Thomas D. Jones to Woodrow Wilson

I had a frank but entirely friendly talk with Mr. White today about the matter you spoke to me about last evening; and I believe that he will guard that unruly member of his in the future, and that such drastic action as you suggested will not be necessary, at least for the present.

It seems to me probable that the relations between our Board and the Food Administration in connection with the food requirements of the hard pressed Border Neutrals will become strained, and it would be unfortunate to have any avoidable personal complications introduced. We can allot food supplies but we cannot furnish them without cooperation of the Food Administration. I do not know that the attitude of the Food Administration has been deliberately formulated. But some things have been said and done which indicate that we are not to recognize any obligation to share with those neutrals except out of our abundance. That will never do. The needs of the fighting forces must of course be met first; but after that we should share with those who are in need all that we have whether it be scarce or plenty.