insane. Many of us have dear friends in Germany, many of us regard
German culture with the highest respect and gratitude; but we cannot
admit that any nation has the right by brute force to impose its culture
upon other nations, nor that the iron military bureaucracy of Prussia
represents a higher form of human society than the free Constitutions of
Western Europe.

Whatever the world destiny of Germany may be, we in Great Britain are
ourselves conscious of a destiny and a duty. That destiny and duty,
alike for us and for all the English-speaking race, call upon us to
uphold the rule of common justice between civilized peoples, to defend
the rights of small nations, and to maintain the free and law-abiding
ideals of Western Europe against the rule of "Blood and Iron" and the
domination of the whole Continent by a military caste.

For these reasons and others the undersigned feel bound to support the
cause of the Allies with all their strength, with a full conviction of
its righteousness, and with a deep sense of its vital import to the
future of the world.

[Illustration: Signatures]

[Illustration: Signatures]

*WHO'S WHO AMONG THE SIGNERS.*

WILLIAM ARCHER, dramatic critic and editor of Ibsen's works, author of
"Life of Macready," "Real Conversations," "The Great Analysis," and
(with Granville Barker) "A National Theatre."

H. GRANVILLE BARKER, actor, dramatist, and manager, shares with his wife
management of the Kingsway Theatre, London; author of "The Voysey
Inheritance," and (with Laurence Housman) "Prunella."

SIR JAMES MATTHEW BARRIE, creator of "Sentimental Tommy" and "Peter
Pan," famous for his sympathetic studies of Scotch life and his
fantastic comedies.

HILAIRE BELLOC, best known as a writer on history, politics, and
economics; a recognized authority on the French Revolution.

ARNOLD BENNETT, author of many popular realistic studies of English
provincial life, including "Clayhanger" and "Hilda Lessways."

ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER BENSON, chiefly known for "From a College Window,"
"Beside Still Waters," and other volumes of essays.

EDWARD FREDERIC BENSON, brother of the preceding, author of many novels
of modern life, including "Dodo."

VERY REV. MONSIGNOR ROBERT HUGH BENSON, the youngest of the three famous
Benson brothers. Besides numerous devotional and theological works,
Monsignor Benson has written several widely appreciated historical
novels.

LAWRENCE BINYON, author of many lyrics