Four times was Page instructed to ask the British Government to accede unconditionally, and four times did the Foreign Office refuse.

Page was in despair.

In the following letter he notified Colonel House that if he were instructed again to move in this matter he would resign his ambassadorship.
_To Edward M.House_ American Embassy, London, October 22, 1914.
DEAR HOUSE: This is about the United States and England.

Lets get that settled before we try our hands at making peace in Europe.
One of our greatest assets is the friendship of Great Britain, and our friendship is a still bigger asset for her, and she knows it and values it.

Now, if either country should be damfool enough to throw this away because old Stone[96] roars in the Senate about something that hasn't happened, then this crazy world would be completely mad all round, and there would be no good-will left on earth at all.
The case is plain enough to me.