ook 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 r