have performed your + difficult duties with distinguished success. + + WOODROW WILSON. + +The news of Page's resignation inspired tributes from the British press +and from British public men such as have been bestowed upon few +Americans. The London _Times_ headed its leader "A Great Ambassador" and +this note was echoed in all sections of Great Britain. The part of +Page's career which Englishmen chiefly recalled was his attitude during +the period of neutrality. This, the newspapers declared, was Page's +great contribution to the cause. The fact that it had had such +far-reaching influences on history was the one especially insisted on. +His conciliatory and skillful behaviour had kept the United States and +Great Britain friends at a time when a less tactful ambassador might +easily have made them enemies; the result was that, when the time came, +the United States could join forces against the common enemy, with +results that were then daily unfolding on the battlefields of France. "I +really believe," wrote the Marquess of Crewe, "that there were several +occasions when we might have made it finally impossible for America to +join us in the war; that these passed by may have been partly due to +some glimmering of common sense on our part, with Grey as its main +exponent; but it was more largely owing to your patience and courtesy +and to the certainty which the Foreign Office always enjoyed that its +action would be set before the Secretary of State in as favourable a +light as it conscientiously could be." That, then, was Page's +contribution to the statesmanship of this crisis--that of holding the +two countries together so that, when the time came, the United States +could join the Allies. A mass of private letters, all breathing the same +sentiment, began to pour in on Page. There was hardly an illustrious +name in Great Britain that was not represented among these +leave-takings. As illustrating the character and spirit animating them, +the following selections are made: + + _From the King_ + + The information communicated to me yesterday through Mr. Laughlin + of Your Excellency's resignation of the Post of Ambassador and the + cause of this step fill me with the keenest regret. During your + term of office in days of peace and of war your influence has done + much to strengthen the ties of friendship and good-will which unite + the two English-speaking nations of the world. I trust your health + will soon be restored and that we may have the pleasure of seeing + you and Mrs. Page before your departure. + + GEORGE R.I. + + _From the Prime Minister_ + + 10, Downing Street, Whitehall, S.W. 1. + 30th August, 1918. + + MY DEAR AMBASSADOR: + + It is with the deepest regret that my colleagues and I have + received the news that you have been forced by ill health to resign + your office and that the President has consented to your + relinquishing your ambassadorial duties. We are sorry that you are + leaving us, all the more because your tenure of office has + coincided with one of the greatest epochs in the history of our two + countries and of the world, and because your influence and counsel + throughout this difficult time have been of the utmost value to us + all. + + The power for good or evil which can be exerted by the occupant of + your high position is at all times necessarily very great. That our + peoples are now fighting side by side in the cause of human freedom + and that they are manifesting an ever growing feeling of cordiality + to one another is largely attributable to the exceptional wisdom + and good-will with which you have discharged your duties. For the + part you have played during the past five years in bringing about + this happy result we owe you our lasting gratitude. + + May I add that while you have always firmly presented the point of + view of your own country, you have succeeded in winning, not only + the respect and admiration of official circles, but the confidence, + and I can say without hesitation, the affection of all sections of + our people? It will be with universal regret that they will learn + that, owing to the strain of the great responsibilities you have + borne, you are no longer to remain among us. I earnestly trust that + a well-earned rest will speedily restore you to complete health, + and that you have many years of public service still in store for + you. + + I should like also to say how much we shall miss Mrs. Page. She has + won a real place in all our hearts. Through her unfailing tact, her + genuine kindliness, and her unvarying readiness to respond to any + call upon her time and energy, she has greatly contributed to the + success of your ambassadorship. + + Ever sincerely, + D. LLOYD GEORGE. + + _From Viscount Grey of Fallodon_ + + Glen Innerleithen, Scotland. + September 2, 1918. + + DEAR MR. PAGE: + + I have been out of touch with current events for a few days, but + yesterday I read the two articles in the _Times_ on your + retirement. I am very grieved to think that you are going. There + was not a word of eulogy in the _Times_ articles that was not under + rather than over-stated, and reflecting thus I thought how rare it + is in public life to have an occasion that justifies the best that + can be said. But it is so now, and I am filled with deep regret + that you are going and with deep gratitude that you came to us and + were here when the war broke out and subsequently. If the United + States had been represented here by any one less decided as to the + right and wrong of the war and less firm and courageous than + yourself, the whole of the relations between your country and ours + would have been in peril. And if the two countries had gone apart + instead of coming together the whole fate of the world would be + very different from what I hope it will now be. + + I have often thought that the forces behind public affairs are so + tremendous that individuals have little real, even when much + apparent, influence upon the course of events. But in the early + years of the war I think everything might have gone wrong if it had + not been that certain men of strong moral conviction were in + certain places. And you were preëminently one of these. President + Wilson I am sure was another, though I know him only through you + and Colonel House and his own public utterances. Even so your + influence must have counted in his action, by your friendship with + him as well as by the fact of your being the channel through which + communications passed between him and us. + + I cannot adequately express what it was to me personally in the + dark days of 1914, 1915, and 1916 to know how you felt about the + great issues involved in the war. + + I go to Fallodon at the end of this week and come to London the + first week of September--if you and Mrs. Page have not left by then + I hope I may see you. I long to do so before you go. I wish you may + recover perfect health. My eyesight continues to fail and I shall + soon be absolutely dependent upon other eyes for reading print. + Otherwise I feel as well as a schoolboy, but it is depressing to be + so well and yet so crippled in sight. + + Please do not trouble to answer this letter--you must have too many + letters of the kind to be able to reply to them separately--but if + there is a chance of my seeing you before you go please let me + have a message to say when and where. + + Yours sincerely, + GREY OF F. + +A few months before his resignation Page had received a letter from +Theodore Roosevelt, who was more familiar than most Americans with +Page's work in London. This summed up what will be probably the judgment +of history upon his ambassadorship. The letter was in reply to one +written to the Ex-President, asking him to show hospitality to the +Archbishop of York[78], who was about to visit the United States. + + (Office of the Metropolitan Magazine) + 342 Fourth Ave., New York, + March 1st, 1918. + + MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: + + I am very much pleased with your letter, and as soon as the + Archbishop arrives, he will be addressed by me with all his titles, + and I will get him to lunch with me or dine with me, or do anything + else he wishes! I shall do it for his own sake, and still more, my + dear fellow, I shall do it for the sake of the Ambassador who has + represented America in London during these trying years as no other + Ambassador in London has ever represented us, with the exception of + Charles Francis Adams, during the Civil War. + + Faithfully yours, + THEODORE ROOSEVELT. + +The seriousness of Page's condition was not understood in London; +consequently there were many attempts to do him honour in which he was +unable to participate. Custom demands that a retiring Ambassador shall +go to Windsor Castle to dine and to sleep; but King George, who was very +solicitous about Page's health, offered to spare the Ambassador this +trip and to come himself to London for this leave-taking. However, Page +insisted on carrying out the usual programme; but the visit greatly +tired him and he found it impossible personally to take part in any +further official farewells. The last ceremony was a visit from the Lord +Mayor and Council of Plymouth, who came to the Ambassador's house in +September to present the freedom of the city. Ever since Page's speech +of August 4, 1917, Plymouth had been planning to do him this honour; +when the Council heard that the Ambassador's health would make it +impossible for him to visit Plymouth, they asked if they might not come +to London. The proceeding was most impressive and touching and the +Ambassador's five-minute speech, the last one which he made in England, +had all his old earnestness and mental power, though the physical +weakness of the man saddened everybody present. The Lord Mayor presented +the freedom of the ancient borough in a temporary holder, explaining +that a more permanent receptacle would follow the Ambassador to America. +When this arrived, it proved to be a beautiful silver model of the +_Mayflower_. Certainly there could have been no more appropriate +farewell gift to Page from the English town whose name so closely links +the old country with the United States. + +The last scene took place at Waterloo Station. Sir Arthur Walsh came +representing the King, while Mr. Balfour, Lord Robert Cecil, and other +ministers represented the cabinet. The Government had provided a special +railway carriage, and this was stationed at a convenient place as Page's +motor drew up. So weak was the Ambassador that it was with difficulty +that his companions, the ever devoted Mr. Laughlin, on one side, and +Page's secretary, Mr. Shoecraft, on the other, succeeded in supporting +him to his chair. Mr. Balfour, Lord Robert Cecil and the others then +entered the carriage, and, with all that sympathetic dignity in which +Englishmen of this type excel, said a few gracious and affectionate +words of good-bye. They all stood, with uncovered heads, as the train +slowly pulled out of the station, and caught their final glimpse of Page +as he smiled at them and faintly waved his hand. + + * * * * * + +Perhaps the man most affected by this leave-taking was Mr. Balfour. He +knew, as did the others, that that frail and emaciated figure had been +one of the greatest friends that Britain had had at the most dreadful +crisis in her history. He has many times told of this parting scene at +Waterloo Station and always with emotion. + +"I loved that man," he once said to an American friend, recalling this +event. "I almost wept when he left England." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 75: Of Aberdeen, N.C., the Ambassador's sister.] + +[Footnote 76: "Dramatic Moments in American Diplomacy," by Ralph W. +Page, 1918.] + +[Footnote 77: The reference is to a letter written in 1823 by Thomas +Jefferson to President Monroe at the time when the Holy Alliance was +threatening the independence of South America. "With Great Britain," +Jefferson wrote, "we should most sedulously cherish a cordial friendship +and nothing would tend more to knit our affections than to be fighting +once more, side by side, in the same cause."] + +[Footnote 78: See Vol. II, page 307.