d of
high good work I've tried to do--have not been thrown away. I've
tried to take and to busy myself with a long-range view of great
subjects. The British Empire and the United States will be here
long after we are dead, and their relations will continue to be one
of the most important matters--perhaps the most important
matter--in the world. Well, now think of Lichtenstein's bill!

To get back where I started--I fear, therefore, that, when I next
meet the Admiral of the Grand Fleet (with whom I used to discuss
everything quite freely before he sailed away to the war), he may
forget to mention that we may have his 3,000 ships at our need.

Since this present difference is in danger of losing the healing
influence of a kindly touch--has become an uncourteous monster of
35 heads and 3 appendices--I see no early end of it. The British
Foreign Office has a lot of lawyers in its great back offices. They
and our lawyers will now butt and rebut as long as a goat of them
is left alive on either side. The two governments--the two human,
kindly groups--have retired: they don't touch, on this matter, now.
The lawyers will have the time of their lives, each smelling the
blood of the other.

If more notes must come--as the English papers report over and over
again every morning and every afternoon--the President might do
much by writing a brief, human document to accompany the
Appendices. If it be done courteously, we can accuse them of
stealing sheep and of dyeing the skins to conceal the theft-without
provoking the slightest bad feeling; and, in the end, they'll pay
another _Alabama_ award without complaint and frame the check and
show it to future ambassadors as Sir Edward shows the _Alabama_
check to me sometimes.

And it'll be a lasting shame (and may bring other Great Wars) if
lawyers are now permitted to tear the garments with which Peace
ought to be clothed as soon as she can escape from her present rags
and tatters.

Yours always heartily,

W.H.P.

P.S. My dear House: Since I have--in weeks and months past--both
telegraphed and written the Department (and I presume the President
has seen what I've sent) about the feeling here, I've written this
letter to you and not to the President nor Lansing. I will not run
the risk of