William Phillips to Woodrow Wilson

Draft of the President's reply to the letter from the President of France.
______
Mr. President:
I have had the honor to receive from the hands of Mr. Viviani the gracious letter which you addressed to me on the 16th of April concerning the Mission which you have sent to the United States to confer with the officials of the Government thereof with respect to the great and momentous questions which are now occupying the attention of France and the United States alike.
It gave me sincere pleasure to receive these eminent gentlemen, so distinguished in the affairs and so devoted to the cause of a sister Republic which the Government and the people of the United States hold in great admiration and grateful remembrance. They are fulfilling in the most acceptable manner the duties with which you charged them. Their conferences with officers of this Government have been of great value to us and their cooperation in the cause now common to both Governments cannot fail to aid in hastening a satisfactory termination of the conflict in which the United States and France are joined. By their wisdom, patriotism and fraternal good will they have endeared themselves to us, and I trust that they will take with them to France a cherished and lasting recollection of the cordial and enthusiastic reception accorded to them by the American people. I feel confident that they will assure you of the fixed determination of the Government and people of the United States to stand firm in the accomplishment of those objects for which they have joined in the war against autocratic power.
I thank you for having sent to us these gentlemen, from whose experience we have derived much benefit, and I beg you, Mr. President, to believe in my lasting friendship and constant cooperation.