sympathy and the practical support of the American people
in such action as it may seem right to you and to the British
people to take in the direction of securing to the nations of
the world that peace of which your majesty has always shown
yourself so earnest an advocate.

"(Signed), THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

"Some such an answer as this would be returned:

"TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:

"In acknowledging with gratitude the expression of good wishes
to ourselves, to her majesty the Queen, and to the people of
the British empire of yourself and the population of the
United States, I desire most cordially to reciprocate the
sentiments of good will. Even more cordially and gratefully, I
acknowledge the assurance of sympathy and support of the great
American people in action directed to securing peace to the
nations of the world. It will be my immediate care to propose
such a course of joint action between us as may secure that
blessing to all peoples in the course of the coming year.

"(Signed), EDWARD.

"Does anybody doubt that, if the two nations bent themselves to the task
in earnest, universal peace could be so secured to all the peoples of
the earth in the course of the coming year? And if it is in truth in
their power to do this thing, how can either conceivably convince itself
that it is not its duty?

"And what a Christmas the world would have in 1907!"

* * * * *

Does any one doubt it? Does any one doubt that, if the two peoples were
in earnest, though the thing might not be brought about in one year, it
is far from improbable that it could be achieved in two years or three?
Since the paragraphs which I have quoted were published, a year has
passed and for a large part of that year the Conference has been in
session at The Hague; and of the results of that Conference it is not
easy for either an Englishman or an American to speak with patience.
Does any one doubt that if the two Governments had set themselves
determinedly, from the beginning of the _pourparlers_, to reach the one
definite goal those results might have been very different?

During the last few years, the two Powers, each acting in her own way,
have done more to establish peace on earth than has been done by all the
other Powers i