Englishmen cannot but hail with the fullest, heartiest sympathy the
work which you have taken in hand, as well as the success that has
attended it. The promotion of the business of peace in the nearest
future depends in large measure on the mood of the German race, and on
this you have already made a deep impression.
As far as I am personally concerned, I have faith enough—may I say, I
have confidence enough in the power of the Christian faith?—to expect
that if once the magnanimity of opposing nations is awakened, which is
quite within the range of possibility, there will also be found a way
to obviate the persistent causes of mutual irritation. Then the
natural institutions of peace will suffice to furnish the nations with
that powerful discipline, consisting in self-denial, which at present
has to be maintained by perpetual readiness for war.
Would it be going too far to express the hope that even our generation
may yet live to see France, Germany, Russia, fenced in as it were by a
neutral girdle, enabled to improve their resources without being
obliged to anticipate untoward events, and to perform their functions
in the service of man—at the same time forwarding the kingdom of God
on earth.
May a rich blessing attend your efforts!
With the sincerest feelings of respect, dear Madam, I am
Yours truly
B. F. Dunelm.[40]
I had kept up a correspondence with the chairman of the Congress at
Rome, Minister Ruggero Bonghi. Here is one of his letters (the original
in Italian):