traditions.  Page now dared to hope that President Wilson might associate himself with this great purpose to the extent of coming to England and accepting this gift in the name of the American nation.  Such a Presidential visit, he believed, would exercise a mighty influence in forestalling a threatening European war.  The ultimate purpose, that is, was world peace—­precisely the same motive that led President Wilson, in 1919, to make a European pilgrimage.

This idea was no passing fancy with Page:  it was with him a favourite topic of conversation.  Such a presidential visit, he believed, would accomplish more than any other influences in dissipating the clouds that were darkening the European landscape.  He would elaborate the idea at length in discussions with his intimates.

“What I want,” he would say, “is to have the President of the United States and the King of England stand up side by side and let the world take a good look at them!”

     To Edward M. House

     August 25, 1913.

. . .  I wrote him (President Wilson) my plan—­a mere outline.  He’ll only smile now.  But when the tariff and the currency and Mexico are off his hands, and when he can be invited to come and deliver an oration on George Washington next year at the presentation of the old Washington homestead here, he may be “pushed over.”  You do the pushing.  Mrs. Page has invited the young White House couple to visit us on their honeymoon[54].  Encourage that and that may encourage the larger plan later.  Nothing else would give such a friendly turn to the whole world as the President’s coming here.  The old Earth would sit up and rub its eyes and take notice to whom it belongs.  This visit might prevent an English-German war and an American-Japanese war, by this mere show of friendliness.  It would be one of the greatest occasions of our time.  Even at my little speeches, they “whoop it up!” What would they do over the President’s!

But at that time Washington was too busy with its domestic programme to consider such a proposal seriously.  “Your two letters,” wrote Colonel House in reply, “have come to me and lifted me out of the rut of things and given me a glimpse of a fair land.  What you are thinking of and what you want this Administration to do is beyond the power of accomplishment for the moment.  My desk is covered with matters of no lasting importance, but which come to me as a part of the day’s work, and which must be done if I am to help lift the load that is pressing upon the President.  It tells me better than anything else what he has to bear, and how utterly futile it is for him to attempt such problems as you present.”

     From the President

     MY DEAR PAGE: