ABSTRACT
The greatest single enigma that has hovered over the whole course of the war has been that of the United States. Neutrality and isolation were negative and, be it noted, they failed of their purpose, which was to keep the reader out of war; for the people have been in two world wars within a quarter-century. It is only in recent times that there has grown up the legend of American incompetence in foreign relations. The capitulation of Italy provided the occasion for a revelation which was very cautious and almost casual in manner of American policy for the immediate, and possibly a prolonged future. For it seemed to indicate that an American policy was in the making with every hope of full approval of the people. The result was that after three democracies had set up a peace, two of them walked out, so to speak, and left the maintenance of it to France, who was not strong enough.
