“Why then, tell me,” interpolates the other, “what is at the back of your country’s present resentful attitude toward America?”

The Briton ponders.

“Didn’t someone once say,” he replies at last, “that ’he that is not for us is against us?’ That seems to sum up the situation.  We on our side are engaged in a life-and-death struggle for the freedom of the world.  We know that you are not against us; still, considering the sacredness of our cause, and the monstrous means by which the Boche is seeking to further his, we feel that you have not stood for us so out and out as you might.  Only the other day your Government announced that in their opinion it was time that both sides stated plainly what they were fighting for!  Now——­”

The other checks him.

“Don’t you go mixing up the officially neutral American Government,” he says, “with the American people, or the American people with the inhabitants of America.  In many districts of America, the balance of power lies with people who have only recently entered the country, and who have not yet become absorbed into the American people.  As for our present Government, it was put into power mainly by the people of the West—­people to whom the War has not come home in any way—­and the Government, having to consider the wishes of the majority, naturally carries out the instructions on its ticket.  That is how I, as an average American, sense the situation.  However, that is not the point.  Listen!

“You say that America has not helped you very much?  Let us consider the ways in which America could have helped.  Military aid?  Well, of course that is out of the question so long as we remain neutral, as we agreed just now we certainly ought to remain.  Still, there are more than twenty-five thousand American citizens serving in the Allied Armies to-day.  Did you realize that?”

“I did not,” says the Briton, interested.

“Well, it is true.  There are battalions in the Canadian Army composed almost entirely of men from the United States.  Others are serving in the French and British Armies.  Then there is the American Flying Corps in France.”

“Yes, I have heard of them.  Who has not?  Proceed!”

“Industrial help, again.  We are making munitions for you, night and day.  It is true that we are being paid for our trouble; but the cost of living has risen almost as much here as in your own country.  Also let me tell you that we are making no munitions for Germany, and would not do so, money or no.  The same with financial help.  Loan after loan has been floated in this country for the Allied benefit.  How many loans have been raised for Germany?  Not one!  That is not because German credit is so bad, but because no true American will consent to lend his money to such a cause.  Believe me, the attempt has been made, and strong influence brought to bear, more than once, but the result has been failure every time.