William R. Wilder to Woodrow Wilson

Title

William R. Wilder to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

William R. Wilder

Identifier

WWP21245

Date

1917 April 19

Source

Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers, 1786-1957

Language

English

Text

WRW

My dear Wilson
My Polish friend, Sosnowski, has a very just and proper appreciation of you and your ideals at this crisis. It is worth your while to read the enclosure if you can possibly spare the time. His former communications I called to the attention of Mr. Tumulty, and suggested that they be sent to the State Department. Mr. Lansing has met Sosnowski and I understand lunched with him lately at the Metropolitan Club. He is a man of considerable influence among the Poles and assures me that within six months there could be raised an efficient force of 100,000 Poles for service in Russia. His real anxiety, however, is in regard to the coming conference. His faith in you and your ideals is unbounded, and he fervently hopes, as do we all, that you will be able to keep as you now hold, the “whip-hand” on the situation. As I look at it, it boils down to this:If the English statesmen adopt your views as expressed in your message and welcome the idea of a Republic in Russia, the war should be over in sixty days. There must be no dissension among the Allies, and they must follow your lead despite the fact that the English may regard you as too idealistic. For that matter, many of our own people and your best friends think so,- but you are absolutely right. Wars will never cease if we are to be regulated by the lex talionis. There must be “peace on earth for peaceful men'. Part at least of the punishment of Prussia can safely be deferred to the Day of Judgment. If Britain thoroughly understands what the Russians want and will subscribe to your views, and you insist upon it, the inevitable revolution in Germany will come right speedily. You must not lose the control and America needs no 'honest broker' in directing and concluding the pending negotiations.

I sincerely wish I could be of some real assistance to you, but I know what you are after and devoutly hope that you will not be swerved from your purpose.

Faithfully yours,
Wm. R. Wilder

Original Format

Letter

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/WWI0196.pdf

Collection

Citation

William R. Wilder, “William R. Wilder to Woodrow Wilson,” 1917 April 19, WWP21245, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.