The severance of diplomatic relations would naturally have been accompanied by an embargo suspending trade between the United States and the Fatherland.

Moreover, the consideration that was mainly leading Germany to hope for success was the belief that she could embroil the United States and Great Britain over the blockade.

A break with Germany would of course mean an end to that manoeuvre.

Page regarded all Mr.Wilson's attempts to make peace in 1914 and early 1915--before the _Lusitania_--as mistakes, for reasons that have already been set forth.

Now, however, he believed that the President had a real opportunity to end the war and the unparalleled suffering which it was causing.