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 attaches 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 confidenc