just back from Germany and he is on the most intimate terms with
the Kaiser. He tells me he often takes dinner with the family
alone, and spends the evening with them.

I know, now, the different Cabinet officials who have the Kaiser's
confidence and I know his attitude toward England, naval armaments,
war, and world politics in general.

Wheeler spoke to me very frankly and the information he gave me
will be invaluable in the event that my plans carry. The general
idea is to bring about a sympathetic understanding between England,
Germany, and America, not only upon the question of disarmament,
but upon other matters of equal importance to themselves, and to
the world at large.

It seems to me that Japan should come into this pact, but Wheeler
tells me that the Kaiser feels very strongly upon the question of
Asiatics. He thinks the contest of the future will be between the
Eastern and Western civilizations.

Your friend always,
E.M. House.

By January 4, 1914, the House-Wilson plan had thus grown into an
Anglo-American-German "pact," to deal not only with "disarmament, but
other matters of equal importance to themselves and to the world at
large." Page's response to this idea was consistent and characteristic.
He had no faith in Germany and believed that the existence of Kaiserism
was incompatible with the extension of the democratic ideal. Even at
this early time--eight months before the outbreak of the World War--he
had no enthusiasm for anything in the nature of an alliance, or a
"pact," that included Germany as an equal partner. He did, however, have
great faith in the cooeperation of the English-speaking peoples as a
force that would make for permanent peace and international justice. In
his reply to Colonel House, therefore, Page fell back at once upon his
favourite plan for an understanding between the United States, Great
Britain, and the British colonies. That he would completely sympathize
with the Washington aspiration for disarmament was to be expected.

To Edward M. House
January 2, 1914.

My Dear House:

You have set my imagination going. I've been thinking of this thing
for months, and now you've given me a fresh start. It can be worked
out somehow--doubtless, not in the form that anybody may at first
see; but experiment and frank discussion will find a way.

As I thi