Probably most Englishmen, in the early days of the war, preferred that the United States should not engage in hostilities; even after the Lusitania, the majority in all likelihood held this view.  There are indications, however, that King George favoured American participation.  A few days after the Lusitania sinking, Page had an audience for the purpose of presenting a medal sent by certain societies in New Orleans.  Neither man was thinking much about medals that morning.  The thoughts uppermost in their minds, as in the minds of most Americans and Englishmen, were the Lusitania and the action that the United States was likely to take concerning it.  After the formalities of presentation, the King asked Page to sit down and talked with him for more than half an hour.  “He said that Germany was evidently trying to force the United States into the war; that he had no doubt we would soon be in it and that, for his part, he would welcome us heartily.  The King also said he had reliable information from Germany, that the Emperor had wished to return a conciliatory answer to our Lusitania note, but that Admiral von Tirpitz had prevented it, even going so far as to ‘threaten’ the Kaiser.  It appears that the Admiral insisted that the submarine was the only weapon the Germans could use with effect against England and that they could not afford to give it up.  He was violent and the Kaiser finally yielded[55].”

The statement from the King at that crisis, that he would “heartily welcome the United States into the war,” was interpreted by the Ambassador as amounting practically to an invitation—­and certainly as expressing a wish that such an intervention should take place.

That the American participation would rejoice King George could therefore be taken for granted.  Soon after this event, the Ambassador and Mrs. Page were invited to spend the night at Windsor.

“I arrived during the middle of the afternoon,” writes Page, “and he sent for me to talk with him in his office.

“‘I’ve a good story on you,’ said he.  ’You Americans have a queer use of the word “some,” to express mere bigness or emphasis.  We are taking that use of the word from you over here.  Well, an American and an Englishman were riding in the same railway compartment.  The American read his paper diligently—­all the details of a big battle.  When he got done, he put the paper down and said:  “Some fight!” “And some don’t!” said the Englishman.’

“And the King roared.  ‘A good one on you!’

“‘The trouble with that joke, sir,’ I ventured to reply, ’is that it’s out of date.’

“He was in a very gay mood, surely because of our entry into the war.  After the dinner—­there were no guests except Mrs. Page and me, the members of his household, of course, being present—­he became even familiar in the smoking room.  He talked about himself and his position as king.  ’Knowing the difficulties of a limited monarch, I thank heaven I am spared being an absolute one.’