Peace needed

Monday, February 5th., Comarques, Thorpe-le-Soken.

Lunch at the Reform with Wells and Gardiner yesterday. They were in favour of communal feeding in case of starvation, as most efficient, starting in schools. Hard to believe that such a possibility is even being considered here. What a pretty pass! Wells took the submarine menace, like me, very calmly. On the other hand, Donald and McKenna who joined the conversation were much upset by it and gave dramatic figures. They are closer to the centre than we are, so should know what they are talking about.

The announcement that U.S.A. had severed diplomatic relations with Germany caused really very little discussion here. It was discussed a little at lunch. Already the intensely misunderstanding and unjust attitude of Marguerite and the officers (some of them) to the U.S.A. is changing. It is some sort of cognitive adjustment which allows people to 'fit in' with a different way of looking at things when that way becomes the accepted one. Within a week they will have forgotten that they ever thought differently.

At tea , when Lieut. and Mrs. Tracy came, it was discussed a little, and Mrs.Tracy well formulated for me the advantages of an 'American Peace', that is an unbiased peace, which was received with silence not altogether hostile. The fact is that unless something happens soon, both 'sides' will suffer and nothing will be gained except the salving of some misplaced pride. Afterwards Clegg agreed with me as to the advantages of the 'American Peace'. During the remainder of the evening nothing was said as to America, but the cognitive wheels were imperceptibly turning.