Of course, the American Press, as a whole, has never
put that astonishingly perverse interpretation on the British decision to delay building. If moderation in building is to be called " propaganda " we want much more of such propaganda. Misunderstanding may last for a time, but if the people on both sides of the Atlantic who want to substitute reason for force make their voices heard, reason will triumph in the end. Nothing can prevent it. The British Government in the meantime might do a good deal more in the way of stating their faith and intentions. In a matter of this kind it is useless to say that "pious opinions" are of no value. They are of great value. Either we must believe or not believe in the reiterated statement that war with America is "unthinkable." If it is really unthinkable, the Govern- ment ought to act on that basis. They ought to tell America that it cannot matter to us how many ships she builds in any class and that we do not- propose to argue about it.
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