garded by the Kaiser as the one fountain of all evil and sacrilege in the world—to-wit, the navy of England. Sir Julian Pauncefote insisted that England could make no such arrangement—must be left free to act as circumstances might dictate. Feeling pretty sure that these circumstances would dictate an unexpected visit to Heligoland in case the German fleet happened to be out chastising the shade of the immortal Monroe, the meeting concluded to confine their offices to a polite remonstrance, which was reported in an article in the World's Work in this wise:
"Said the six ambassadors: 'We hope for humanity's sake that you will not go to war.' Said Mr. McKinley, in reply: 'We hope if we do go to war that you will understand that it is for humanity's sake.' The best evidence of how this conclusion satisfied the Kaiser is contained in his own words: 'If I had only had a fleet, I would have taken Uncle Sam by the scruff of the neck.'"
But the Kaiser's last card had not yet been
