Colonel House to Woodrow Wilson

If Page's telegram concerning the embargo of the European neutrals is a fair reflection of the opinion of the British Government, it is a direct contradiction of what they have told us privately. Wiseman is sending a cable outlining the matter and requesting a definite statement as to what they really think desirable.

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Lippmann has just been here and is very much disturbed. I have asked him to outline in a letter some of the things he told me, a copy of which I am sending you.

No matter how much we deplore the attitude of the socialists as to the war yet, more harm may easily be done by repression. Between the two courses, it is better to err on the side of leniency.

I have seen for sometime that trouble was brewing and I spoke to Burleson when in Washington. I believe you will have to take the matter largely into your own hands for he could never have a proper understanding of it.