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

312 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

any quarter but Washington. Suspicion, I have noticed,
generally sleeps in the bed with Ignorance....
Heartily yours
WALTER H. PAGE
Colonel House to Ambassador W. H. Page
NEW YORK, December 4, 1914
DEAR PAGE:
I have just returned from Washington....
The President wishes me to ask you please to be careful
not to express any unneutral feeling, either by word of
mouth, or by letter, and not even to the State Department.
He said that both Mr. Bryan and Mr. Lansing had remarked
upon your leaning in that direction, and he thought it would
materially lessen your influence.
He feels very strongly about this, and I am sending the
same message to Gerard.
Faithfully yours
E. M. HOUSE
Ambassador W. H. Page to Colonel House
LONDON, December 15, 1914
DEAR HOUSE:
I'll tell you a story: Within a week two Americans who
have lately come here have criticized me and the Embassy
for being pro-German, and I often hear such remarks that
come from the English.
And I'll ask you a question:
Is an Ambassador a man sent to keep another Government friendly and in good humor with your Government so
that you can get and give all sorts of friendly services and
make the world better?
Or is his business to snap and snarl and play 'smart' and
keep 'em irritated - damn 'em! - and get and give nothing?
These I send you by Mrs. Page as my Xmas greeting.
W. H. P.