"I really believe," wrote the Marquess of Crewe, "that there were several occasions when we might have made it finally impossible for America to join us in the war; that these passed by may have been partly due to some glimmering of common sense on our part, with Grey as its main exponent; but it was more largely owing to your patience and courtesy and to the certainty which the Foreign Office always enjoyed that its action would be set before the Secretary of State in as favourable a light as it conscientiously could be." That, then, was Page's contribution to the statesmanship of this crisis--that of holding the two countries together so that, when the time came, the United States could join the Allies.

A mass of private letters, all breathing the same sentiment, began to pour in on Page.

There was hardly an illustrious name in Great Britain that was not represented among these leave-takings.

As illustrating the character and spirit animating them, the following selections are made: _From the King_ The information communicated to me yesterday through Mr.Laughlin of Your Excellency's resignation of the Post of Ambassador and the cause of this step fill me with the keenest regret.

During your term of office in days of peace and of war your influence has done much to strengthen the ties of friendship and good-will which unite the two English-speaking nations of the world.