onstructive work we have already done in making
reports on various war preparations and activities of this kingdom.
"Now we have greater need than ever, every man to do constructive
work--to think of plans to serve. We are in this excellent
strategical position in the capital of the greatest belligerent--a
position which I thank my stars, the President, and all the powers
that be for giving us. We can each strive to justify our
existence."

Few visitors called; but enthusiastic letters have begun to come
in.

Nearly the whole afternoon was spent with Mr. Balfour and Lord
Robert Cecil. Mr. Balfour had a long list of subjects. Could we
help in (1)--(2)--(3)?--Every once in a while he stopped his
enumeration of subjects long enough to tell me how the action of
the United States had moved him.

To Lord Robert I said: "I pray you, give the Black List a decent
burial: It's dead now, but through no act of yours. It insulted
every American because you did not see that it was insulting:
that's the discouraging fact to me." He thanked me earnestly. He'll
think about that.

II

These jottings give only a faint impression of the change which the
American action wrought in Page. The strain which he had undergone for
twenty-nine months had been intense; it had had the most unfortunate
effect upon his health; and the sudden lifting might have produced that
reaction for the worse which is not unusual after critical experiences
of this kind. But the gratification which Page felt in the fact that the
American spirit had justified his confidence gave him almost a certain
exuberance of contentment. Londoners who saw him at that time describe
him as acting like a man from whose shoulders a tremendous weight had
suddenly been removed. For more than two years Page had been compelled,
officially at least, to assume a "neutrality" with which he had never
had the slightest sympathy, but the necessity for this mask now no
longer existed. A well-known Englishman happened to meet Page leaving
his house in Grosvenor Square the day after the Declaration of War. He
stopped and shook the Ambassador's hand.

"Thank God," the Englishman said, "that there is one hypocrite less in
London to-day."

"What do you mean?" asked Page.

"I mean you. Pretending all this time that you were neutral! That isn't
necessary any longer."

"You are right!" the Amb