Newton D. Baker to Woodrow Wilson

I saw Mr. Hoover this morning. He tells me that the memorandum of Colonel Churchill states substantially the facts with regard to Mr. Crosby's experience as a member of the Belgian Relief Commission; but that, in his opinion, it gives a slightly wrong color to that experience. He describes Crosby as having been pugnaciously and argumentatively neutral, and he has spent a lot of his time arguing the abstract rights of the Germans as an occupying army in Belgium, and another substantial part of his time illustrating breaches of international law by Great Britain as set-offs to Germany's misconduct.Mr. Hoover regarded this as tactless and offensive to a people whose sufferings made sympathy the only medicine, and who were as much irritated by defensive argument as they were by accusation, even though the arguments were abstractly sound.

In Mr. Hoover's opinion there can be no sort of doubt as to Crosby's loyalty to the United States; but grave doubt as to his tact, particularly because of his argumentative habit of mind.

I have examined the papers of the Intelligence Section on this subject. None of them lead to any safer view than that taken by Mr. Hoover.

The British Secret Service have cancelled their memorandum against him on the ground that they are satisfied that he is all right; although they think him unsympathetic.Senator Saulsbury's testimony was considered by the Intelligence Section, and it deals with very argumentative defenses of Germany's action prior to our entrance into the war on abstract military grounds. He and the Senator had a very bitter colloquy at Senator Newland's house. Each of them were carrying the argument very far, and Mr. Crosby's contribution to it being a defense of Germany's military actions.

On the whole case, I confess, I doubt very much whether Crosby's discretion has been shown to be such as to make it sure that he will keep out of entirely tactless arguments, but there is no warrant for suspicion against his genuine loyalty to the United States.

One peculiarly unfortunate circumstance, however, is his retention of Lewis D. Newman as his private secretary and confidential clerk. This young man, born in Illinois of Alsatian parents, was intensely pro-German before we entered the war, and while an employe in the Department of Agriculture was generally rated in the Department as intensely, and sometimes aggressively and offensively pro-German. He is twenty-seven years of age, and while an intelligent young man his association with Mr. Crosby under the circumstances seems unfortunate.

The Cravath end of the case is, of course, well know. He was a member of the law firm of which Mr. DeGerstberg was also a member, and Mr. DeGertsberg was an intimate friend of von Bernstorff, and also counsel for Spier who was von Bernstorff's banker. There are no other suggestions of any kind with regard to Cravath's associations and opinions.