Would the Allies consider parleys upon a basis of indemnity for
     Belgium and a cessation of militarism?  If so, then something may be
     begun with the Dual Alliance.

I have been told that negotiations between Russia and Japan were carried on several months before they agreed to meet at Portsmouth.  The havoc that is being wrought in human lives and treasure is too great to permit racial feeling or revenge to enter into the thoughts of those who govern the nations at war.

     I stand ready to go to Germany at any moment in order to sound the
     temper of that government, and I would then go to England as I did
     last June.

     This nation would not look with favour upon a policy that held
     nothing but the complete annihilation of the enemy.

     Something must be done sometime, by somebody, to initiate a peace
     movement, and I can think of no way, at the moment, than the one
     suggested.

     I will greatly appreciate your writing me fully and freely in
     regard to this phase of the situation.

     Faithfully yours,
     E.M.  HOUSE.

To this Page immediately replied: 

     To Edward M. House
     December 12th, 1914.

     MY DEAR HOUSE: 

The English rulers have no feeling of vengeance.  I have never seen the slightest traces of that.  But they are determined to secure future safety.  They will not have this experience repeated if they can help it.  They realize now that they have been living under a sort of fear—­or dread—­for ten years:  they sometimes felt that it was bound to come some time and then at other times they could hardly believe it.  And they will spend all the men and all the money they have rather than suffer that fear again or have that danger.  Now, if anybody could fix a basis for the complete restoration of Belgium, so far as restoration is possible, and for the elimination of militarism, I am sure the English would talk on that basis.  But there are two difficulties-Russia wouldn’t talk till she has Constantinople, and I haven’t found anybody who can say exactly what you mean by the “elimination of militarism.”  Disarmament?  England will have her navy to protect her incoming bread and meat.  How, then, can she say to Germany, “You can’t have an army”?

You say the Americans are becoming “restless.”  The plain fact is that the English people, and especially the English military and naval people, don’t care a fig what the Americans think and feel.  They say, “We’re fighting their battle, too—­the battle of democracy and freedom from bureaucracy—­why don’t they come and help us in our life-and-death struggle?” I have a drawer full of letters saying this, not one of which I have ever answered.  The official people never say that of course—­nor the really responsible people, but a vast multitude