The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

334 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

of business. That would be playing directly into Bernstorff's
hands. Civilization must be rescued. Well, there's no chance
for it till German militarism is dead....
Yours heartily
W. H. P.
LONDON, September 22, 1914
MY DEAR HOUSE:... 'The war will begin next spring' - so said Kitchener
yesterday. And probably that's true. The French will do all
they can till cold weather comes, and the Russians will
smash Austria. Then in the spring the English will go in
with a million and a half fresh men and get the fox's tail.
That's what Wellington did at Waterloo. That's the English
way. - Look at their diplomatic management. Of course
the war is really between Germany and England; but England made sure that Russia and France were both in before
she went in. Germany has only Austria to help her. Italy
failed, and Austria is already whipped. - Grey and Kitchener are too much for them~
In fact the blindest great force in this world to-day is the
Prussian war party —blind and stupid. Well, the most
weary man in London just this hour is
Your humble servant
W. H. P.
but he'll be all right in the morning.
LONDON, November 9, 1914
MY DEAR HOUSE:.. Peace? I fear not for a very long time. The Germans
feel as the woman feels whose letter I enclose. Their Gov't
can't stop so long as the people feel so and so long as it has
1 These statements do not do justice to the Ambassador's historical
knowledge or his prophetic instincts.