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE END + + +Page came home only to die. In fact, at one time it seemed improbable +that he would live to reach the United States. The voyage of the +_Olympic_, on which he sailed, was literally a race with death. The +great-hearted Captain, Sir Bertram Hayes, hearing of the Ambassador's +yearning to reach his North Carolina home, put the highest pressure upon +his ship, which almost leaped through the waves. But for a considerable +part of the trip Page was too ill to have much consciousness of his +surroundings. At times he was delirious; once more he lived over the +long period of "neutrality"; again he was discussing intercepted cargoes +and "notes" with Sir Edward Grey; from this his mind would revert to his +English literary friends, and then again he was a boy in North Carolina. +The _Olympic_ reached New York more than a day ahead of schedule; Page +was carried down the gangplank on a stretcher, propped up with pillows; +and since he was too weak then to be taken to his Southern home, he was +placed temporarily in St. Luke's Hospital. Page arrived on a beautiful +sunshiny October day; Fifth Avenue had changed its name in honour of the +new Liberty Loan and had become the "Avenue of the Allies"; each block, +from Forty-second Street north, was decorated with the colours of one of +the nations engaged in the battle against Germany; the street was full +of Red Cross workers and other picturesquely clad enthusiasts selling +Liberty Bonds; in its animated beauty and in its inspiring significance +it formed an appropriate setting for Page's homecoming. + +The American air seemed to act like a tonic on Page; in a short time he +showed such improvement that his recovery seemed not impossible. So far +as his spirits and his mind were concerned, he became his old familiar +self. He was able to see several of his old friends, he read the +newspapers and discussed the international situation with his customary +liveliness. With the assistance of his daughter, Mrs. Loring, he even +kept track of his correspondence. Evidently the serious nature of his +illness was not understood, for invitations to speak poured in from all +quarters. Most of these letters Mrs. Loring answered, but there was one +that Page insisted on attending to himself. The City of Cleveland was +organizing some kind of a meeting dedicated to closer relations with +Great Britain, and the Mayor wrote Page asking him to speak. The last +thing which Page wrote with his own hand was his reply to this +invitation; and it is an impressive fact that his final written word +should have dealt with the subject that had been so close to his heart +for the preceding five years. + + _To Harry L. Davis, Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio_ + + I deeply regret my health will not permit me to attend any public + function for some time to come; for I deeply appreciate your + invitation on behalf of the City of Cleveland for the meeting on + December 7th, and have a profound sympathy with its purpose to + bring the two great English-speaking worlds as close together as + possible, so that each shall thoroughly understand the courage and + sacrifice and ideals of the other. This is the greatest political + task of the future. For such a complete and lasting understanding + is the only basis for the continued, progress of civilization. I + am proud to be associated in your thought, Mr. Mayor, with so + fitting and happy an occasion, and only physical inability could + cause absence. + + Sincerely, + WALTER H. PAGE. + +Page's improvement was only temporary; a day or two after this letter +was written he began to sink rapidly; it was therefore decided to grant +his strongest wish and take him to North Carolina. He arrived in +Pinehurst on December 12th, so weak that his son Frank had to carry him +in his arms from the train. + +"Well, Frank," said Page, with a slightly triumphant smile, "I did get +here after all, didn't I?" + +He lingered for a few days and died, at eight o'clock in the evening, on +December 21st, in his sixty-fourth year. He suffered no pain. He was +buried in the Page family plot in the Bethesda Cemetery near Aberdeen. + +He was as much of a war casualty as was his nephew Allison Page, who +lost his life with his face to the German machine guns in Belleau Wood. + + +THE END + + + + +APPENDIX + +SCRAPS FROM UNFINISHED DIARIES + + +Page was not methodical in keeping diaries. His documents, however, +reveal that he took many praiseworthy resolutions in this direction. +They include a large number of bulky books, each labelled "Diary" and +inscribed with the year whose events were to be recorded. The outlook is +a promising one; but when the books are opened they reveal only +fragmentary good intentions. Entries are kept up for a few days, and +then the work comes to an end. These volumes contain many scraps of +interesting writing, however, which are worth preserving; some of them +are herewith presented in haphazard fashion, with no attempt at order in +subject matter. + + +1913 + +PETHERICK + +Petherick: may he be immortal; for he is a man who has made of a humble +task a high calling; and without knowing it he has caused a man of a +high calling to degrade it to a mean level. Now Petherick is a humble +Englishman, whose father many years ago enjoyed the distinction of +carrying the mail pouch to and from the post office for the American +Embassy in London. As father, so son. Petherick succeeded Petherick. In +this remote period (_the_ Petherick must now be 60) Governments had +"despatch agents," men who distributed mail and whatnot, sent it on +from capital to capital--were a sort of general "forwarding" factotums. +The office is really out of date now. Telegraph companies, express +companies, railway companies, the excellent mail service and the like +out-despatch any conceivable agent--except Petherick. Petherick has +qualities that defy change, such as an unfailing courtesy, a genuine joy +in serving his fellows, the very genius of helpfulness. Well, since a +governmental office once established acquires qualities of perpetuity, +three United States despatch agents have survived the development of +modern communication, one in London, one in New York, and the third (I +think) in San Francisco. At any rate, the London agent remains. + +Now in the beginning the London despatch agent was a mail messenger (as +I understand) for the Embassy. He still takes the pouch to the post +office, and brings it back. In ordinary times, that's all he does for +the Embassy, for which his salary of about ---- is paid by the State +Department--too high a salary for the labour done, but none too high for +the trustworthy qualities required. If this had been all that Petherick +did, he would probably have long ago gone to the scrap heap. It is one +mark of a man of genius that he always makes his job. So Petherick. The +American Navy came into being and parts of it come to this side of the +world. Naval officers need help when they come ashore. Petherick was +always on hand with despatches and mail for them, and Petherick was a +handy man. Did the Captain want a cab? Petherick had one waiting. Did +the Captain want rooms? Such-and-such a hotel was the proper one for +him. Rooms were engaged. Did the Captain's wife need a maid? Petherick +had thought of that, too. Then a Secretary from some continental +legation wished to know a good London tailor. He sought Petherick. An +American Ambassador from the continent came to London. London yielded +Petherick for his guidance and his wants. Petherick became omni-present, +universally useful--an American institution in fact. A naval officer who +had been in Asiatic waters was steaming westward to the Mediterranean. +His wife and three babies came to London, where she was to meet her +husband, who was to spend several weeks here. A telegram to Petherick: +they needed to do nothing else. When the lady arrived a furnished flat, +a maid and a nurse and a cook and toys awaited her. When her husband +arrived, a pair of boots awaited him from the same last that his last +pair had been made on, in London, five years before. At some thoughtful +moment $1,000 was added to Petherick's salary by the Navy Department; +and a few years ago a handsome present was made to Petherick by the +United States Naval Officers all over the world. + +But Petherick, with all his virtues, is merely an Englishman, and it is +not usual for an Englishman to hold a $3,000 office under appointment +from the United States Government. The office of despatch agent, +therefore, has been nominally held by an American citizen in London. +This American citizen for a good many years has been Mr. Crane, a +barrister, who simply turns over the salary to Petherick; and all the +world, except the Secretary of State, knows that Petherick is Petherick +and there is none other but him. + +Now comes the story: Mr. Bryan, looking around the world for offices for +his henchmen, finds that one Crane has been despatch agent in London for +many years, and he writes me a personal and confidential letter, asking +if this be not a good office for some Democrat! + +I tell the story to the Naval Attaché! He becomes riotous. He'll have +to employ half a dozen clerks to do for the Navy ill what Petherick does +well with ease, if he's removed. Life would not be worth living anyhow. +I uncover Petherick to the Secretary and show him in his glory. It must +be said to the Secretary's credit that he has said nothing more about +it. Petherick, let us hope, will live forever. The Secretary's +petty-spoils mind now works on grand plans for Peace, holy Peace, having +unsuccessfully attacked poor Petherick. And Petherick knows nothing +about it and never dreams of an enemy in all the world, and in all naval +and diplomatic life he has only fast friends. If Mr. Bryan had removed +him, he might have made a temporary friend of one Democrat from +Oklahoma, and lasting enemies of all that Democrat's rivals and of the +whole naval and diplomatic service. + + +_November, 1914._ + +We have to get away from it--or try to--a minute at a time; and the +comic gods sometimes help us. Squier[79] has a junior officer here to +hold his desk down when he's gone. He's a West Point Lieutenant with a +German name. His study is ordnance. A new kind of bomb gives him the +same sort of joy that a new species would have given Darwin. He was over +in France--where the armies had passed to and from Paris--and one day he +found an unexploded German bomb of a new sort. The thing weighed half a +ton or thereabouts, and it was loaded. Somehow he got it to London--I +never did hear how. He wrapped it in blankets and put it under his bed. +He went out of town to study some other infernal contraption and the +police found this thing under his bed. The War Office took it and began +to look for him--to shoot him, the bomb-harbouring German! They soon +discovered, of course, that he was one of our men and an officer in the +United States Army. Then I heard of it for the first time. Here came a +profuse letter of apology from the Government; they had not known the +owner was one of my attachés. Pardon, pardon--a thousand apologies. But +while this letter was being delivered to me one of the under-secretaries +of the Government was asking one of our secretaries, "In Heaven's name, +what's the Ambassador going to do about it? We have no right to molest +the property of one of your attachés, but this man's room is less than +100 yards from Westminster Abbey: it might blow up half of London. We +can't give the thing back to him!" They had taken it to the Duck Pond, +wherever that is. About that time the Lieutenant came back. His pet bomb +gone--what was I going to do about it? + +The fellow actually wanted to bring it to his office in the Embassy! + +"Look here, Lieutenant, besides the possibility of blow-up this building +and killing every mother's son of us, consider the scandal of the +American Embassy in London blown up by a German bomb. That would go down +in the school histories of the United States. Don't you see?" No, he +didn't see instantly--he does so love a bomb! I had to threaten to +disown him and let him be shot before he was content to go and tell them +to unload it--he _would_ have it, unloaded, if not loaded. + +Well, I had to write half a dozen letters before the thing was done for. +He thinks me a chicken-livered old coward and I know much more about him +than I knew before; and we are at peace. The newspapers never got the +story, but his friends about town still laugh at him for trying first to +blow up Westminster Abbey and then his own Ambassador. He was at my +house at dinner the other night and one of the ladies asked him: +"Lieutenant, have you any darling little pet lyddite cartridges in your +pocket?" Think of a young fellow who just loves bombs! Has loaded bombs +for pets! How I misspent my youth! + + +_February, 1915._ + +This is among the day's stories: The British took a ship that had a +cargo of 100,000 busts of Von Hindenburg--filled with copper. + +Another: When Frederick Watts was painting Lord Minto he found it hard +to make the portrait please him. When he was told that Lord Minto liked +it and Lady Minto didn't and that So-and-So praised it, he exclaimed: "I +don't care a d--n what anyone thinks about it--except a fellow named +Sargent." + +And the King said (about the wedding[80]): "I have the regulation of the +dress to be worn at all functions in the Chapel Royal. I, therefore, +declare that the American Ambassador may have any dress worn that he +pleases!" + +E.M. House went to Paris this morning, having no peace message from this +Kingdom whatever. This kind of talk here now was spoken of by the Prime +Minister the other day "as the twittering of a sparrow in a tumult that +shakes the world." + +Lady P. remarked to me to-day, as