Theodore H. Price to Woodrow Wilson

Washington, DC


Dear Mr. President
I have never ceased to believe that your suggestion of “Peace without Victory” provided the only practkicable means of terminating a struggle that now threatens to destroy civilization before it can be ended by force of arms.

I entirely agree with what you said to me at McAdoo's dinner when you remarked that a fight to a finish might end white supremacy on this planet. I do not mean to quote you exactly, but that was the idea I got from your words.
Ever since my mind has been busy trying to devise some way in which the thoughts of men could be turned from war and vindictiveness and hate and directed toward a contemplation of a possible peace.
So cogitating I have come to a dream of an unofficial commission composed of a few men of whom the following are types:Lord Bryce,Joseph H. Choate,D'estournelle Constant,Maximillian Harden,and some leading Social Democrat from Russia.
These men to meet in some neutral country, such as Switzerland and there proceed to paint a word picture of a democratized world at peace and politically confederated for the maintainance of human rights.This picture as it took shape to be held up to the gaze of the embattled peoples who are now blindly trying to destroy each other.
I feel that the subtle telepathy of liberty would carry the message of the picture to the hearts of the German people, but if I am wrong other methods could be used for getting it before them.
Hiuman ingenuity has never yet devised an obstacle that human ingenuity could not overcome.
In an effort to make mu dream a reality I have discussed it with a few intimate friends and am now in a position to say to you that much of the machinery and all of the money necessary for arranging such a conference willl be privately provided if you have no objection to the attempt.
I have not communicated with any of the men named and have no authority to speak vfor them in any way. They are mentioned simply by way of giving vividness to the picture that I have tried to visualize.
I do not ask for any governmental endorsement. It is highly desirable that any move along these lines should be entirely unofficial, but I would like to try and realize my dream if you have no objection. I believe that I can succeed, for in your “Peace without Victory” I have come to have the sort of faith that can remove mountains.
I am entirely at ybour disposal if you care to see me.

Yours faithfully,

Theo H. Price

To the President,
Washington, DC