William G. McAdoo to Woodrow Wilson

Dear Mr. President
Thank you for your letter of the 11th instant, inclosing copy of the very interesting telegram addressed to you by the Literary Digest, Robert J. Cuddihy, Treasurer, in which offer is made to purchase $250,000 of United States bonds, without interest for the first five years, in order to help France. You may be sure that at the proper time I shall give the Literary Digest an opportunity to purchase Government bonds to this extent.

It did not seem wise to attempt to make any discrimination in the bill pending in the Congress authorizing the issue of United States bonds for the purpose of extending credit to France and other governments making common cause with us in the war against Germany, although I sympathize so deeply with France that I should be more than happy to see interest remitted on any loan we may make to her. But I am sure that it is an inopportune time to urge such a proposal upon the attention of Congress. I believe that after peace returns and our people become more familiar with the devastation and desolation in France, there will be a spontaneous movement of irresistible force to remit interest on our loans to France, if not to assist her in an even more generous manner.

Cordially yours,

WG McAdoo

The President,
The White House.