many persons do, that I am very +fortunate to be Ambassador here at this particular time. Perhaps; but it +isn't easy to point out precisely wherein the good fortune consists. +This much is certain: it is surely a hazardous occupation now. Henry +James remarked, too, that nobody could afford to miss the experience of +being here--nobody who could be here. Perhaps true, again; but I confess +to enough shock and horror to keep me from being so very sure of that. +Yet no other phenomenon is more noticeable than the wish of every sort +of an American to be here. I sometimes wonder whether the really +well-balanced American does. Most of them are of the overwrought and +excitable kinds. + +A conservative lady, quite conscientious, was taken down to dinner by +Winston Churchill. Said she, to be quite frank and fair: "Mr. Churchill, +I must tell you that I don't like your politics. Yet we must get on +together. You may say, if you like, that this is merely a matter of +personal taste with me, as I might not like your--well, your moustache." +"I see no reason, Madam, why you should come in contact with either." + +My talk with Bonar Law: He was disposed to believe that if England had +declared at once that she would go to war with Germany if France was +attacked, there would have been no war. Well, would English opinion, +before Belgium was attacked, have supported a government which made such +a declaration? + +Mr. Bonar Law thinks that President Wilson ought to have protested about +Belgium. + +He didn't agree with me that much good human material goes to waste in +this Kingdom for lack of opportunity. (That's the Conservative in him.) + + +_Friday, April 30, 1915._ + +Sir Edward Grey came to tea to talk with Mr. House and me--little talk +of the main subject (peace), which is not yet ripe by a great deal. Sir +Edward said the Germans had poisoned wells in South Africa. They have +lately used deadly gases in France. The key to their mind says Sir +Edward, is this--they attribute to other folk what they are thinking of +doing themselves. + +While Sir Edward was here John Sargent came in and brought Katharine the +charcoal portrait of her that he had made--his present to her for her +and Chud to give to W.A.W.P.[81] and me. A very graceful and beautiful +thing for him to do. + + +_April 30, 1915._ + +Concerning Peace: The German civil authorities want peace and so does +one faction of the military party. But how can they save their face? +They have made their people believe that they are at once the persecuted +and the victorious. If they stop, how can they explain their stopping? +The people might rend them. The ingenious loophole discovered by House +is--mere moonshine, viz., the freedom of the seas in war. That is a +one-sided proposition unless they couple with it the freedom of the land +in war also, which is nonsense. Nothing can be done, then, until some +unfavourable military event brings a new mind to the Germans. Peace +talk, therefore, is yet mere moonshine. House has been to Berlin, from +London, thence to Paris, then back to London again--from Nowhere (as far +as peace is concerned) to Nowhere again. + + +_May 3, 1915._ + +Why doesn't the President make himself more accessible? Dismiss X and +get a bigger man? Take his cabinet members really into his confidence? +Everybody who comes here makes these complaints of him! + +We dined to-night at Y's. Professor M. was there, etc. He says we've got +to have polygamy in Europe after the war to keep the race up. + + +_Friday, May 21, 1915._ + +Last night the Italian Parliament voted to give the Government +war-powers; and this means immediate war on the side of the Allies. +There are now eight nations fighting against Germany, Austria, and +Turkey; viz., Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Japan, Belgium, +Serbia, Montenegro. And it looks much as if the United States will be +forced in by Germany. + +The British Government is wrestling with a very grave internal +disruption--to make a Coalition Government. The only portfolios that +seem absolutely secure are the Prime Minister's and the Foreign +Secretary's (Sir Edward Grey's)--for which latter, many thanks. The +two-fold trouble is--(1) a difference between Churchill (First Lord of +the Admiralty) and Lord Fisher--about the Dardanelles campaign and (I +dare say) other things, and (2) Lord Kitchener's failure to secure +ammunition--"to organize the industries of the Kingdom." Some even +declare K. of K. (they now say Kitchener of Kaos) is a general colossal +failure. But the prevailing opinion is that his raising of the new army +has been good work but that he has failed with the task of procuring +munitions. As for Churchill, he's too restless and erratic and +dictatorial and fussy and he runs about too much. I talked with him at +dinner last night at his mother's. He slips far down in his chair and +swears and be-dams and by-Gods his assertions. But his energy does +interest one. An impromptu meeting in the Stock Exchange to-day voted +confidence in K. of K. and burned up a copy of the _Daily Mail_, which +this morning had a severe editorial about him. + +Washington, having sent a severe note to Germany, is now upbraided for +not sending another to England, to match and pair it. That's largely +German influence, but also the Chicago packers and the cotton men. These +latter have easy grievances, like the Irish. The delays of the British +Government are exasperating, but they are really not so bad now as they +have been. Still, the President can be influenced by the criticism that +he must hit one side every time he hits the other, else he's not +neutral! I am working by every device to help the situation and to +prevent another note. I proposed to-day to Sir Edward Grey that his +Government make an immediate advance payment on the cotton that it +proposes to buy. + +Unless Joffre be a man of genius--of which there are some +indications--and unless French also possibly have some claim to this +distinction and _perhaps_ the Grand Duke Nikolas, there doesn't yet seem +to be a great man brought forth by the war. In civil life, Sir Edward +Grey comes to a high measure. As we yet see it from this English corner +of the world, no other statesman now ranks with him. + + +_March 20, 1916._ + +I am sure I have the best secret service that could be got by any +neutral. I am often amazed at its efficiency. It is good because it is +not a secret--certainly not a spy service at all. It is all aboveboard +and it is all done by men of high honour and good character--I mean the +Embassy staff. Counting the attachés there are about twenty good men, +every one of whom moves in a somewhat different circle from any other +one. Every one cultivates his group of English folk, in and out of +official life, and his group in the diplomatic corps. There isn't a week +but every man of them sees his particular sources of information--at +their offices, at the Embassy, at luncheon, at dinner, at the +clubs--everywhere. We all take every possible occasion to serve our +friends and they serve us. The result is, I verily believe, that we hear +more than any other group in London. These young fellows are all keen as +razors. They know when to be silent, too; and they are trusted as they +deserve to be. Of course I see them, singly or in pairs, every day in +the regular conduct of the work of the Embassy; and once a week we all +meet together and go over everything that properly comes before so large +a "cabinet" meeting. Thus some of us are on confidential terms with +somebody in every department of the Government, with somebody in every +other Embassy and Legation, with all the newspapers and +correspondents--even with the censors. And the wives of those that are +married are abler than their husbands. They are most attractive young +women--welcome everywhere--and indefatigable. Mrs. Page has them spend +one afternoon a week with her, rolling bandages; and that regular +meeting always yields something else. They come to my house Thursday +afternoons, too, when people always drop in to tea-visitors from other +countries, resident Americans, English--everybody--Sometimes one +hundred. + +Nobody in this company is a "Spy"--God forbid! I know no more honourable +or attractive group of ladies and gentlemen. Yet can conceive of no +organization of spies who could find out as many things. And the loyalty +of them all! Somebody now and then prefaces a revelation with the +declaration, "This is in strict confidence--absolutely nobody is to hear +it." The answer is--"Yes, only, you know, I have no secrets from the +Ambassador: no member of his staff can ever have."--Of course, we get +some fun along with our tragedies. If I can find time, for instance, I +am going to write out for House's amusement a verbatim report of every +conversation that he held in London. It has all come to me--from what he +said to the King down; and it all tallies with what House himself told +me. He went over it all himself to me the other day at luncheon.--I not +only believe--I am sure--that in this way I do get a correct judgment +of public feeling and public opinion, from Cabinet Ministers to +stock-brokers. + + +_December 11, 1916._ + +The new Government is quite as friendly to us in its intentions as the +old, and much more energetic. The old Government was a spent force. Mr. +Balfour is an agreeable man to deal with, with a will to keep our +sympathy, unless the dire need of ships forces him to unpleasantness. +The Prime Minister is--American in his ways. Lord Robert has the old +Cecil in him, and he's going to maintain the blockade at any cost that +he can justify to himself and to public opinion, and the public opinion +is with him. They are all eager to have American approval--much more +eager, I think, than a large section of public opinion, which has almost +ceased to care what Americans think or do. The more we talk about peace, +the more they think about war. There is no vindictiveness in the +English. They do not care to do hurt to the German people: they regard +them as misguided and misled. But no power on earth can stop the British +till the German military caste is broken--that leadership which attacked +Belgium and France and would destroy England. Balfour, Lloyd George, the +people, the army and the navy are at one in this matter, every labouring +man, everybody, except a little handful of Quakers and professors and +Noel Buxton. I think I know and see all the peace men. They feel that +they can talk to me with safety. They send me their pamphlets and +documents. I think that all of them have now become warlike but three, +and one of them is a woman. If you meet a woman you know on the street +and express a sympathy on the loss of her second son, she will say to +you, "Yes, he died in defence of his country. My third son will go next +week. They all die to save us." Doubtless she sheds tears in private. +But her eyes are dry in public. She has discarded her luxuries to put +money in the war loan. Say "Peace" to her? She would insult you. + + +_May 10, 1917._ + +We dined at Lambeth Palace. There was Lord Morley, whom I had not seen +since his long illness--much reduced in flesh, and quite feeble and +old-looking. But his mind and speech were most alert. He spoke of Cobden +favouring the Confederate States because the constitution of the +Confederacy provided for free trade. But one day Bright informed Cobden +that he was making the mistake of his life. Thereafter Cobden came over +to the Union side. This, Morley heard direct from Bright. + +The Archbishop spoke in high praise of Charnwood's Lincoln--was +surprised at its excellence, etc. Geoffrey Robinson[82] asked who wrote +the _Quarterly_ articles in favour of the Confederacy all through the +war--was it Lord Salisbury? Nobody knew. + +The widow of the former Archbishop Benson was there--the mother of all +the Bensons, Hugh, A.C., etc., etc.--a remarkable old lady, who talked +much in admiration of Balfour. + +The Bishop of--Winchester(?)