Page 132 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

Anglo-American Reunion. "3

Experience ; and experience cannot be had be-
fore that further development of the facts which
will follow the not far distant day, when the
United States people must again betake them-
selves to the sea and to external action, as did
their forefathers alike in their old home and in
the new.
There are, besides, questions in which at
present doubt, if not even friction, might arise
as to the proper sphere of each nation, agree-
ment concerning which is essential to cordial
co-operation ; and this the more, because Great
Britain could not be expected reasonably to
depend upon our fulfilment of the terms of an
alliance, or to yield in points essential to her
own maritime power, so long as the United
States is unwilling herself to assure the security
of the positions involved by the creation of an
adequate force. It is just because in that pro-
cess of adjusting the parts to be played by each
nation, upon which alone a satisfactory co
operation can be established, a certain amount
of friction is probable, that I would avoid all
premature striving for alliance, an artificial and
possibly even an irritating method of reaching
the desired end. Instead, I would dwell con-
8