the German vote, or of civil war, or that the peace-at-any-price people really rule the United States and have paralyzed our power to act—­even to cut off diplomatic relations with governments that have insulted and defied us.

Another (similar) declaration is that practically all men of public influence in England and in the European allied and neutral countries have publicly or privately expressed themselves to the same effect.  The report that I have about this is less definite than about the newspapers, for, of course, no one can say just what proportion of men of public influence have so expressed themselves; but the number who have so expressed themselves is overwhelming.

In this Kingdom, where I can myself form some opinion more or less accurate, and where I can check or verify my opinion by various methods—­I am afraid, as I have frequently already reported, that the generation now living will never wholly regain the respect for our Government that it had a year ago.  I will give you three little indications of this feeling; it would be easy to write down hundreds of them: 

(One) The governing class:  Mr. X [a cabinet member] told Mrs. Page a few nights ago that for sentimental reasons only he would be gratified to see the United States in the war along with the Allies, but that merely sentimental reasons were not a sufficient reason for war—­by no means; that he felt most grateful for the sympathetic attitude of the large mass of the American people, that he had no right to expect anything from our Government, whose neutral position was entirely proper.  Then he added; “But what I can’t for the life of me understand is your Government’s failure to express its disapproval of the German utter disregard of its Lusitania notes.  After eight months, it has done nothing but write more notes.  My love for America, I must confess, is offended at this inaction and—­puzzled.  I can’t understand it.  You will pardon me, I am sure.”

     (Two) “Middle Class” opinion:  A common nickname for Americans in
     the financial and newspaper districts of London is “Too-prouds.”

(Three) The man in the street:  At one of the moving picture shows in a large theatre a little while ago they filled in an interval by throwing on the screen the picture of the monarch, or head of state, and of the flag of each of the principal nations.  When the American picture appeared, there was such hissing and groaning as caused the managers hastily to move that picture off the screen.

Some time ago I wrote House of some such incidents and expressions as these; and he wrote me that they were only part and parcel of the continuous British criticism of their own Government—­in other words, a part of the passing hysteria of war.  This remark shows how House was living in an atmosphere of illusion.

As the matter stands to-day our Government