--was curious to know whether the people in +the United States really understood the Irish question--the two-nation, +two-religion aspect of the case. I had to say no! + +There is an orphan asylum founded by some preceding Archbishop, by the +sea. The danger of bombardment raised the question of safety. The +Archbishop ordered all the children (40) to be sent to Lambeth Palace. +We dined in a small dining room: "The children," Mrs. Davidson +explained, "have the big dining room." Each child has a lady as +patroness or protector who "adopts" her, i.e., sees that she is looked +after, etc. Some of the ladies who now do this were themselves orphans! + +At prayers as usual at 10 o'clock in the chapel where prayers have been +held every night--for how many centuries? + +At lunch to-day at Mr. Asquith's--Lord Lansdowne there; took much +interest in the Knapp farm work while I briefly explained. + +Lord Morley said to Mrs. Page he had become almost a Tolstoyan--Human +progress hasn't done much for mankind's happiness, etc. Look at the +war--by a "progressive" nation. Now the mistake here is horn of a +class-society, a society that rests on privilege. "Progress," has done +everything (1) in liberating men's minds and spirits in the United +States. This is the real gain; (2) in arraying all the world _against_ +Germany. + + +_Tuesday, January 22, 1918._ + +Some days bring a bunch of interesting things or men. Then there +sometimes come relatively dull days--not often, however. To-day came: + +General Tasker H. Bliss, Chief-of-Staff, now 64--the wisest (so I judge) +of our military men, a rather wonderful old chap. He's on his way to +Paris as a member of the Supreme War Council at Versailles. The big +question he has struck is: Shall American troops be put into the British +and French lines, in small groups, to fill up the gaps in those armies? +The British have persuaded him that it is a military necessity. If it +were less than a necessity, it would, of course, be wrong--i.e., it +would cut across our national pride, force our men under another flag, +etc. It is not proposed to deprive Pershing of his command nor even of +his army. The plan is to bring over troops that would not otherwise now +come and to lend these to the British and French armies, and to let +Pershing go on with his army as if this hadn't been done. Bliss is +inclined to grant this request on condition the British bring these men +over, equip and feed them, etc. He came in to ask me to send a telegram +for him to-morrow to the President, making this recommendation. But on +reflection he decided to wait till he had seen and heard the French +also, who desire the same thing as the British. + +General Bliss is staying with Major Warburton; and Warburton gave me +some interesting glimpses of him. A telegram came for the General. +Warburton thought that he was out of the house and he decided to take it +himself to the General's room. He opened the door. There sat the General +by the fire talking to himself, wrapped in thought. Warburton walked to +the middle of the room. The old man didn't see him. He decided not to +disturb him, for he was rehearsing what he proposed to say to the +Secretary of State for War or to the Prime Minister--getting his ears as +well as his mind used to it. Warburton put the telegram on the table +near the General, went out, and wasn't discovered. + +Several nights, he sat by the fire with Warburton and began to talk, +again rehearsing to himself some important conclusions that he had +reached. Every once in a while he'd look up at Warburton and say: "Now, +what do you think of that?" + +That's an amazing good way to get your thought clear and your plans well +laid out. I've done it myself. + +I went home and Kipling and Carrie[83] were at lunch with us. Kipling +said: "I'll tell you, your coming into the war made a new earth for me." +He is on a committee to see that British graves are properly marked and +he talked much about it. I could not help thinking that in the back of +his mind there was all the time thought of his own dead boy, John. + +Then in the afternoon Major Drain brought the copy of a contract between +the United States Government and the British to build together 1500 +tanks ($7,500,000). We took it to the Foreign Office and Mr. Balfour and +I signed it. Drain thinks that the tanks are capable of much development +and he wishes our army after the war to keep on studying and +experimenting with and improving such machines of destruction. Nobody +knows what may come of it. + +Then I dined at W.W. Astor's (Jr.) There were Balfour, Lord Salisbury, +General and Lady Robertson, Mrs. Lyttleton and Philip Kerr. + +During the afternoon Captain Amundsen, Arctic explorer came in, on his +way from Norway to France as the guest of our Government, whereafter he +will go to the United States and talk to Scandinavian people there. + +That's a pretty good kind of a full day. + + +_April, 19, 1918._ + +Bell[84], and Mrs. Bell during the air raid took their little girl +(Evangeline, aged three) to the cellar. They told her they went to the +cellar to hear the big fire crackers. After a bomb fell that shook all +Chelsea, Evangeline clapped her hands in glee. "Oh, mummy, what a _big_ +fire cracker!" + +FOOTNOTES: + + +[Footnote 79: Colonel (now Major General) George O. Squier, Military +Attaché at the American Embassy.] + +[Footnote 80: The wedding of Mr. Page's daughter at the Chapel Royal.] + +[Footnote 81: Mrs. Page.] + +[Footnote 82: Editor of the London _Times_.] + +[Footnote 83: Mrs. Kipling.] + +[Footnote 84: Mr. Edward Bell, Second Secretary of the American +Embassy.] + + + + +INDEX + +_Age_, Louisville, connection with, I 32 + +Aid to stranded Americans in Europe on outbreak of war, I 304, 307, 329 + +_Alabama_ claims, the framed check for, in British Foreign Office, + I 390, II 78 + +Alderman, Dr. Edwin A., early efforts in behalf of public education, + I 73, 78; + stricken with tuberculosis, but recovers health, I 120; + on committee to lecture in England, II 346. + _Letters to_: expressing fear and hope of Wilson, I 121; + on meeting of the Southern and the General Education Boards, I 125; + after Wilson's inauguration, I 128; + while enroute to port as Ambassador, I 129; + on changed world conditions, II 142 + +Ambassador, some activities of an, I 159; + as a preventer of calamities, I 166 + +America and Great Britain, only free countries in the world, II 121 + +American Government, slight regard for by British, I 145, 152, 190, II 153; + strong feeling against uncourteous Notes of, II 74; + on handling of _Lusitania_ case, II 79; + on being under German influence, II 80, 97 + +American Luncheon Club, could not adhere to neutrality, II 230 + +American Navy, its aid in combatting the submarine, II 294 + +American supremacy, a before-the-war prophecy, I 144; + why the British will acknowledge, I 170 + +_Ancona_, torpedoed, II 79 _note_ + +Anderson, Chandler P., counsel for Committee for relief of stranded + Americans, I 307; + backs up Ambassador in neutrality letter to Wilson, I 373; + gives reasons why unwise to demand adoption of Declaration of London, + I 387 + +Anglo-American-German "pact," planned by Wilson and House, I 281 + +Anglomania, charged against ambassadors, I 257 + +Anti-Imperialists, protest declaration of war against Spain, I 62 + +_Arabic_, sinking of, thought surely to bring on war, II 26 + +Arbitration Treaty, renewal of, I 285; + significance of Germany's refusal to sign, I 294 + +Archbold, John D., attempts to explain Foraker letters, I 88 + +Archibald, James, trapped by British secret service, II 101 + +Asquith, H.H., opposition to the House of Lords, I 137; + at state dinner to King Christian, I 167; + hint to, on Mexican situation, I 185; + conciliatory remarks at Guildhall banquet, I 210; + explains Dardanelles preparations, I 430; + his ministry suspected of pacifist or "defeatist" tendencies, I 430; + aged by the war, II 141; + conversation with, regarding Casement case, and relations between + Great Britain and America, II 168; + refuses to discuss Wilson's peace note, II 207; + in House of Commons speech welcomes America as ally, II 230; + inclined toward seeking peace, II 353 + +Astor, Mr. and Mrs. Waldorf, at the home of, II 380 + +_Atlantic Monthly_, editor of, I 53 + +Atlantic Ocean, a blessing to America, I 162, 170, 310; II 117 + +Austrian Embassy, left in charge of American Ambassador, I 305, 321; + difficulties incident to, I 345 + +Aycock, Gov. Charles B., efforts in educational reform, I 85; + commendatory letter from, I 86 + + +Babcock, Commander, arrival in England, II 274 + +Bacon, Senator Augustus O., declared he would have blocked Page's + Ambassadorship had he known he was author of "The Southerner," + I 93, 226 + +Baker, Secretary Newton D., sees the war at first-hand, II 364; + dinner at Embassy to, II 364, 370; + Page's memorandum of his visit, II 366 + +Baker, Ray Stannard, visit at Sandwich, II 384 + +Balfour, aged by the war, II 141; + drafts reply to Wilson's peace note, II 212; + reply to question how best America could help, II 219; + on the disposition of the German colonies, II 246; + friendliness toward United States averts crisis in Venezuela dispute, + II 249; + much concerned at feeling toward British in the United States, II 251; + his home life, II 257; + conference with Bonar Law and, over financial help from America, II 261; + satisfactory conference with Mr. Polk over blacklist and blockade, + II 265; + explains "secret +treaties" to President Wilson, II 267; + conference with McAdoo on financial situation, II 267; + sends dispatch to President Wilson substantiating previous reports + of Page and Sims on submarine peril which were not taken seriously, + II 284; + indignant over misunderstanding with Brazilian Navy, II 304; + at the Embassy dinner to Secretary Baker, II 365, 370; + at train to bid good-bye, II 402; + most affected at leave-taking, 403 + +Balfour Mission to the United States, II 249 _et seq._ + +Barclay, Esther, Mr. Page's maternal grandmother, I 6 + +Bayard, Thomas F., accused of Anglomania while Ambassador, I 257 + +Beckendorff, Count, talk with, II 82 + +Belgium, violation of, the cause of Great Britain's participation in + the war, I 315; + sending food supplies to aid starving, I 346 + +_Benham_, misunderstanding over American destroyer's action during + submarine operations off Nantucket, II 253 + +Benton, William S., Englishman, murdered in Mexico, I 285 + +Beresford, Lord Charles, complains of attitude of Foreign Office in + pacifying America, I 365; + makes speech in House of Lords on attitude of U.S. Destroyer + _Benham_, II 253 + +Bernstorff, Count von, objectionable activities of, I 335; + efforts to secure intercession of the United States toward peace, I 403; + at the Speyer dinner, I 404; + instructed to start propaganda for "freedom of the seas," I 436; + gives pledge that liners would not be submarined without warning, + II 30 _note_; + thought in England to dominate our State Department, II 80; + cable proposing suspending of submarine war, II 149; + threatens President Wilson with resumption of submarine sinkings + unless he moves for peace, II 200; + news of his dismissal received in London, II 215 + +Bethmann-Hollweg, not seen by Colonel House, I 289; + tells King of Bavaria peace must be secured, II 181 + +Biddle, General, at the Embassy dinner to Secretary Baker, II 365, 370 + +Bingham School, studies and environment at, I 16; + selected for honour prize by Ambassador, I 17 + +Blacklist, feeling in America over the, II 184; + conditions change on American entry into war, II 264, 265, 266 + +Blanquet, General, in Mexican uprising, I 175 + +Bliss, General Tasker, wisdom and tact impress the Allies, II 351 + +Blockade, British, compared to our blockade in Civil War, II 55 _et seq._; + the American Note protesting against, II 69 + +Blockade, strong feeling in America against, II 184 + +Bolling, Thomas, at President Wilson's luncheon, II 171 + +Bones, Miss, at President Wilson's luncheon, II 171 + +Boy-Ed, dismissal of, II 108 + +Brazilian Navy, ships join American unit in European waters, II 304 + +Breitung, E.N., makes test case with _Dacia_ registry, I 393 + +British Navy League, activity in keeping up the navy, I 284 + +Bryan, William Jennings, uncomplimentary editorial on, in _World's + Work_, I 87; + attitude toward concession holders in Mexico, I 181; + refuses to consider intervention in Mexico, I 193; + an increasing lack of confidence in, I 193; + tirade against British, to Sir William Tyrrell, I 202, + to Col. House, I 206; + Asquith's opinion of, 236; + Page's appeal to Colonel House that he be kept out of Europe, I 235, 236; + regards Ambassador as un-neutral, I 362; + insists that Great Britain adopt the Declaration of London, I 373, 377; + interested in the Straus peace proposal, I 407; + resignation after _Lusitania_ notes, II 6; + proposes going to England and Germany to try peace negotiations, II 12 + +Bryan, comments on his political activity but diplomatic laxity, + I 194, 225, 236; + crank once, crank always, II 27; + democratic party wrecked by his long captaincy, II 190 + +Bryce, Lord, hopeless of the two countries ever understanding one + another, II 39; + concern at our trivial notes, II 67; + conversation with, on misunderstandings between America and Great + Britain, and the peace settlement, II 165; + depressed at tenor of Wilson's note proposing peace, sends him + personal letter, II 207; + in House of Lords speech welcomes America as ally, II 230; + frequent visitor at the Embassy, II 315; + attitude toward a League of Nations, II 357 + +Burns, John, resigns from British Cabinet on declaration of war, I 316 + +Buttrick, Dr. Wallace, intimacy with, I 85; + efforts in building up Southern agriculture, I 94; + in hookworm eradication, I 99; + lectures on the United States throughout Great Britain, II 291; + his speeches a source of inspiration to British masses, II 345; + asked to organize a committee of Americans to extend the work, II 345; + informed by Colonel House