AN AMERICAN RETURNS
SIR,—I am an American returning to England after eleven years. I go back to pay my respects and to reaffirm my ancient allegiance. I shall first go into Westminster Abbey, the Cathedral of the Americans, and give thanks that Britain still lives and, through her, all that has flowed into my blood from the past. I shall return with a certain diffidence because of my tourist status. I shall not enjoy receiving privileges and considerations which are not extended to my friends in their homes. I shall realise, or I should not .be going at all, that I shall be a part of an important industry, the tourist trade. In that mood I shall spend dollars with double pleasure. In that mood I shall be afraid.
In the several years I have lived in England, not as a tourist but as a householder, a neighbour and an equal, I have received courtesy based on friendship and mutual respect. If that basis has shifted and I feel myself to be a necessary but somewhat unwelcome import, I shall be wounded to tilt quick. Economic conferences on the subjects of tariffs, trade agreements and currency have nothing to do with me nor with the friends I shall mcct again. Stupid, wilful, mischievous or subversive reporters and writers, who distort the news and poison the peace, have nothing to do with me. Frivolous poll-takers, whose delight is to spread discord or the appearance of discord between America and her British ally have nothing to do with me.
I come as a guest, a paying guest to be sure, but I shall be governed by the rules obtaining between guest and host. I come as a relative, a distant branch of the family, whose reasons for setting up house in another country are a part of history. I come from a country which, by reaion of geography, happened to be out of the path of bombers, but nevertheless a country deeply scarred through personal losses. It is forgotten sometimes that, although the bombers did not reach our shores, our men went out to meet them where they flew. 1 Lnne I shall not have to answer, "Yes, we knew there was a war on."
There is an answer which I should like to make: "1 realise that but for Britain and her valiant stand, the bells which rang for victory would have been tolling for the death of all that we have known as Anglo- American civilisation." With that in mind uppermost, I shall return to England to say "Thank you. Long live the King."—Faithfully yours,
Bray House, Kittery Point, Maine. MILDRED WASSON.
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