Woodrow Wilson to William Denman

Confidential.

For the same reason that I have stated in the first lines of the enclosed letter to General Goethals, I am not seeking a personal interview of you, because I do not want to lend any further weight to the public impression that there is a row of some sort on. We must work this thing out and work it out along the lines suggested in my letter to General Goethals, a copy of which I take the liberty of enclosing. It follows exactly the lines of several of our conversations and I am sure that the directors of the corporation will do everything in their power to put things upon a clear road.
I wrote you my little penciled note of yesterday because I think it is imperatively necessary that we ignore public impressions of a controversy at present and also for the time being pay little regard to settling the question as to who was right or who was wrong. To keep counsel and do business it seems to me is the only way to clarify the situation.

Very cordially and sincerely yours,
Woodrow Wilson