Read English history and English literature about the Spanish Armada or about Napoleon.

They are acting those same scenes over again, having the same emotions, the same purpose: nobody must invade or threaten England.

"If they do, we'll spend the last man and the last shilling.

We value," they say truly, "the good-will and the friendship of the United States more than we value anything except our own freedom, but we'll risk even that rather than admit copper to Germany, because every pound of copper prolongs the war." There you are.

I've blinked myself blind and talked myself hoarse to men in authority--from Grey down--to see a way out--without keeping this intolerable slaughter up to the end.