commerce.  They fly the American flag.”  One of them was released that night—­no more questions asked.  The other was allowed to go after giving bond to return a lot of kerosene which was loaded at the bottom of the ship.

If I could get facts, I could do many things.  The State Department telegraphs me merely what the shipper says—­a partial statement.  The British Government tells me (after infinite delay) another set of facts.  The British Government says, “We’re sorry, but the Prize Court must decide.”  Our Government wires a dissertation on International Law—­Protest, protest:  (I’ve done nothing else since the world began!) One hour with a sensible ship captain does more than a month of cross-wrangling with Government Departments.

I am trying my best, God knows, to keep the way as smooth as possible; but neither government helps me.  Our Government merely sends the shipper’s ex-parte statement.  This Government uses the Navy’s excuse. . . .

At present, I can’t for the life of me see a way to peace, for the one reason I have told you.  The Germans wish to whip England, to invade England.  They started with their army toward England.  Till that happened England didn’t have an army.  But I see no human power that can give the English now what they are determined to have—­safety for the future—­till some radical change is made in the German system so that they will no longer have a war-party any more than England has a war-party.  England surely has no wish to make conquest of Germany.  If Germany will show that she has no wish to make conquest of England, the war would end to-morrow.

What impresses me through it all is the backwardness of all the Old World in realizing the true aims of government and the true methods.  I can’t see why any man who has hope for the progress of mankind should care to live anywhere in Europe.  To me it is all infinitely sad.  This dreadful war is a logical outcome of their condition, their thought, their backwardness.  I think I shall never care to see the continent again, which of course is committing suicide and bankruptcy.  When my natural term of service is done here, I shall go home with more joy than you can imagine.  That’s the only home for a man who wishes his horizon to continue to grow wider.

     All this for you and me only—­nobody else.

     Heartily yours,
     WALTER H. PAGE.

Probably Page thought that this statement of the case—­and it was certainly a masterly statement—­would end any attempt to get what he regarded as an unsatisfactory and dangerous peace.  But President Wilson could not be deterred from pressing the issue.  His conviction was firm that this winter of 1914-1915 represented the most opportune time to bring the warring nations to terms, and it was a conviction from which he never departed.  After the sinking of the Lusitania the Administration gazed back regretfully at its frustrated