Woodrow Wilson to Theodore Marburg

Woodrow Wilson to Theodore Marburg

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

WWP22345

1918 May 6

Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers, 1786-1957

My dear Mr. Marburg:

Thank you very much for sending me a copy of Lord Bryce's letter to you of recent date.
I do not know that there is any special message I can suggest to Lord Bryce. I am always disinclined to differ with his views, because I have learned to respect his judgment and to suspect that I may be wrong when I disagree with him, but I cannot escape the conviction that to occupy ourselves now with the development of a working organization for a League of Nations would be a mistake, strong as the arguments are which Lord Bryce urges. The thing could not be done privately, as he suggests. No international conference of men of the stamp that would be necessary in this great undertaking can be held in a corner or without public knowledge, and we would start a discussion of the very thing which ought not now to be discussed, a discussion in the field where jealousy and competitive interest is most likely to block the whole business.

Cordially and sincerely yours,
Woodrow Wilson


Mr. Theodore Marburg,
14 W. Mount Vernon Place,
Baltimore, Maryland.

Letter

Theodore Marburg