to
his lights, and is prepared to abide by the consequences of
what he does. So he is apt to be resentful of criticism.
Bear with him, for he is having a tough time of it.

5. Enemy propaganda to the contrary, remember that this man is
not a hypocrite. He is occasionally stupid; he is at times
obstinate; he is frequently high-handed; and often he would
rather be misunderstood than explain. But he is neither
tyrannical nor corrupt. He went into this War because he
felt it his duty to do so, and not because he coveted any
Teutonic vineyard.

6. Remember that your nation has done a great deal for this
man's nation during the War. Tell him all about it: it will
interest him, _because he did not know_.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Practically every one in this world improves on closer acquaintance.
The people with whom we utterly fail to agree are those with whom we
never get into close touch.

Individual Americans and Britons, when they get together in one
country or the other, usually develope a genuine mutual liking. As
nations, however, their attitude to one another is too often a distant
attitude--a distance of some three thousand miles, or the exact width
of the Atlantic Ocean--and ranges from a lofty tolerance in good
times to unreserved bickering in bad. Why? Because they are
geographically too far apart. But with the shrinkage of the earth's
surface produced by the effects of electricity and steam, that
geographical abyss yawns much less widely than it did. So let us get
together, whether in couples or in millions. The thing has to be done.
No rearrangement of the world's affairs after the War can be either
just or equitable or permanent which does not find Great Britain and
the United States of America upon the same side. What we want is
common ground, and a sound basis of understanding. Our present
basis--the "Hands-across-the-Sea, Blood-is-thicker-than-Water"
basis--is sloppy and unstable. Besides, it profoundly irritates that
not inconsiderable section of the American people which does not
happen to be of British descent.

We can find a better basis than that. What shall it be? Well, we have
certain common ideals which rest upon no sentimental foundations, but
upon the bedrock of truth and justice. We both believe in God; in
personal liberty; in a Law which shall be inflexibly just to rich and
poor alike. We both hate tyranny and oppression and intr