of Wilson's disapproval, II 348; + warns Page of breakdown if he does not at once return to America, II 375; + beneficial effects of his lectures, II 388 + + +Canterbury, Archbishop of, in House of Lords speech welcomes America as + ally, II 231; + on gratitude shown to America, II 245 + +Carden, Sir Lionel Edward Gresley, his being sent to Mexico, a British + mistake, I 187; + anti-American propaganda in Cuba, I 196; + as British Minister to Mexico shows great hostility to the United + States, I 197; + formally advises Huerta to abdicate, I 209; + Page's part in recall from Mexican post, I 215 _et seq._ + +Carlyle, Thomas, new letters from, discovered in Canada, I 60 + +Carnegie, Andrew, visit to, at Skibo, I 142 + +Carranza, Venustiano, thought by Wilson to be a patriot, I 227, 228 + +Carson, Sir Edward, resists the Home Rule Bill, I 137; + at Bonar Law dinner, II 119; + tells Lloyd George submarines must be settled before Irish question, + II 260 + +Casement, Sir Roger, trial and conviction inspire movement from + Irish-Americans resulting in Senate resolution, II 166 + +Cecil, Lord Robert, incident of the "Boston Tea Party," I 392; + receives German proposal from Page as "German Ambassador," II 201; + letters to Sir C. Spring Rice on Germany's peace proposal, II 201, 202; + Page's interview with to explain Wilson's peace communication, II 208; + at train to bid good-bye, II 402 + +Chamberlain, Senator, presents petition demanding Ambassador's removal, + I 259; + demands Senate be furnished with copy of Panama tolls speech, I 260 + +Chancery, removal of, to better quarters, I 341 + +Children, crusade for education of, I 72 + +China case, the, satisfactorily settled, II 154, 155 + +Choate, Joseph H., understanding of Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, I 242; + accused of Anglomania while Ambassador, I 257 + +Christian, King, royal reception to, I 167 + +Christmas in England, 1915, II 103 + +Churchill, Winston, proposal for naval holiday, I 277, 278, 279, 298 + +Civil War, first contact with, I 1; + his father's attitude toward, I 5; + early recollections of Sherman's invasion, II 10; + the aftermath, I 13 + +Clark, Champ, opponent of repeal of Panama Tolls Bill, I 264 + +Cleveland, President, an influence in formation of ideals, I 40; + conversation with, I 40 + +Cotton, the question of contraband, I 267 + +Country Life Commission, appointed on, by President Roosevelt, I 89 + +Court, presentations at, I 156, 172 + +Courtesies in diplomatic intercourse, necessity for, I 147, 190 + +Cowdray, Lord, head of British oil concessions in Mexico, I 181; + withdraws request for Colombian oil concession, I 217; + long talk with on intervention in Mexico, I 225; + great monetary loss in giving up oil concessions, I 227 + +Cradock, Admiral, does not approve American policy toward Mexico, I 230 + +Crewe, Marquis of, on Page's tact as Ambassador, II 397 + +Criticisms and attacks on Ambassador Page; + the "knee-breeches" story, I 133; + Hearst papers watching for opportunity, I 149, 261; + furor over "English-led and English-ruled" phrase, I 258; + speech before Associated Chambers of Commerce, on Panama tolls, I 259 + +Cuba, a problem, I 176 + +Curzon, Lord, in House of Lords speech welcomes America as ally, II 230 + + +_Dacia_ incident, the, a serious crisis averted, I 392, II 4 + +Daniels, Josephus, protest made against his appointment to + Secretaryship of Navy, I 119 + +Dardanelles: + Asquith explains preparations, I 430 + +Daughters of the Confederacy, considered not helpful to Southern + regeneration, I 44 + +Davis, Harry L., Mayor of Cleveland, letter to, expressing regret at + not being able to attend meeting for purpose of bringing England and + America closer together, II 405 + +Davis, Jefferson, call on, I 37 + +Declaration of London, Bryan insists on adoption by Great Britain, + I 373, 377; + history of the articles, I 375; + the solution of the difficulty, I 385 + +Declaration of War, America's, and its effect in Great Britain, + II 230 _et seq._ + +Delcassé, Kaiser makes proposal to, to join in producing "complete + isolation" of the United States, II 192 + +De Kalb, Courtney, congratulations from, I 59 + +Dent, J.M., loses two sons in the war, II 111; + opinion of Asquith, II 116 + +Depression in England, the dark days of the war, II 64, 81, 94 + +Derby, Lord, "excessive impedimenta," II 344; + at the Embassy dinner to Secretary Baker, I 365, 370 + +Dernburg, Bernhard, instructed to start propaganda for "freedom of the + seas," I 436 + +Desart, Earl of, formulates Declaration of London, I 375 + +Diaz, Porfirio, authority maintained by genius and force, I 175 + +Dilettanti, Society of, dinners at, II 312 + +Doubleday, Frank N., joins in publishing venture with S.S. McClure, + I 64; + the Harper experiment, I 65; + has "business" visit from a politician, I 88 + _Letters to_: impressions of England, I 138; + anent the Christmas holidays, etc., I 164; + Christmas letter, 1915, II 110; + impressions of Europeans, II 132; + on America's programme after declaration of war, II 224; + on wartime conditions and duties, II 240; + on the good showing of the Americans in war preparation, II 324; + depressed at long continuation and horrors of the war, II 325 + +Doubleday, Page & Co., founding of the firm, I 66; + attains great influence and popularity, I 86 + +Dumba, Dr. Constantin, given his passports, II 30 _note_ + +Duncan, Dr., president of Randolph-Macon College, I 20 + + +Education: + efforts in behalf of Southern child, I 72; + church system declared a failure, I 78; + organization of Southern Educational Conference, I 83; + Southern Education Board organized, I 84; + General Education Board founded by John D. Rockefeller, I 84; + the South's awakening, I 85 + +England, why unprepared for war, II 35; + changed and chastened, II 342 + +Englishwoman's letter from Berlin giving Germany's intentions toward + England, America, and the world, I 347 + +"English-led and English-ruled," furor over phrase, I 258 + +"Excoriators," disregarded, I 80-83 + + +Falkenhayn, cynical toward proposals of Colonel House, I 289 + +Farming, love of, and home in South, I 115, 127, 128 + +Field, Eugene, succeeds to desk of, on St. Joseph _Gazette_, I 36 + +Fisher, Lord, remark that Balfour was "too much of a gentleman" for + First Lord of the Admiralty, II 101 + +Flexner, Dr. Abraham, cites Page as greatest educational statesman, I 85 + +Flexner, Dr. Simon, interested in hookworm campaign, I 100 + +Foraker, Senator Joseph B., career destroyed by exposure of + Archbold-Standard Oil letters, I 88 + +Forbes, Cameron, fails to see President Wilson on his return from + Philippines, II 174 + +Ford, Henry, the venture in the peace ship, II 110 _note_ + +Forgotten Man, The, address at Greensboro, I 74 + +_Forum_, The, made of great influence and a business success, + under editorship, I 49 + +Fosdick, Harry Emerson, on proposed committee to lecture in England, II 346 + +Fowler, Harold, in London, I 134; + sent to Belgium, I 338; + enlists in British Army, I 358 + +France, not in favour of England reducing naval programme, I 284; + a gift of a billion dollars to, proposed, II 218 + +"Freedom of the seas," Colonel House's proposed reform, I 435 + +French, Field Marshal Sir John, informs Page of undiplomatic methods of + State Departments in peace proposals, I 425, 427; + aged by the war, II 141 + +Frost, W.G., writes for _Atlantic Monthly_, I 60 + +Fryatt, Captain, execution of, hardens British people to fight to + finish, II 182 + + +Garfield, President, assassination deplored throughout the South, I 39 + +Gates, Dr. Frederick T., interested in hookworm campaign, I 99 + +Gaunt, Captain, sends news from Washington of Bernstorff's dismissal, + II 215 + +General Education Board, organized by John D. Rockefeller, I 84; + assists Dr. Knapp in agricultural demonstration work, I 96 + +George V, received by, I 135; + very likeable, I 157; + overwrought condition in speaking with Page on declaration of war, I 309; + much distressed at tenor of Wilson's note proposing peace, II 207; + as a "human being," II 235; + night spent with, II 236, 240; + luncheon to General Pershing, II 237; + telegram of regret at resignation of Mr. Page and ill-health that + occasioned it, II 397 + +German Embassy, left in charge of American Ambassador, I 306; + difficulties incident to, I 306, 345, 359 + +Germany: + ridicules idea of naval holiday, I 279; + would have been victorious in World War had she signed arbitration + treaty with United States, I 294; + attempts to embroil the United States and Great Britain, I 393, 400; + move for peace, 1916, II 179 + +Germany, travels in, in 1877, I 30 + +Gildersleeve, Professor, Basil L., at Johns Hopkins University + I 24, 25; + Page a favourite pupil of, in Greek, II 299 + +Gilman, Daniel Coit, constructive work as president of Johns Hopkins + University, I 23 + +Godkin, E.L., writes for _Atlantic Monthly_, I 60 + +Grady, Henry, kindness of, I 34, 37 + +Great Britain and the United States only free countries in the world, + II 121 + +Great Britain's participation in the war, the cause of, I 315 + +Greek, proficiency in, I 21, 24, 25, 30; II 299 + +Grey, Lord, ex-Governor-General of Canada, I 150 + +Grey, Sir Edward, credentials presented to, I 135; + high regard for, I 150; + his fairness facilitates diplomatic business, I 155; + talks with on Mexican situation, I 184, 185, 188, 199; + informed as to Carden's activities, I 219, 220; + asked to meet Colonel House at luncheon, I 245; + note to Sir C. Spring Rice on Wilson's address to Congress on + Tolls Bill, I 254; + criticized for "bowing too low to the Americans," I 261; + depressed at extent of Anglophobia in the United States, I 266; + evinces satisfaction at clearing up of problems, I 285; + weeps as he informs Page of ultimatum to Germany, I 309, 315; + "subservience" to American interests, I 364; + accepts Declaration of London with modifications, I 384; + joking over serious affairs, I 390; + welcomes Page's solution of the _Dacia_ tangle, I 394; + letter to Sir Cecil Spring Rice regarding Speyer-Straus peace + proposal, I 408; + states war could be ended more quickly if America ceased protests + against seizure of contraband, I 421; + talk on detained shipping and Wordsworth poems, II 103; + "a God's mercy for a man like him at his post," II 118; + aged by the war, II 141; + satisfactory settlement of the _China_ case, II 155; + speech in House of Commons on Peace, II 157; + nothing but praise heard of him, II 159; + memorandum of conversation with, on conditions of peace, II 160; + receives Senate Resolution asking clemency for Sir Roger Casement, + II 167; + forced to resign, because he refused to push the blockade and risk + break with America, II 233; + guest with Mr. and Mrs. Page at Wilsford Manor, II 288; + walk to Stonehenge with, II 292; + serious blockade questions give way to talks on poets, II 305; + promises government support of Belgian Relief plan, II 310; + frequent visitor at the Embassy, II 315 + _Letters from_: congratulations on Wilson's address to Congress + advising declaration of war, II 234; + expressing grief at Page's departure and citing his great help, II 400 + + +Haldane, Viscount, at Thanksgiving Dinner of the American Society, I 213; + discussion with Von Tirpitz as to relative sizes of navies, I 278; + knew that Germany intended war, II 35 + +Hall, Admiral William Reginald, brings news of Bernstorff's dismissal, + II 215 + +Hanning, Mrs. Robert, sister of Thomas Carlyle, I 60 + +Harcourt, Right Honourable Lewis, eulogizes work of International + Health Board, I 101 + +Harden, Maximilian, says Germany must get rid of its predatory + feudalism, II 193 + +Harper & Brothers, difficulties of, I 64 + +Harrow, visit to, and talk to schoolboys, I 17 + +Harvey, George, succeeds Page as editor of Harper's, I 66 + +Hay, John, understanding of Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, I 242; + accused of Anglomania while Ambassador, I 257 + +Hays, Sir Bertram, captain of the _Olympic_, races ship to hasten + Page's homecoming, II 404 + +Hearst, William Randolph, used by Germans in their peace propaganda, + I 410, 411 + +Hearst papers, antagonism of, I 149, 256, 264, 286 + +_Hesperian_, submarined in violation of Bernstorff's pledges, II 30 + +Hewlett, Maurice, his son among the missing, II 115 + +Home Rule Bill, Carson threatens resistance to, I 137; + "division" in house of Lords, I 138 + +Hookworm eradication, efforts in, I 98 + +Hoover, Charles L., war relief work while American Consul at Carlsbad, + I 334 + +Hoover, Herbert C., relief work at beginning of war, I 333; + selected by Page for Belgian Relief post, II 310 + +House, Colonel Edward M., wires Page to come North, expecting to offer + Secretaryship of Interior, I 118; + transmits offer of Ambassadorship, I 130; + on Cowdray and Carden, I 218, 220; + meets Sir Edward Grey to talk over Panama Tolls question, I 246; + mission to the Kaiser a disappointment, I 289; + no success in France, I 297; + fancied security in England, thinks