voke such an antagonist. A mutual salute of flags was arranged, the
Colonial boundary was adjusted by arbitration, and we claimed no
indemnity beyond an undertaking on the part of Britain that she would pay
any damages which an International Court might award to France or to the
United States for injury received through the operations of our
submarines. So ended the war!

Of course, England will not be caught napping in such a fashion again!
Her foolish blindness is partly explained by her delusion that her enemy
would not torpedo merchant vessels. Common sense should have told her
that her enemy will play the game that suits them best--that they will
not inquire what they may do, but they will do it first and talk about it
afterwards. The opinion of the whole world now is that if a blockade
were proclaimed one may do what one can with those who try to break it,
and that it was as reasonable to prevent food from reaching England in
war time as it is for a besieger to prevent the victualling of a
beleaguered fortress.

I cannot end this account better than by quoting the first few paragraphs
of a leader in the _Times_, which appeared shortly after the declaration
of peace. It may be taken to epitomize the saner public opinion of
England upon the meaning and lessons of the episode.

"In all this miserable business," said the writer, "which has cost us
the loss of a considerable portion of our merchant fleet and more than
fifty thousand civilian lives, there is just one consolation to be
found. It lies in the fact that our temporary conqueror is a Power
which is not strong enough to reap the fruits of her victory. Had we
endured this humiliation at the hands of any of the first-class Powers
it would certainly have entailed the loss of all our Crown Colonies
and tropical possessions, besides the payment of a huge indemnity. We
were absolutely at the feet of our conqueror and had no possible
alternative but to submit to her terms, however onerous. Norland has
had the good sense to understand that she must not abuse her temporary
advantage, and has been generous in her dealings. In the grip of any
other Power we should have ceased to exist as an Empire.

"Even now we are not out of the wood. Some one may maliciously pick a
quarrel with us before we get our house in order, and use the easy
weapon which has been demonstrated. It is to meet such a contingency
that