Others thought that Japan was in some way involved--but that explanation also failed to satisfy.
Congress accepted the President's statement trustfully and blindly, and passed the asked-for legislation.

Up to the present moment this passage in the Presidential message has been unexplained.

Page's papers, however, disclose what seems to be a satisfactory solution to the mystery.

They show that the President and Colonel House and Page were at this time engaged in a negotiation of the utmost importance.

At the very time that the tolls bill was under discussion Colonel House was making arrangements for a visit to Great Britain, France, and Germany, the purpose of which was to bring these nations to some kind of an understanding that would prevent a European war.