They realize now that they have been living under a sort of fear--or dread--for ten years: they sometimes felt that it was bound to come some time and then at other times they could hardly believe it.

And they will spend all the men and all the money they have rather than suffer that fear again or have that danger.

Now, if anybody could fix a basis for the complete restoration of Belgium, so far as restoration is possible, and for the elimination of militarism, I am sure the _English_ would talk on that basis.

But there are two difficulties-Russia wouldn't talk till she has Constantinople, and I haven't found anybody who can say exactly what you mean by the "elimination of militarism." Disarmament?
England will have her navy to protect her incoming bread and meat.

How, then, can she say to Germany, "You can't have an army"?
You say the Americans are becoming "restless." The plain fact is that the English people, and especially the English military and naval people, don't care a fig what the Americans think and feel.
They say, "We're fighting their battle, too--the battle of democracy and freedom from bureaucracy--why don't they come and help us in our life-and-death struggle ?" I have a drawer full of letters saying this, not one of which I have ever answered.