his mission unnecessary, I 298; + telegrams, to and from Wilson on proffering good offices to avert + war, I 317, 318; + declares bill admitting foreign ships to American registry "full of + lurking dangers," I 392; + declares America will declare war on Germany after _Lusitania_ + sinking, II 2; + sees "too proud to fight" poster in London, II 6; + recommends Page's appointment as Secretary of State, II 11; + fails to alter Wilson's opposition to Taft Committee visiting + England, I 348 + _Letters from_: reporting progress in Panama Tolls matter, I 253; + plans to visit Kaiser and bring about naval holiday between nations, + I 277; + cites further plans for visiting Germany, I 281; + respecting proposed trip to Germany, I 285, 286, + en route, I 288; + note from Berlin, I 296; + from Paris, I 297; + on the outbreak of the war, I 299; + transmitting Wilson's warning to adhere more strictly to neutrality, + I 362; + explains the toning down of demands that Declaration of London be + adhered to, I 378; + on German peace proposals, and giving his ideas for a settlement, + I 413; + proposing that Wilson start peace parleys, I 416; + thinks Germany ready for peace proposals, I 424, 425; + decides to visit combatants in interests of peace, I 425, 429; + talks in Berlin with Zimmermann and others regarding peace parleys, + I 432, 433, 434; + on appointment of Lansing to succeed Bryan, II 11; + on Bryan's intentions of going to England and Germany to try peace + negotiations, II 12; + reporting success of Balfour Mission, II 263 + _Letters to_: comparing the Civil War with the World War, I 5; + on the Mexican situation, I 189; + asked personally to deliver memorandum to President on intervention + in Mexico, I 194; + on visit of Sir William Tyrrell to the United States, I 201; + letters to Page on Mexican situation, I 205, 206; + on Mexican question, I 210, 211; + on Lord Cowdray and oil concessions in Mexico, etc., I 216; + protesting publication of secret information respecting Carden, I 223; + suggesting intervention in Mexico, I 230; + on serious disadvantage in not having suitable Embassy, I 233; + on rashness of Bryan's visit to Europe, I 235; + appeal for attention to cables and letters by State Department, I 239; + on necessity of repeal of Panama Tolls Bill, I 247; + on the prevention of wars, I 270; + asked to further plan to have Wilson visit England, as a + preventative of European war, I 275; + favouring alliance of English-speaking peoples, I 282; + on French protest against reduction of British naval programme, I 283; + transmitting pamphlets on "federation" and disarmament, I 284; + told he will have no effect on Kaiser, I 287; + reply to note as to prevention of the war, I 300; + describing conditions in second month of the war, I 327; + on the horrors of war, and the settlement, I 340; + on difficulties of Sir Edward Grey with Army and Navy officers in + releasing American cargoes, I 365; + on evil of insisting on Declaration of London adoption, I 380; + regarding the Straus peace proposal, I 410; + explaining there can be no premature peace, I 417; + on harmlessness of Bryan on proposed peace visit and cranks in + general, II 13; + commenting on slowness of Wilson in _Lusitania_ matter, II 26; + on sinking of _Arabic_, II 27; + not interested in "pleasing the Allies," II 28; + on Dumba's intrigues, and Wilson's "watchful waiting and nothing + doing," II 30, 31, 37, 38; + on the lawyer-like attitude of the State Department, II 54; + the best peace programme--the British and American fleets, II 69; + on uncourteous notes from State Department, II 72; + on British adherence to the blockade, and an English Christmas, + 1915, II 103; + on the conditions of peace and the German militarism, II 134, 157; + on prophecy as to ending the war by dismissal of Bernstorff, II 197; + on the beneficial visit of the Labour Group and others, II 387 + +Houston, David F., suggested to Wilson for Secretary of Agriculture, + II 114; has proper perspective of European situation, II 176 + _Letters to_: impressions of diplomatic life, II 151; + suggesting vigorous action of Administration in prosecuting the war, + II 226; + on American cranks being sent to England, others prevented, II 359 + +Houston, Herbert S., letters to, giving impressions of England, I 139 + +Huerta, General Victoriano, seizes presidency of Mexico, I 175; + attitude of Great Britain and the United States toward recognition, + I 180; + an epochal figure, I 183; + rejects proposals submitted by Lind, I 193; + proclaims himself dictator, I 197 + +Huxley, Thomas H., delivers address at opening of Johns Hopkins + University, I 25 + + +International Health Commission, endowed by John D. Rockefeller, I 100; + coöperation by British Government, I 101 + +Irish Question, the, British difficulties with, I 159; + cause of feeling against British in the United States, II 251; + Wilson requests Great Britain to settle, II 255; + Lloyd George striving for solution, II 259 + + +James, Henry, frequent visitor at the Embassy, II 315 + +Jeanes Board, appointment to, I 89 + +Jellicoe, Admiral Sir John, vigilance in war time, I 335; + after battle of Jutland, II 141; + reply to question how best America could help, II 219; + drafts dispatch explaining seriousness of submarine situation which + Balfour sends to President Wilson, II 285 + +Johns Hopkins University, teaching on new lines, I 23 + +Johnston, Miss Mary, noted serial of, in _Atlantic Monthly_, I 56, 61 + +Judson, Harry Pratt, on proposed Committee to lecture in England, II 346 + +Jusserand, opinion of the Straus peace proposal, I 407 + + +Keller, Helen, persuaded to write "Story of My Life," I 90 + +Kent, Mr., forms American Citizens Relief Committee in London at + outbreak of war, I 304, 307 + +Kerr, Philip, conversation with on future relations of the United + States and Great Britain, II 84 + +Kipling, Rudyard, loses his son in the war, II 115 + +Kitchener, Lord, speech in House of Lords a disappointment, II 96; + criticism of, II 120; + Memorandum after attending service in memory of, II 140 + +Knapp, Dr. Seaman A., his "Demonstration Work" in Southern agriculture, + I 95; + his funeral, I 96 + +Kropotkin, Prince Peter, writes Memoirs for _Atlantic Monthly_, I 61 + + +Lane, Secretary Franklin, comment on feeling against British for + conduct in Huerta affair, I 198 + +Lansdowne, Marquis of, letter favouring premature peace severely + criticized, II 327, 353 + +Lansing, Robert, regards Ambassador as un-neutral, I 362; + a lawyer, not a statesman, I 369; + insistence that Great Britain adopt Declaration of London, I 378 _et seq._; + attitude of lawyer, not statesman, II 53; + arguments against British blockade, II 62; + mind running on "cases", not diplomacy, II 176; + answers Page's letter of resignation, transmitting President Wilson's + request to reconsider and stay at his post, II 199 + +Lassiter, General, encouraged on trip to the front, II 245 + +Laughlin, Irwin, First Secretary of the Embassy, I 133; + requested to ascertain Great Britain's attitude toward recognition of + Huerta, I 180; + tells Colonel House he will have no success with Kaiser, I 285; + on Germany's intentions toward America, I 351 _note_; + as to depressing effect of the war on Page, I 357; + backs up Ambassador in neutrality letter to Wilson, I 373; + gives opinion that persistence is unwise in demanding acceptance of + Declaration of London, I 387; + Wilson's comment to, on Page's letters, II 22; + diplomatically presents to Sir Edward Grey the Senate Resolution + asking clemency' for Casement, II 167; + letters from, on occasion of Germany's 1916 peace movement, II 180; + commended to President Wilson in letter of resignation, II 394 + +Law, Ponar, gives depressing news from the Balkans, II 104; + dinner with, II 119; + reply to question how best America could help, II 219; + conference with Balfour and, over financial help from America, II 261 + +Lawrence, Bishop, on proposed committee to lecture in England, II 346 + +Leadership of the world, American, II 105, 110, 145, 254 + +League to Enforce Peace, Page's opinion of, II 144; + Sir Edward Grey in sympathy with objects of, II 163; + Lord Bryce, remarks as to favourable time for setting up such a + league, II 165 + +Leaks in diplomatic correspondence, gravity of, + I 147, 148, 151, 222, 223, 224, 235, II 7, 276 + +Lichnowsky, German Ambassador at London, almost demented at breaking + out of the war, I 306, 309, 315; + places blame for war on Germany, I 322 + +Lincoln, Abraham, monument to, erected at Westminster, I 274 + +Lind, John, failure of mission to Mexico, I 193 + +Literary style and good writing, advice on, II 341 + +Lloyd George, his taxing of the aristocracy, I 137; + landowners fear of, I 158; + at state dinner to King Christian, I 167; + on the necessity of reducing navy programme, I 283; + holding up under strain of war, II 83; + aged by the war, II 141; + in House of Commons speech welcomes America as ally, II 230; + has the touch of genius in making things move, II 259; + working for solution of Irish question, II 259; + too optimistic regarding submarine situation, II 287; + his energy keeps him in power, II 354; + at the Embassy dinner to Secretary Baker, II 365, 370; + congratulates Mr. and Mrs. Page on American success at Cantigny, II 375; + letter expressing sorrow at Mr. and Mrs. Page's departure and + reviewing their good work, II 398 + +Loring, Charles G., marries Miss Katharine Page, II 87; + in service on western front, II 375 + +Loring, Mrs. Charles G., letters to, on travelling-and staying at home, + II 88; + autumn, gardens, family, and war news, II 92; + Christmas letter, 1915, II 117; + from St. Ives, II 332, 339 + +Lowell, James Russell, accused of Anglomania while Ambassador, I 257 + +_Lusitania_, torpedoed, I 436; + bulletins of the tragedy received at the dinner given in honour of + Colonel and Mrs. House, II 1; + distress and disillusionment of the Wilson notes, II 6 + + +Madero, Francisco, overthrown as president of Mexico, and assassinated, + I 175 + +_Mayflower_ Pilgrims, dedication of monument to, at Southampton, I 258 + +Mayo, Admiral, sent to Europe to study naval situation, II 322 + +McAdoo, Secretary, conference with Balfour Mission on financial + situation, II 267 + +McClure, S.S., joins forces with F.N. Doubleday, I 64; + the Harper experiment, I 65; + anecdote of, II 303 + +McCrary, Lieut.-Commander, on Committee for relief of stranded + Americans, 307 + +McIver, Dr. Charles D., educational statesman, I 73, 74, 78; + as the character, Professor Billy Bain, in "The Southerner," I 93 + +McKinley Administration endorsed on measures against Spain, by + _Atlantic Monthly_, I 63 + +Mary, Queen, received by, I 136 + +Mensdorf, Austrian Ambassador, marooned in London, at outbreak of war. + I 305, 309; + the war a tragedy to, I 321 + +Mersey, Lord, comments on the tariff, I 150; + at dinner of Dilettanti Society, II 312 + +Mexico, "policy and principle" in, I 175 _et seq._; + difficulties of self-government, II 177; + progress due to foreign enterprise, I 178; + the problem of oil concessions, I 179, 181; + intervention believed by Page the only solution, + I 188, 193, 194, 200, 230, 273 + +Mims, Professor Edwin, letter to, on attacks of Southern theologians, I 80 + +Monroe Doctrine, the Kaiser's proposal to smash it, II 192 + +Moore, John Bassett, suggestion that he be put in charge of + American-British affairs, I 239 + +Morley, John, at state dinner to King Christian, I 167; + resigns from British cabinet on declaration of war, I 316; + visitor at the Embassy, II 315 + +Morley, Lord, on reforms, I 141 + +Morgan, J.P., account of Allies with, greatly overdrawn at time of + America's entrance into war, II 272; + this paid by proceeds of Liberty Loans, II 273 + +Morgan, J.P. & Co., in control of Harper & Brothers, I 64 + +"Mummy" theme applied to the unawakened South, I 45, 75 + +Munitions, American, importance of to the Allies, I 368 + +Munsterberg, Prof. Hugo, pro-German activities of, I 335 + + +Navy Department, ignores urgent recommendations of Admiral Sims that + destroyers be sent, II 276, 284 + +Negro, the, the invisible "freedom", I 12; + wrong leadership after the Civil War, I 14; + fails to take advantage of university education during + Reconstruction, I 18 + +Negro education, and industrial training advocated, I 43 + +Neutrality, strictly observed, I 358, 360; + the mask of, II 230 + +New York _Evening Post_, connection with, I 48 + +New York _World_, correspondent for, at Atlanta Exposition, I 34; + on editorial staff, I 35 + +Northcliffe, Lord, illness from worry, II 66; + "saving the nation from its government", II 116; + attitude on Wilson's peace note, II 207 + +Norway, shipping destroyed by submarines, II 281 + +Nicolson, Harold, the silent toast with, II 301 + + +Ogden, Robert C., organizes Southern Educational Conference, I 83; + after twenty years of zealous service, I 126 + +O'Gorman, Senator, active in Panama Tolls controversy, I 243, 283 + +"O. Henry," on Page's "complimentary" rejection