Frank I. Cobb to Colonel House

The World will be glad to take that matter up and carry it through, if possible. I cannot get away at present to see you, but perhaps we can arrive at some kind of a general understanding by letter. Of course, the thing cannot succeed unless we have the full co-operation of both the United States and German Governments.
I am not sure, in my own mind, how the matter could best be presented to the Tageblatt---whether by direct communication or through the good offices of the Swiss Minister. What is your own opinion about that? We could prepare a formal proposal to the Tageblatt and ask the State Department to have it transmitted by cable or otherwise. If the German Government acquiesced, or even permitted the Tageblatt to receive the communication, the details could then be worked out.
Such a debate would really amount to a preliminary discussion of peace in its ultimate effect and I do not think its value could well be overestimated, if it could be done. There would be little use in undertaking it, however, unless there were assurances from Germany that our side of the case would not be censored, although we might properly have a private agreement as to the limits of the debate.
Will you be good enough to let me know your own views as to the method of carrying it through? I agree with you thoroughly that nothing must be done unless we have the plans completely mapped out and agreed upon.