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

206 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

getting the measure through House and Senate respectively,
finally bore fruit. In June the repeal of the special exemption became law. From this time forward, the United
States Government could count upon the sympathy of Sir
Edward Grey.
'June 27, 1914 [London]: I lunched with Sir Edward Grey,
Sir William Tyrrell, and Walter Page [wrote Colonel House].
We talked from 1.30 until 3.30.... Sir Edward and I did
practically all the talking, Page and Sir William only occasionally joining in.
'We spoke first of the Panama tolls repeal bill. Sir Edward expressed pleasure at the fine way in which the President did it and without any negotiations between the two
Governments in regard to it. He spoke of his having done it
of his own volition because of his high sense of justice. He
purposes paying this tribute to the President in Parliament
when a fit opportunity occurs.'
The fit opportunity did not occur, for only a month later
the European war broke out and the mind of Sir Edward
was caught by problems that were nearer home. But the
sentiment of American friendliness lingered in the Foreign
Office even during the vexatious discussions regarding
blockade and neutral rights. Through his insistence upon
the sanctity of international engagements, furthermore,
Wilson was able to assume a tone in his controversy with
Germany which would have been impossible if he had
yielded to the dictates of expediency in the question of
Panama tolls.