of manuscripts, II 303 + +Osler, Sir William, Page's physician, insists on the return home, II 393 + + +Pacifism, work of the "peace spies," II 210 + +Pact of London, binding the Allies not to make a separate peace, I 409 _note_ + +Page, Allison Francis, a builder of the commonwealth, I 4; + attitude toward slavery and the Civil War, I 5; + ruined by the war, I 13 + +Page, Allison M., falls at Belleau Wood, II 392, 406 + +Page, Anderson, settles in Wake County, N.C., I 4 + +Page, Arthur W., Delcassé in conversation with tells of Kaiser's + proposal to join in producing "complete isolation" of the United + States, II 192; + called to London in hopes of influencing his father to resign and + return home before too late, II 393 + _Letters to_; + on the motor trip to Scotland, I 142; + on conditions in second month of the war, I 335; + a national depression and the horrors of war, I 344; + emotions after _Lusitania_ sinking, II 5; + on the tendency toward fads and coddling, II 10; + on the future relations of the United States and Great Britain, II 84; + on the vicissitudes of the "German Ambassador to Great Britain," 1190; + Christmas letter, 1915, II 121; + on the attitude in the United States toward Germany, II 129; + on the effect of the war on future of America, and the world, II 217; + never lost faith in American people, II 223; + on America's entrance into the war, II 238; + on grave conditions, submarine and financial, II 287; + on the occasion of the Plymouth speech, and the receptions, II 317; + on the Administration's lack of confidence in British Navy, Wilson's + reply to Pope, etc., II 322; + Christmas letter, 1917, depicting a war-weary world, II 328; + on pacifists-from the President down, II 337; + views on Palestine, II 350; + on personal diet, and the benefit of Secretary Baker's visit, II 369; + on the anti-English feeling at Washington, II 385; + while resting at Sandwich, II 388 + +Page, Mrs. Catherine, mother and close companion, I 7; + Christmas letter to, I 8 + +Page, Frank C. in London, I 134; + with his father in Rowsley when news of _Arabic_ sinking was + received, II 26; + in service with American troops, II 375; + realizes his father is failing fast and insists on his returning home, + II 393 + _Letters to_: on building up the home farm, and the stress of war, I 353; + Christmas letter, 1915, II 121 + +Page, Henry A., letters to, stating a government might be neutral, but + no _man_ could be, I 361; + on illusions as to neutrality and the peace proposals, II 152 + +Page, Miss Katharine A., arrival in London, I 134; + married in the chapel Royal, II 87; + _see also_, Loring, Mrs. Charles G. + +Page, Lewis, leaves Virginia to settle in North Carolina, I 3 + +Page, Logan Waller, has proper perspective of European situation, II 176 + +Page, Mary E., letter to, II 376 + +Page, Ralph W., letters to; + impressions of London life, I 161; + on wartime conditions, I 352; + Christmas letter, 1915, II 121; + on longings for fresh Southern vegetables and fruits and farm life, + II 335; + on style and good writing, II 340; + on the big battle, etc., II 371, 372; + in praise of book on American Diplomacy, II 381; + on success of our Army and Navy, II 390 + +Page, Mrs. Ralph W., Christmas letter to, 163 + +Page, Robert N., letters to, impressions of social London, I 153 + +Page, Thomas Nelson, Colonel House confers with in regard to peace + parleys, I 434 + +Page, Walter Hines, impressions of his early life, 1; + family an old one in Virginia and North Carolina, 3; + maternal ancestry, 6; + close sympathy between mother and son, 8, 11; + birthplace, and date of birth, 9; + recollections of the Civil War, 10; + finds a market for peaches among Northern soldiers, 14; + boyhood and early studies, 16; + intense ambition, 20; + Greek Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, 24; + renewed for the next year, 27; + early prejudices against Yankees, 28; + travels in Germany, 1877, 30; + lectures on Shakespeare, 30; + teacher of English at Louisville, Ky., 32; + enters journalism, 32; + experience with Louisville _Age_, 32; + reporter on, then editor of, _Gazette_, at St. Joseph, Mo., 33; + a free lance, 34; + correspondent for N.Y. _World_ at Atlanta Exposition, 34; + on the staff of N.Y. _World_, 35; + married, 37; + first acquaintance with Woodrow Wilson, 37; + Americanism fully developed, 40; + regard for President Cleveland, 40; + founds _State Chronicle_ at Raleigh, 42; + a breaker of images--of the South, 44; + the "mummy letters," 45; + instrumental in establishment of State College, Raleigh, 47; + with N.Y. _Evening Post_, 48; + makes the _Forum_ of great influence and a business success, 49; + a new type of editor, 50; + editor of _Atlantic Monthly_, 53; + discovers unpublished letters of Thomas Carlyle, 60; + attitude toward Spanish American War, 62; + the Harper experiment, 65; + joins in founding Doubleday, Page & Co., 66; + his policy for the _World's Work_, 66; + public activities, 72; + in behalf of education, 72; + his address, "The Forgotten Man," 74; + his Creed of Democracy, 78; + work with General Education Board, 85; + independence as an editor, 87; + severely criticizes John D. Archbold for Foraker bribery, 88; + appointed by Roosevelt on Country Life Commission, 89; + other public services, 89; + author of "the Southerner" 90; + activities in behalf of Southern agriculture and Hookworm + eradication, 94; + his interest in Wilson's candidacy and election, 102, _et seq._; + discourages efforts to have him named for Cabinet position, 113; + why he was not named, 118; + protests against appointment of Daniels, 119; + love for farming, 127, 128; + offered Ambassadorship, 130; + impressions of London and the Embassy, 132, 144; + impressions of Scotland, 142; + handling of the Mexican situation, 183; + belief in intervention in Mexico, 193, 194; + complimented by President Wilson, Bryan, and Sir William Tyrrell, 208; + his part in the removal of Sir Lionel Carden from Mexican post, 215; + commended by Wilson, 219, 221; + suggested for Secretary of Agriculture, 232, 286; + why he wished to remain in London, 240; + work in behalf of Panama Tolls Bill repeal, 244; + assailed for certain speeches, 258, 259; + opposed to including Germany in international alliance, favouring + understanding between English-speaking peoples, 282; + difficulties at outbreak of the war, 301 _et seq._; + asked to take over Austrian Embassy, 305, German Embassy, 306; + varied duties of war time, 337; + difficulties in charge of German and Austrian and Turkish embassies, 345; + relief work in starving Belgium, 346; + ageing under the strain and the depressing environment, 357; + difficulties of maintaining neutrality, 358; + warned from Washington, 362; + tactful handling of the demands that Declaration of London be + adopted, 370, 373; + writes Colonel House that he will resign if demands are insisted on, 383; + memorandum of the affair, 385; + his solution of the _Dacia_ puzzle, 394; + attitude toward a premature peace, 417; + learns through General French of the undiplomatic methods of State + Department in peace proposals, 425, 427 + + VOL. II + + Humiliations from Washington's failure to meet the situation, 5; + remarks on Bryan's resignation, 10; + considered for appointment as Secretary of State, 11; + his feeling toward policies of Wilson, 18; + boldness of his criticism, 21; + Wilson and Lansing express anxiety that he may resign, 24; + describes Zeppelin attack on London, 34, 38; + Christmas in England, 1915, 103; + perplexed at attitude of the United States, 128; + his impressions of Europeans, 132; + summoned to Washington, 148; + memorandum of his visit to Washington, 171; + Impressions of President Wilson, 172; + waits five weeks before obtaining interview, 183; + disappointing interview at Shadow Lawn, 184; + letter of resignation seat to Wilson, 189; + and the reply, 199; + delivers Germany's peace proposal to Lord Robert Cecil, 201; + comments to Secretary of State on "insulting words" of President + Wilson's peace proposal, 207; + implores Wilson to leave out the "peace without victory" phrase + from his speech, 213; + learns of Bernstorff's dismissal, 215; + memorandum of his final judgment of Wilson's foreign policy to + April 1, 1917, 222; + memorandum written on April 3, the day after Wilson advised Congress + to declare war, 228; + on friendly footing with King George, 234; + joins with Admiral Sims in trying to waken the Navy Department to + seriousness of the submarine situation, 278; + Page--the man, 295-320; + moves for relief of Belgium, 310, + and delegates Hoover, 311; + Speech at Plymouth, 316; + goes to St. Ives for brief rest, 332; + heatedly referred to as "really an Englishman" by President Wilson, 348; + memorandum on Secretary Baker's visit, 366; + failing health, 374; + resignation in obedience to physicians orders, 393; + representatives from King, and Cabinet at train to bid good-bye, 402; + rallies somewhat on arrival in America, 405; + the end--at home, 406 + +Page, Walter H. Jr., Christmas letter from his "granddaddy," II 124 + +Page, Mrs. Walter H., arrival in London, I 134; + plays part in diplomacy, I 215, 224, 226; + her great help to the Ambassador, II 315; + the last letter, II 395 + +Palestine and Zionism, views on, II 351 + +Panama Tolls, a wrong policy, I 190; + Sir William Tyrrell's talk with President Wilson, I 207, 209 + +Panama Tolls Bill, Wilson writes of hopes for repeal, I 222; + repeal of, I 232 _et seq._, the bill a violation of solemn treaties, I 242; + the contest before Congress, I 255 + +Paris, capture of city thought inevitable, I 401 + +Parliament, holds commemorative sessions in honour of America's + participation in the war, II 230 + +Pasha, Tewfik, leaves Turkish Embassy in charge of American + Ambassador, I 345 + +Peace, Germany's overtures, I 389; + her first peace drives, I 398; + Wilson's note to warring powers, received with surprise and + irritation, II 205 + +"Peace without Victory" speech, of President Wilson, and its + reception in Great Britain, II 212 + +Peace Centennial, plans being formed for, I 236, 274 + +Pershing, General, at luncheon with King George, II 237; + his presence of moral benefit to French Army, II 290 + +Philippines, a problem, I 176 + +Pinero, Sir Arthur, reminiscences of Page at Dilettante gatherings, II 313 + +Plymouth, Mayor and Council, present the freedom of the city, II 402 + +Plymouth Speech, inspires confidence in American coöperation, II 316 + +Polk, Frank L., invited by British Foreign Office to consultation in + England, II 248; + "could not be spared from his desk," II 256 + _Letter from_: on wonderful success of Balfour Mission, II 263 + _Letters to_: on Balfour and his Mission to the United States, II 252; + on Secretary Baker's visit, II 361 + +Price, Thomas R., noted professor at Randolph-Macon, I 22 + +Probyn, Sir Dighton, calls at Embassy, I 339 + + +Raboteau, John Samuel, Mr. Page's maternal grandfather, I 6 + +Randolph-Macon College, studies at, I 20 + +Rawnsley, Rev. Hardwicke Drummond, a subject of conversation, I 149 + +Rayleigh, Lady, political ability, II 257, 258 + +Rayleigh, Lord Chancellor of Cambridge University, II 145 + +Reconstruction, more agonizing than war, I 14; + effects of, upon State University, I 18 + +Reed, John, account of Mexican conditions influences Wilson's policy, I 228 + +Religion, deepest reverence for, I 80 + +Rüs, Jacob, writes for _Atlantic Monthly_, I 60 + +Rockefeller, John D., organizes General Education Board, I 84; + publication of Reminiscences, I 88; + founds Hookworm Commission and International Health Commission, I 100 + +Roosevelt, Theodore, writes for _Atlantic Monthly_, I 60; + appoints Country Life Commission, I 89 + _Letter to_: introducing the Archbishop of York, II 307 + _Letter from_: praising the Ambassador's services, II 401 + +Root, Elihu, understanding of Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, I 242 + +Rose, Dr. Wickliffe, dinner to, in London, as head of International + Health Board, I 101; + hookworm work, I 127 + +Round Table, The, organization for study of political subjects, II 84; + _Round Table, The_, organ of above, a quarterly publication, II 84, 105 + +Royal Institution of Great Britain, address before, I 191 + +Royce, Josiah, associate at Johns Hopkins, I 25 + +Russian Collapse, effect on the Allies, II 353 + +Rustem Bey, Turkish Ambassador, given passports, II 49 _note_ + + +St. Ives, Cornwall, seeking rest at, II 332 + +St. Joseph _Gazelle_, connection with, I 33, 37, + succeeds to Eugene Field's desk, on I 36 + +Sackville-West, Sir Lionel, handed his passports by Cleveland, II 33 _note_ + +Sargent, John, frequent visitor at the Embassy, II 315 + +Saw-mill units, favourable reception of, II 291 + +Sayre, Mr. and Mrs., hearty reception in London, I 213, 222, 275 + +Schrippenfest, celebration of, in Berlin, I 291 + +Schwab, Charles M., supplying war material to Allies, I 341 + +Scotland, impressions of, I 142 + +Scudder, Horace E., succeeded as editor of _Atlantic Monthly_, I 