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

444 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

The conversation with Grey suggested the possibility of an
arrangement which might go far towards settling the dispute
with England over the holding-up of cargoes and also might
avert the livelier danger of an open break with Germany,
over the submarine. The European War, as it touched the
United States, had now become a struggle between German
submarine and British blockade. Both weapons infringed
American neutral rights. If the belligerents could be induced
to give up their use, much of our difficulties would disappear.
And to many the compromise seemed fair, for if the British
food blockade threatened to starve Germany out, the German submarine threatened to destroy British commerce.
The suggestion was not new. In February, President Wilson, following a hint of Ambassador Bernstorff, had made a
similar proposal to the British. Since the Germans averred
that the submarine war zone was merely retaliation for the
British attempt to starve non-combatants, Wilson argued
that, if the British would permit foodstuffs to pass, Germany
ought to give up her illegal submarine warfare. Grey had
approved the proposal. Talking to House on February 27, he
pointed out that with an agreement of this kind the British
could carry on the war indefinitely. British public opinion,
however, did not appreciate how dangerous a weapon the
submarine might become, and felt that Great Britain would
be sacrificing too much by lifting the embargo upon food.
Ambassador Page himself held this opinion and, regarding
the President's suggestion as something made in Germany,
did not push it vigorously.
'I went to the Embassy to see the Ambassador [wrote
House]. He did not return from his week-end with the Prime
Minister until 12.15.... Page told of the two unhappy days
he had spent in the country. One of the perquisites of the
Prime Minister is the use of an old castle near Dover, and in
it Page was lodged for two cold, wet, miserable nights. There