Colonel House to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Colonel House to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938
Identifier
WWP25409
Date
1918 November 5
Description
Edward M. House writes that views are favorable among the European government and that President Wilson should visit immediately after the peace is signed.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--United States
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Relation
WWP25410
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
From House, No. Six.
I consider that we have won a great diplomatic victory in getting the Allies to accept the principles laid down in your January eighth speech and in your subsequent addresses. This has been done in the face of a hostile and influential junta in the United States and the thoroughly unsympathic personnel constituting the Entente governments. I doubt whether any other heads of the governments with whom we are/have been dealing realize how far they are now committed to the American peace programme. As far as the question of the freedom of the seas is concerned, I think it say that Balfour agrees with me and so in a lesser degree did Eric Geddes. It is only that mischievous and reactionary blue water school that drove George to take his extraordinary attitude. Reading, I think, treated the matter from the lawyer’s view point and felt that George was his client. Motive for what he said did not impress me as being his own convictions. Both French Prime Minister and George wanted to make the League of Nations an after consideration, and not make it a part of the Peace Conference.
enough your speech of September twenty-seventh as published here was clearly open to this interpretation (par excellence?) I set them right about but did not press it further at the moment, for in accepting your terms they automatically accept this also.
If Germany accepts the conditions of our armistice, the Peace Conference should be called for December eleventh thereabouts. It would be necessary for you leave as soon as possible in order to have some preliminary conferences here with France and Italy. This is essential. If Germany accepts by November tenth, could you not sail on the eighteenth? I think Oxford may offer you degree of D C L. This would give a reason for landing in England and also for making an address. Impossible to do anything at present; busy bringing every force to bear to help win a peoples’ victory, and your landing in England is an essential part of it. I send (?) to London to-night. Wiseman has been splendidly helpful.
House.
I consider that we have won a great diplomatic victory in getting the Allies to accept the principles laid down in your January eighth speech and in your subsequent addresses. This has been done in the face of a hostile and influential junta in the United States and the thoroughly unsympathic personnel constituting the Entente governments. I doubt whether any other heads of the governments with whom we are/have been dealing realize how far they are now committed to the American peace programme. As far as the question of the freedom of the seas is concerned, I think it say that Balfour agrees with me and so in a lesser degree did Eric Geddes. It is only that mischievous and reactionary blue water school that drove George to take his extraordinary attitude. Reading, I think, treated the matter from the lawyer’s view point and felt that George was his client. Motive for what he said did not impress me as being his own convictions. Both French Prime Minister and George wanted to make the League of Nations an after consideration, and not make it a part of the Peace Conference.
enough your speech of September twenty-seventh as published here was clearly open to this interpretation (par excellence?) I set them right about but did not press it further at the moment, for in accepting your terms they automatically accept this also.
If Germany accepts the conditions of our armistice, the Peace Conference should be called for December eleventh thereabouts. It would be necessary for you leave as soon as possible in order to have some preliminary conferences here with France and Italy. This is essential. If Germany accepts by November tenth, could you not sail on the eighteenth? I think Oxford may offer you degree of D C L. This would give a reason for landing in England and also for making an address. Impossible to do anything at present; busy bringing every force to bear to help win a peoples’ victory, and your landing in England is an essential part of it. I send (?) to London to-night. Wiseman has been splendidly helpful.
House.
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938, “Colonel House to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 November 5, WWP25409, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.