"He said that Germany was evidently trying to force the United States into the war; that he had no doubt we would soon be in it and that, for his part, he would welcome us heartily.

The King also said he had reliable information from Germany, that the Emperor had wished to return a conciliatory answer to our _Lusitania_ note, but that Admiral von Tirpitz had prevented it, even going so far as to 'threaten' the Kaiser.

It appears that the Admiral insisted that the submarine was the only weapon the Germans could use with effect against England and that they could not afford to give it up.

He was violent and the Kaiser finally yielded[55]." The statement from the King at that crisis, that he would "heartily welcome the United States into the war," was interpreted by the Ambassador as amounting practically to an invitation--and certainly as expressing a wish that such an intervention should take place.
That the American participation would rejoice King George could therefore be taken for granted.

Soon after this event, the Ambassador and Mrs.Page were invited to spend the night at Windsor.
"I arrived during the middle of the afternoon," writes Page, "and he sent for me to talk with him in his office.
"'I've a good story on you,' said he.