Woodrow Wilson to Cyrus H. McCormick

I have your letter of the twenty-third.

Of course, I have given a great deal of thought to the question of universal military service and have by no means turned away from it in the sense of rejecting it, but it is clear to me and it is clear to many who have studied our present military problem that it would be unwise, and indeed impracticable, to institute such training now. We have not the officers with which to undertake it and we have not the equipment, and the additional financial strain would be too great: besides which, its immediate institution would seriously interfere with the more immediate task we have of preparing and sending an Army across the seas.

My feeling is that it is impossible to forecast now what the condition of the world will be, and therefore our own military task and duty, when the war is over. When we do see the conditions which follow the war, I hope and believe that we shall know what to do, and it may be that we shall have to undertake some such great plan.

Cordially and faithfully yours,
In haste
Woodrow Wilson


Mr. Cyrus H. McCormick,
606 South Michigan Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois.