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

TALKS WITH KING GEORGE AND BALFOUR 467

sent the President, principally about the interference with
our shipping. I wish all official England to understand our
Government's attitude upon this question, in order that
there may be no misunderstanding should it be necessary to
act with vigor later.
'His Maj esty talked of the recent Zeppelin raid and thought
a very much more serious one Vould occur soon, believing
they would attempt to burn London. I showed him the last
cartoon in Life which Martin sent in advance of publication,
which depicts his distinguished cousin Wilhelm hanged at
the end of a yardarm. I was not sure of the wisdom of showing this, but he seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. The more I
see of the King, the better I like him; he is a good fellow and
deserves a better fate than being a king....
'I lunched with Mr. Balfour. The only other guest was
Sir Horace Plunkett, who has our confidence. Balfour said
he intended to have the St. Paul convoyed as effectively as
the British navy could do it....
'There is a distinct feeling of depression in England at
present, largely due to the lack of high explosives, and also to
the fact of Russia's continued defeat because she, too, lacks
munitions of war.
'He said that what the navy needed most now was torpedo-boat destroyers, and he was contracting for a large
number of other small fast boats of this type. They have
plenty of battleships. He spoke of how fortunate they had
been with their transports, saying they had not lost one. He
reached over, like any good American, and knocked on wood.
'I went into our shipping troubles as I havewith othermembers of the Government, and I think I made him understand
just what difficulties our Government was laboring under.'
v
House sailed on the St. Paul, June 5. Arriving in the
United States a week later, he summarized for the President