he 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 S