Woodrow Wilson to Colonel House
Title
Woodrow Wilson to Colonel House
Creator
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Identifier
WWP25495
Date
No date
Description
President Wilson tells House about his announcement of his trip to France.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920)
World War, 1914-1918--United States
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Contributor
Maria Matlock
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
To House. Number Sixteen.
I am issuing the following announcement: The President expects to sail for France immediately after the opening of the regular session of the Congress, for the purpose of taking part in the discussion and settlement of the main features of the treaty of peace. It is not likely that it will be possible for him to remain throughout the sessions of the formal peace conference, but his presence at the outset is necessary in order to obviate the manifest disadvantages of of discussion by cable in determining the greater outlines of the final treaty, about which he must necessarily be consulted. He will, of course, be accompanied by delegates who will sit as the representatives of the United States throughout the conference. The names of the delegates will be presently announced. End quote. It would not be wise for me to come as if on another errand. There is only one errand our people would approve. If the French prime minister is uneasy about the presidency of the conference I will be glad to propose that he preside. I urge that the larger delegations be limited to five. Two other messages go to you through the State Department.
I approve of your plan to employ experts on the assessment of damage done.
[Woodrow Wilson]
I am issuing the following announcement: The President expects to sail for France immediately after the opening of the regular session of the Congress, for the purpose of taking part in the discussion and settlement of the main features of the treaty of peace. It is not likely that it will be possible for him to remain throughout the sessions of the formal peace conference, but his presence at the outset is necessary in order to obviate the manifest disadvantages of of discussion by cable in determining the greater outlines of the final treaty, about which he must necessarily be consulted. He will, of course, be accompanied by delegates who will sit as the representatives of the United States throughout the conference. The names of the delegates will be presently announced. End quote. It would not be wise for me to come as if on another errand. There is only one errand our people would approve. If the French prime minister is uneasy about the presidency of the conference I will be glad to propose that he preside. I urge that the larger delegations be limited to five. Two other messages go to you through the State Department.
I approve of your plan to employ experts on the assessment of damage done.
[Woodrow Wilson]
Original Format
Letter
To
House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938
Files
Collection
Citation
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, “Woodrow Wilson to Colonel House,” No date, WWP25495, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.