“Why, no reason,” replied Frank, “except that England has, heretofore, always opposed Russia’s obtaining an outlet into the Mediterranean.”
“War makes strange bedfellows,” said Lord Hastings sententiously.
“It does,” agreed Jack, “as is evidenced by the alliance of Germany and Turkey.”
“How about England and Japan?” asked Frank.
“Oh,” said Jack, “that’s different.”
“In what way?”
“Well, the Japanese are civilized. You can’t say so much for the Turk. Besides, England’s and Japan’s interests in the far east are so closely allied that an alliance is not to be wondered at.”
“Well, here is something I want to know,” said Frank. “If Japan were to go to war with the United States, what would England do? Help her?”
“Why, no,” said Jack. “Of course not.”
“But the alliance?”