Colonel House to Woodrow Wilson

Title

Colonel House to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938

Identifier

WWP21645

Date

1917 July 17

Source

Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers, 1786-1957

Text

Dear Governor

Northcliffe has been here several days. Wallace has been taking care of him since our little farmhouse is only large enough for our immediate family.

I never thought to find Northcliffe in such a modest mood. He admits that he has been thrust into a situation of which he knows next to nothing, and he frankly seeks advice. He has discussed with me every phase of the financial controversy in which the two Governments and Morgan & Co. are involved, even letting me read his cables to his Government upon the subject.McAdoo has promised to come here sometime during the next week, and if I can get an opportunity to talk the matter over with him I think a plan can be worked out, though it is not an easy problem.

I am sending you a list of the participants and the amounts taken of the loan other than that held by Morgan & Co. Sir William, who was also here yesterday, agrees with me that there is something yet to be disclosed by Morgan & Co. and he is in New York today endeavoring to get at the bottom of it. Northcliffe does not understand enough about banking technique and international finance to be of much value.

In talking of you, he thought you were easily the greatest figure upon the world stage, and he seemed grateful for the courtesies that you had shown him.

In talking with him and Sir William about the personel of the British representatives in this country it was concluded that the situation was an impossible one because of the attitude of Spring-Rice. Sir William and I think it would be far better for Spring-Rice himself if he would ask for a vacation and remain in England while Northcliffe was here. Sir William tells me that Spring-Rice would like to go home, but the Foreign Office do not seem to want it. The probable reason for this is that they are afraid of the criticism which would follow this action. The Northcliffe "baiters" would be certain to attribute the Ambassador's home coming to Northcliffe, and this, I think, is what the Government is trying to avoid. Sir William hopes to straighten it out when he gets there.

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I never saw anyone so pleased as Sir William was at being asked to dine with you. He speaks of it with emotion, and declars it to be the happiest event of his life.

He told me of the discussion which you had regarding the naval negotiations. He says you have a poor opinion of the value of capital battleships and thought they had not been of much service during this war.

I have a feeling that he misunderstood you, for surely the present control of the seas is solely due to the superiority of the British Fleet in capital ships. No amount of smaller craft could take their place. While they are not effective in submarine warfare yet, submarine warfare is as distinct a phase of sea warfare as air craft are in land warfare. I think it is as true today as it was before the war that the nation having the most potential capital battleships in both size and speed, is the nation that will dominate the sea.

I hope you will insist upon some arrangement with England by which this country may obtain some of their capital ships at the end of the war, in the event we should wish them. The arrangement would be a safe one, for they need not be taken if not desired. I discussed this question thoroughly with Lord Fisher and other British naval men, and there was no disagreement as far as I can remember.

Affectionately yours,
EM House
Magnolia, Massachusetts.

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/WWI0474.pdf

Collection

Citation

House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938, “Colonel House to Woodrow Wilson,” 1917 July 17, WWP21645, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.