[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—May an Anglo-American protest
against Mr. Holzman's letter ? One can easily overlook his charge that the main- spring of the " American and British Empires " is self-interest —even smile at the "American Empire" taking precedence— for we are proud that Great Britain has been altruistic in regard to the United States on occasion, i.e. in upholding the Monroe Doctrine, in placing a British ship between the American and German Fleet, &c., when the United States was considered before the advantages of the British Empire. We can use the to quoque argument that their Chief Citizen misled the Allies into the belief that his fellow-citizens would support his moral purposes as much as the Allies misled the Americans concerning their moral purposes. But these are small matters compared with the misunderstanding so common among Americans that Great Britain " greedily carried off the lion's share of the spoils " after the War. They con- veniently ignore the fact that the mandates of the League Of Nations carry heavy responsibilities and great expenses with no surety that financial profits will arise, but more than that where Britain holds a mandate Americans profit by the order maintained and by the lack of tariffs, so that, without the cost of a cent, markets are there accessible to Americans who can compete with the British taxpayer and curtail his ability to pay his debt to America.
We can still be proud that Great Britain assumes the " White Man's Burden " declined by others, but the Americans should be brought to understand that she is influenced by something more than greed on such occasions.—I am, Sir, &c.,
FRANCES ROSE-TROT:P.
Bradlegh End, Ottery St. Mary.
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