Robert Lansing to Woodrow Wilson

It appears that there are a number of hospital units in training at Allentown, Pennsylvania, which have been ready to go to France for some time. The War Department, however, has for some reason decided not to send them to France. They are fully equipped, ready for immediate action and comprise, I believe, several thousand men.

It has occurred to me that it might be a good political move to let them, or at least some of them, go to Italy. I have sounded the War Department and am advised that neither the Secretary nor the Surgeon General sees any difficulty from the point of view of the War Department to sending the units to Italy immediately. The Secretary of War, however, defers to the judgment of this Department as to whether it would be in the general interest to send them to Italy.

I believe that the appearance of American hospital units in Italy would make an excellent impression at the present time and would hearten the Italian people. Will you be so kind as to let me know whether the suggestion has your approval?

With assurances of respect, etc., I am, my dear Mr. President,