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.]