Grey  protested  that  he  knew  nothing  of  what  British
interests  had  done  or  were  doing,  that  he  wished  time  to
think  the  matter  out  and  that  he  was  glad  to  await  the
President's  communication.  He  thanked  me  cordially
for  my  frank  statements  and  declared  that  he  understood
perfectly  their  personal  nature.  I  impressed  him  with
the  seriousness  of  American  public  opinion.
The  last  thing  that  the  British  Government  desired
at  this  time  was  a  serious  misunderstanding  with  the
United  States,  on  Mexico  or  any  other  matter.  Yet  the
Mexican  situation,  in  early  November,  1913,  clearly  de-
manded a  complete  cleaning  up.  The  occasion  soon  pre-
sented itself.  Sir  William  Tyrrell,  the  private  secretary
of  Sir  Edward  Grey  sailed,  in  late  October,  for  the  United


"POLICY"  AND  ''PRINCIPLE"  IN  MEXICO        201

States.  The  purpose  of  his  visit  was  not  diplomatic,  but
Page  evidently  believed  that  his  presence  in  the  United
States  offered  too  good  an  opportunity  to  be  lost.
To  Edward  M.  House

Newton  Hall,  Newton,  Cambridge.
Sunday,  October  26,  1913.
