AMERICA. AND ENGLAND: AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Readers of the Spectator cannot fail to have been struck by the arguments 'that have been appearing recently in its columns in favour of American participation in European affairs, and the editor's article, entitled "Wanted, a Canning," which appeared at the beginning of last month, must have convinced the few remaining sceptics among readers on this side of the Atlantic at all events. But are these arguments equally convincing to your readers on the other side of the Atlantic, and if not, why not ? I venture to suggest that the co-operation of the United States might be expedited and that its value would be enhanced if only we knew more of and could appreciate better one another's points of view upon this and cognate questions. I, personally, must confess to a lamentable ignorance of the reasons for what seems to me an irrational aloofness on the part of America, and I would value not a little an expression of his opinions by some citizen of the United States as to why it is contrary to his country's interests to join hands with us in an attempt to straighten out the tangle in which the affairs of the world, old as well as new, are now involved. That together we could do it no reasonable being can donbt.
Though a very ordinary and commonplace Britisher, may I venture to invite, Sir, one of your numerous American readers —and the more uncompromising he be the better—to place himself in correspondence with me ? Let him favour me with his reasons against co-operation with Europe in general, and Great Britain in particular, and I will endeavour to state the case for such co-operation. I suggest that it might be of interest and value to us both if' we contrived to exchange letters, say, once a fortnight.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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