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 think of it, turning it this way and that, there always comes to me just as I am falling to sleep this reflection:  the English-speaking peoples now rule the world in all essential facts.  They alone and Switzerland have permanent free government.  In France there’s freedom—­but for how long?  In Germany and Austria—­hardly.  In the Scandinavian States—­yes, but they are small and exposed as are Belgium and Holland.  In the big secure South American States—­yes, it’s coming.  In Japan—?  Only the British lands and the United States have secure liberty.  They also have the most treasure, the best fighters, the most land, the most ships—­the future in fact.

Now, because George Washington warned us against alliances, we’ve gone on as if an alliance were a kind of smallpox.  Suppose there were—­let us say for argument’s