In other words he believed that we could safeguard our rights in a way that would not prevent Great Britain from keeping war materials and foodstuffs out of Germany.

And like Sir Edward Grey, Page was obliged to contend with forces at home which maintained a contrary view.

In this early period Mr.Bryan was nominally Secretary of State, but the man who directed the national policy in shipping matters was Robert Lansing, then counsellor of the Department.

It is somewhat difficult to appraise Mr.Lansing justly, for in his conduct of his office there was not the slightest taint of malice.

His methods were tactless, the phrasing of his notes lacked deftness and courtesy, his literary style was crude and irritating; but Mr.Lansing was not anti-British, he was not pro-German; he was nothing more nor less than a lawyer.