It became necessary, in view of certain suspicions, for me to be able to prove to the Government here the absolutely pacific nature of our great enterprise.

Those despatches contained such proof.

And now listen, Penelope.

Before the murder of poor Dicky Vanderpole, we know for a fact that a great nation who chooses to consider herself our enemy in Eastern waters was straining every nerve to prepare for war.

Today those preparations have slackened.
A great loan has been withdrawn in Paris, an invitation cabled to our fleet to visit Yokohama.