Colonel House to Woodrow Wilson

Sir Charles Gordon (a Canadian and Northcliffe's right hand man) took lunch with me the other day. His government has placed the question of purchasing almost wholly in his hands.

He is exceedingly anxious that this government announce its policy regarding prices and where the Allied Governments will come in. He tells me there is an immediate necessity for steel, and while his government is paying in England 2-1/2 cents per pound, the only rate the Cunard Company could get from the U. S. Steel Corporation was 8 cents, and this was a special favor. They refused to give the British Government any quotation whatever although they had given our government a rate of 3.60.

The profits of the Steel Corporation as shown by their last statement are colossal and, unless a restraining hand is laid upon them, there will be no limit.

I am merely writing this for your information.Magnolia, Massachusetts.August 4, 1917.