53 + +Secret treaties, explained to President Wilson by Mr. Balfour, II 267 + +Sedgwick, Ellery, recollections of Mr. Page, as editor of _Atlantic + Monthly_, I 55; + on the high regard in which Page was held, II 298 + +Shakespeare, lectures on, I 30 + +Sharp, Ambassador, his mention of peace resented by the French, I 389; + at President Wilson's luncheon, II 171 + +Sherman's army, cavalry troop camp at Page home, ransack, and destroy + contents, I 10 + +Shoecraft, Mr., receives news of Bernstorff's dismissal, II 215 + +Sihler, Prof. E.G., reminiscences of Page at Johns Hopkins, I 27 + +Simon, Sir John, frequent visitor at the Embassy, II 315 + +Sims, Admiral, with Ambassador Page, dines with Lord Beresford, II 254; + advised of terrible submarine situation, II 273, 275; + arrival and welcome in England, II 274; + recommendations ignored by Washington, II 276; + backed up by Page in strong dispatch, II 278; + praised in letter to Wilson, II 281; + in command of both English and American naval forces at Queenstown, + II 282; + letters from, on submarine situation, II 282; + in high regard with British Admiralty, II 290; + at the Embassy dinner to Secretary Baker, II 365, 370 + +Shaler, Millard, reports on destitution in Belgium, II 310 + +Skinner, Consul-General, on Committee for relief of stranded + Americans, I 307 + +Slocum, Colonel, urged to hasten arrival of American troops, II 363 + +Smith, C. Alphonso, an exchange professor to Germany, II 145 + +Smith, Senator Hoke, "friendly deportation" of, suggested, II 17; + campaign against British Blockade, II 56, 61, 63; + urging embargo on shipments to Allies, II 211 + +South, the, efforts in behalf of, I 38, 43, 74; + three "ghosts" which prevent progress, I 91 + +Southampton speech, press comments on, I 41 + +Southern Education Board, active work with, I 84 + +Southern Educational Conference, organization of, I 83 + +"Southerner, The," only effort at novel writing, I 90 + +Spanish-American War, attitude toward, I 62 + +Speyer, James, connected with German peace move, I 403 + +Spring Rice, Sir Cecil, notifies Washington of British change of + attitude toward recognition of Huerta, I 181; + confidentially consulted by Cot. House regarding demands that + Declaration of London be adopted, I 379; + notifies Washington that _Dacia_ would be seized, I 393; + opinion of Straus peace proposal, I 407; + letters from Lord Robert Cecil on Germany's peace proposal, II 201, 202 + +Squier, Colonel, American military attaché in London at outbreak of the + war, I 301 + +Standard Oil Co., editorial against, in Archbold-Foraker scandal, + I 88 + +_State Chronicle_, connection with, I 42; + editorially a success, I 48 + +State College, Raleigh, N.C., instrumental in establishment of, + I 47, 48 + +State Department, leaks of diplomatic correspondence through, + I 147, 148, 151, 223, 224 + +State Dept., ignores official correspondence, + I 94, 213, 219, 224, 225, 232, 238, 239, II 7, 55, 217, 253; + not properly organized and conducted, II 8; + trivial demands and protests, II 54, 68; + uncourteous form of Notes, I 72 + +Stiles, Dr. Charles W., discovers hookworm, I 98; + work in combatting, I 127 + +Stone, Senator William J., spokesman of pro-German cause, I 380 + +Stovall, Pleasant A., Colonel House confers with, regarding peace + parleys, I 434 + +Straus, Oscar S., used as a tool in German peace propaganda, + I 389, 403 _et seq._ + +Submarine sinkings, Germany threatens to resume, unless Wilson moves + for peace, II 200; + German military chieftains at Pless conference decide to resume + unrestricted warfare, II 212; + the most serious problem at time of American entry into war, + II 273, 275, _et seq._ + +Sulgrave Manor, ancestral home of the Washingtons, restoration and + preservation, I 274; + plan to have President Wilson at dedication of, I 274, 275, II 248 + +_Sussex_ "pledge", a peace move of Germany, II 150 + + +Taft, William H., fails in having Carden removed from Cuba, + I 196, 215, 219; + accepts British invitation to head delegation explaining America's + purposes in the war, II 346; + Wilson's strong disapproval interferes with the project, II 347 + +Tariff Commission, travelling with, for N.Y. _World_, I 35 + +Teaching democracy to the British Government, I 187, 211 + +_Tennessee_, sent to England on outbreak of war with gold for + relief of stranded Americans, I 307 + +Thayer, William Roscoe, disappointed in policy of the _World's Work_, I 66; + letter to, in explanation, I 67 + +Tillett, Wilbur Fisk, friend at Randolph-Macon College, I 20 + +Towers, Lieutenant, shown remnant of torpedo from _Hesperian_, II 40 + +Trinity College, studies at, I 19 + +Turkish Embassy left in charge of American Ambassador, I 346 + +Tyrrell, Sir William, significance of his visit to the United States, + I 201; + unsatisfactory consultation with Bryan, I 202; + explains to President Wilson the British policy toward Mexico, + I 204, 207; + conversation with Colonel House, I 206; + Colonel House informs him of plan to visit Kaiser in behalf of + naval holiday plan, I 277; + advises House not to stop in England on way to Germany, I 289; + expresses relief on withdrawal of demands that Declaration of + London be adopted, I 387; + comment on Dumba's dismissal, and Bernstorff, II 101 + + +Underwood Tariff Bill, impressions of in Great Britain, 150, 172 + + +Van Hise, on proposed committee to lecture in England, II 346 + +Vanderlip, Frank A., at the Speyer "peace dinner", I 404 + +Villa, Pancho, thought by Wilson to be a patriot, I 227, 228 + +Vincent, George, on proposed committee to lecture in England, II 346 + +Von Jagow, offers no encouragement to Colonel House's proposals, I 289 + +Von Papen, dismissal of, II 108 + +Von Tirpitz, discussion with Viscount Haldane as to relative sizes of + navies, I 278; + hostile to Colonel House's proposals, I 289 + + +Waechter, Sir Max, efforts for "federation" and disarmament, I 284 + +"Waging neutrality", policy of, I 362 + +Wallace, Henry, letters to: + on Wilson's candidacy, I 105; + on backing up new Secretary of Agriculture, etc., I 115 + +Wallace, Hugh C., accompanies Colonel House to Europe, I 288; + joins "assemblage of immortals" at Embassy, II 315 + +Walsh, Sir Arthur, Master of the Ceremonies, I 135; + at train to bid good-bye, II 402 + +Walsh, Senator Thomas, anti-English attitude, II 61 + +War, American efforts to prevent the, I 270 _et seq._ + +War, memorandum at outbreak of the, I 301 + +Washington, Booker T., writes for _Atlantic Monthly_, I 60; + induced to write "Up From Slavery", I 90 + +Wantauga Club, activities of the, I 47; + crusade for education of Southern child, 73 + +Wheeler, Benjamin Ide, gives Colonel House information of conditions + in Germany, I 281 + +White, Henry, understanding of Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, I 242 + +White, William Allen, writes for _Atlantic Monthly_, I 60 + +Whitlock, Brand, eulogized, I 334 + +Willard, Joseph E., Colonel House confers with, in regard to peace + parleys, I 434 + +Williams, Senator John Sharp, demonstrates blockade against Germany + not an injury to cotton-producing states, II 63 + +Wilhelm II, nullifies Hague Conferences, I 280; + Colonel House disappointed in mission to, I 289; + derides American arbitration treaty, I 294; + Colonel House's impressions of, I 295; + asks President Wilson to transmit peace offer to Great Britain, I 426; + makes proposal to Delcassé to join in producing "complete isolation" + of the United States, II 192 + +Wilson, Miss Willia Alice, married to Page, I 37 + +Wilson, Dr. William, father of Mrs. Page, I 37 + +Wilson, Sir Henry, succeeds Sir William Robertson as Chief of Imperial + General Staff, II 354 _note_ + +Wilson, Woodrow, first acquaintance with, I 37; + writes for _Atlantic Monthly_, I 60; + Page greatly interested in his candidacy and election, I 102, _et seq._; + Colonel House introduced to, I 107; + memorandum of interview with, soon after election, I 110; + offers Ambassadorship, I 130; + attitude toward recognition of Huerta, I 180; + formulates new principle for dealing with Latin American republics, + I 182; + refuses to consider intervention in Mexico, I 193; + suggestion that he officially visit Sulgrave Manor, the ancestral + home of the Washingtons, I 195; + explains attitude on Panama Toll question to Sir William Tyrrell, I 207; + expresses gratification in way Page has handled Mexican situation, I 208; + letter giving credit for Carden's recall from Mexico, and for + constructive work, I 221; + addresses Congress asking repeal of Panama Tolls Bill, I 253; + plan to visit England on occasion of restoration of Sulgrave Manor, + 1274, 275, II 248; + requested by resolution of the Senate to proffer his good offices + for mediation between Austria and Serbia, I 317; + telegrams to and from Colonel House on proffering good offices to + avert war, I 317, 318; + message to King George proffering good offices to avert war, I 320; + neutrality letter to the Senate, I 360; + desires to start peace parleys, I 416; + insists on pressing the issue, I 423; + the "Too proud to fight" speech derided and denounced in England, II 6; + the _Lusitania_ notes, II 6; + Page's feeling toward policies of, II 8; + appreciation of Page letters, II 22; + peace activities after Sussex "pledge", II 148; + his reply to the German note concerning the submarine cessation, + II 150, 156; + reluctant to speak on foreign matters with his ambassadors, II 171, 172; + lived too much alone, no social touch, II 173; + addresses Congress on threatened railroad strike, II 172; + refuses to send high ranking officers as military attachés, II 177; + interview with Ambassador Page at Shadow Lawn, II 185; + sends peace communication to all the warring Powers, II 204; + reception in Great Britain of the "Peace without Victory" speech, II 212; + answer to the Pope's peace proposal, II 321, 323; + coldness toward the Allies, II 345; + his strong disapproval of closer relations with Great Britain, + prevents visit of Taft and noted committee, II 346 + _Letters from_: + on "mistaken" opinion of British critics of Carranza and Villa, + I 227, 228; + expressing gratitude and regard of and hopes for repeal of Toll + Bill, I 254; + regarding the criticized speeches, I 262, 265; + reply to proposal to visit England, I 276; + acceptance of Page's resignation, II 396 + _Letters to_: + congratulations and suggestions on Election Day, I 108; + as to best man for Secretary of Agriculture, I 114; + impressions of the British people, I 144; + on royal reception to King Christian of Denmark, I 167; + on the Mexican situation, I 184, 185, 188; + memorandum sent through Colonel House on intervention in Mexico, I 194; + on feeling in England toward Panama Tolls question, I 248; + recapitulating events bringing the two countries more in unity, I 251; + explanation of speech before Associated Chambers of Commerce, I 260, 263; + suggests speech attacking Anglophobia, I 264; + on the outbreak of war, I 303; + on German atrocities, I 325; + on agreement of nations not to make peace separately, etc., I 338; + attempts to enlighten on the real nature of the war, I 370; + "Rough notes toward an explanation of the British feeling toward the + United States," I 373; + on liability of Paris being captured and German peace drive being + launched, I 401; + on feeling of English toward American inaction after _Lusitania_ + notes, II 40, 41, 43, 44, 45; + told that if he broke diplomatic relations with Germany he would end + the war, II 51; + on the military situation, fall of 1915, and the loss of American + prestige, II 94; + while waiting for interview sends notes of conversations with Lord + Grey and Lord Bryce, II 183; + letter of resignation--with some great truths, II 190; + regarding success of Balfour Mission, etc., II 256; + on financial situation among the Allies and the necessity of + American assistance, II 269; + on seriousness of submarine situation, II 280, 283, 286; + on slow progress of war and comments on Lord Lansdowne's peace + letter, II 327; + on British opinion on subject of League of Nations, II 355; + on the cheering effect of his war speeches and letters, II 385; + the resignation in obedience to physician's orders, II 393 + +Wilson Doctrine, the, I 217 + +Wood, Gen. Leonard, methods in Cuba an object lesson, I 177 + +_World's Work_, founding of, I 66 + +Worth, Nicholas, nom de plume in writing "The Southerner", I 90 + + +York, Archbishop of, letter commending him to Roosevelt, II 401 + + +Zeppelin attack on London, II 34, 38 + +Zionism, view of, II 350 + +Zimmermann, German under Foreign Secretary in communication with + Colonel House regarding peace proposals to Great Britain, I 426; + talk with House on peace terms, I 432 + +Zimmermann, says Germany must apply for armistice, II 182 + +Zimmermann-Mexico telegram influence on the United States declaration + of war, II 214. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Letters of Walter H. +Page, Volume II, by Burton J. 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