Colonel House to Woodrow Wilson

Mr. Balfour having heard that there was some friction in different parts has thought it best to send the enclosed letter to all their diplomatic agents throughout the world. I am enclosing you a copy for your information and that of Mr. Lansing.

I am having an extraordinarily busy time. The difficulty with the British I find is that while one can keep in perfect agreement with them, it is exceedingly difficult to have any definite program formulated and put through. It seems no one person's business to say that this or that shall be done and then delegate it to someone to work out. The lack of this drives one around in circles. I have found this true upon every visit that I have made here.

I am urging them, as I shall urge the French, to come to some agreement as to public statements by those in authority. Up to now, both the British and French have said the things that the German Government wished them to say. I am trying to get them to adopt a policy of saying the things which the German Government does not desire them to say. A case in point is Alsace and Lorraine. The French and British, particularly Lloyd George at the instance of the French, are constantly making Alsace and Lorraine an Allied ultimatum. If Germany is beaten, France will get Alsace and Lorraine. If she is not beaten no amount of talk in British or French circles can give it to her. In the meantime, such demands weld Germany back of their government. On the other hand there is created in all the Allied countries a sense of irritation among certain groups, that will soon begin to insist, more or less loudly, that unless the war is for some higher purpose it had better cease.

One finds this feeling in America as well as elsewhere, and I believe I can point out to the French that if they are not careful they will defeat their own purpose. I can readily see that if the war lingers on, there may come a time when there will be an irrisistible demand in all the allied countries other than France, that Alsace and Lorraine be not insisted upon as an issue.
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I saw the King this morning. He sent his compliments to you and wanted you to know how much he appreciated what you had done for the allied cause. Mrs. House and I lunch at the Palace tomorrow informally.

I have found no difficulty in refusing all invitations to dinner, and my desire to work and not to frolic seems to meet with warm approval. I think, however, that it is best not to draw the line too closely with the other members of the mission. This kind of thing is new to them. They have worked very hard and I can see that they would like some diversion and I have so arranged it. Mr. Balfour will entertain them at dinner and also at the House of Commons, and the King will give them a luncheon.November 11, 1917.The Prime Minster is just back and he and I dine alone tonight.