That the Americans should feel gratified is not., of course,
to be wondered at, but in truth there was never any doubt or difficulty about the matter. It would have been utterly impossible for our Government—even if they had been die- inclined to be helpful, which, as a matter of fact, they were not—to take up any other position. As we said at the time, if America had actually been faced in arms by a European coalition, England would have been at her side in twenty-four hours. The notion of Englishmen calmly looking on while foreign fleets were attacking New York, Boston, and Baltimore is simply unthinkable. No British Government that tolerated such a thing could have lasted a day. In reality the matter is a very simple one, and needs no emphasising, nor do we doubt, however little the American people may think so at present—and we fully- acknowledge that they are not by any means as conscious as we are of - the racial solidarity—that were we attacked by a European-coalition they would at once rally to the cry of "Hands off." We must, however, while dealing with the matter, note one curious example of misunderstanding reported from America. It has been stated that the announcement in Parliament was timed to damage Prince Henry of Prussia's visit to America. That is an entire delusion. The visit causes no feeling of jealousy or uneasi- ness here. Most Englishmen are, indeed, unaware that it is to take place, and those who do know the fact are anything but annoyed. The German sailor-grandson of the Queen, as far as he is known here, is distinctly popular.
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