New-York tribune., 1918-06-30


British people to understand the
Americans and to be understood by the
Americans. This isn't "put on" 1t is gen.
uine. 1t grips an American, and grips
him hard, this love for America that is
found everywhere in that little island.
1t Is so near our own independence Day
that it may be proper to speak of one
subject often mentioned while our mission
was in Britain. And that was the Ameri
can Revolution. Many a Britisher told us
with feeling Of pride that it wasn't an
English king that we fought back there in
'76-it was German king! And it was.
A brutal, thick-hided, despotic German
monarch, just such democracy is fighting
to-day.
Sir j. Forbes Robertson sat next me at
fell to discussing that by-gone event. And
the great English actor made this sugges-
tion:
Let there be joint British American
commission created to write verified and
accurate history Of Revolutionary days,
and let the history so produced be taught
in the schools of both nations. Let both
sides drop forever the small untruths that
have grown up around the story of that
conflict
"And," he added, "the story is much finer
and nobler when told in the garb of real
facts"
1t is truly striking, truly impressive, this
cropping of the British people for the
friendship and understanding Of America.
It is a heroic race that holds out this
brotherly hand to us-and we Americans
who are guests in Britain felt it keenly.
Tried by the supreme test of fire. they said
to us, "We greet you, welcome you, not
cousins, but as brothers" And when we
said, "We come not as cousins, but as
brothers," their response was the response
of those who loose emotions long unused.
There were countless other demonstra-
tions of this affection for America. To the
good people cover there" our mission stood
for America. 1t was at Port. Sunlight,
where we were forced to almost charge
by main force to break through Gordon
of girl workers in order to get away. They
stood there, ringed around US, stretching out
hundreds of hands in greeting, determined
that we should Stay and tell them Of the
wonderful country across the sea. And
when we did break through they sang after
us that affectionate British topical fare
we'll, "Good-by-ee, Good-by-ee," until we
were out of sound.
Go to a London theatre tonight, and if
there's a chorus you'll see half the girls
costumed in American colors. There'll be
Uncle Sans, Goddesses of Liberty, Ameri
can cowboys-anything that brings Amer
ica to them. America is the beloved ma
ton!
We went one day for an audience with
Lloyd George. 1t was charged with interest.
We had looked to rather set and formal
affair. But it was not to be so. Scarcely
were the introductions over when the
Premier began to fire questions-American
newspaper\reporter fashion-at all Of US.
What do you think Of this? What do you
think of that? Cracking; swapping. For
mality? Gone.
Then he led US to a map. wish every
American could see that map. Especially
do l wish every Bolshevst could see it.
There were the trenches-and the German
forces. Every German division was shown
tnere. 0Candlng out IN colorS dill
from the rest were the German divisions
brought over from the Russian front. Here
was the story of what the Russian collapse
meant. Here it was-vivid, unforgettable.
Much history that had to do with Amer
ica in the days of long ago was made in
that room where we talked with the Pre-
mier He showed US points of interest,
where Lord North had sat, where the Cabi-
net members played cards, and so on. All
the while he chatted Of historical points
with vivacity, his face all asmile. And
then, like big family, we stood around
him for picture.
II you are smoker you are likely any
moment to ask the man nearest you for a
match You'd think twice before doing
that in London. Matches are scarce. If you
are lucky you may buy tiny box of wax
matches for four cents. Hotels, clubs and
private homes keep bits of twisted paper
on every mantel shelf. When there is fire