John Sharp Williams to Woodrow Wilson

This letter will introduce to you Mrs. Margaret B. Carver and Doctor Edward H. Egbert, both of whom have been in Russia, have studied the Russian situation; have served the Russian cause. In addition to that Mrs. Carver has been arousing a great deal of enthusiasm for the new Russian democracy, optimistically hoping that they will have liberty with order. There are no two people of my acquaintance who know more about the Russian situation than they do. I want you to give them a quarter or half an hour of your quiet, patient, intelligent attention.

It is, in my opinion, of the highest importance that a sort of governmental, or extra-governmental American expeditionary corps, comprising ambulance service, surgeons, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, transportation experts, munition experts and lumber experts should go to Russia, under some especially equipped chief with administrative and executive ability, selected still more especially because of his tact and diplomatic ability. Of course, if we can find a man of that sort who is a distinguished physician all the better. If we can find a man who is an organizer of helpful, curative energies, he will do, perhaps even still better because there would be no room for professional jealousies.

By the way, I do not want to close this letter without telling you that I think one of the best state papers ever offered to the world was your answer to the Pope. The only one thing about it that I think is subject to criticism is that you went very far against any "punitive damages." I think it would be a disgrace to civilization if Germany were permitted to escape without damages, actually assessed in the name of punishment for her atrocities in Belgium. I think it would be well worth three or four months of war to put that on record, so that so called civilized nations in future wars might know beforehand that atrocities must be paid for in damages; levied for punishment and not merely for restoration. However, that little criticism is just a sort of "fly-speck on the disk of the sun." The spirit of your reply, the English of it, are beyond criticism. Your indictment of the House of Hohenzollern is one of the most eloquent true bills ever filed as an indictment against anybody anywhere.

I am, with every expression of regard,