No utterance by anybody has so stirred the people of this kingdom for many months as Sir Edward Grey’s impromptu speech last night in the House of Commons about Peace, when he called the German Chancellor a first-class liar.  I sent you to-day a clipping from one of the morning papers.  Every paper I pick up compliments Sir Edward.  Everyone says, “We must fight to a finish.”  The more sensational press intimates that any Englishman who uses the word “peace” ought to be shot.  You have never seen such a rally as that which has taken place in response to Sir Edward’s cry.  In the first place, as you know, he is the most gentle of all the Cabinet, the last man to get on a “war-rampage,” the least belligerent and rambunctious of the whole lot.  When he felt moved to say that there can be no peace till the German military despotism is broken, everybody from one end of the Kingdom to the other seems to have thrown up his hat and applauded.  Except the half-dozen peace-cranks in the House (Bryan sort of men) you can’t find a man, woman, child, or dog that isn’t fired with the determination to see the war through.  The continued talk about peace which is reported directly and indirectly from Germany—­coming from Switzerland, from Rome, from Washington—­has made the English and the French very angry:  no, “angry” isn’t quite the right word.  It has made them very determined.  They feel insulted by the impudence of the Germans, who, since they know they are bound to lose, seem to be turning heaven and earth to induce neutrals to take their view of peace.  People are asking here, “If they are victorious, why doesn’t their fleet come out of the canal and take the seas, and again open their commerce?  Why do they whimper about the blockade when they will not even risk a warship to break it?” You’ll recall how the talk here used to be that the English wouldn’t wake up.  You wouldn’t know ’em now.  Your bulldog has got his grip and even thunder doesn’t disturb him.

Incidentally, all the old criticism of Sir Edward Grey seems to have been forgotten.  You hear nothing but praise of him now.  I am told that he spoke his impromptu speech last night with great fire and at once left the House.  His speech has caused a greater stir than the Irish rebellion, showing that every Englishman feels that Sir Edward said precisely what every man feels.

     The Germans have apparently overdone and overworked their premature
     peace efforts and have made things worse for them.  They’ve
     overplayed their hand.

In fact, I see no end of the war.  The Allies are not going to quit prematurely.  They won’t even discuss the subject yet with one another, and the Germans, by their peace-talk of the sort that they inspire, simply postpone the day when the Allies will take the subject up.

All the while, too, the Allies work closer and closer together.  They’ll soon be doing even their diplomatic work with neutrals,