Thomas William Lamont to Woodrow Wilson

Title

Thomas William Lamont to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

Lamont, Thomas W. (Thomas William), 1870-1948

Identifier

WWP16178

Date

1920 February 9

Description

Thomas W. Lamont writes President Wilson an a planned visit to the Far East.

Source

Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia

Language

English

Text

Confidential.

Dear Mr. President

I was sorry to miss catching a glimpse of you when I was in Washington last Thursday and Friday, but I quite understood the situation and I was delighted to learn from Admiral Grayson of your continued progress back to normal. Please be sure that in your illness, the direct result of your devotion to the country’s interest, you and Mrs. Wilson have had warm and affectionate sympathy from Mrs. Lamont and myself.

I explained to Grayson something about my Far Eastern trip. I am starting this week to make a visit to Japan and China in behalf of the American banking group, which, as you know, is a part of the so-called Chinese Consortium, or international Four-Power Group, made up of banking groups from America, Great Britain, France and Japanese. I am going over as the representative of the Group and of nobody else, but at the same time, it is only fair to state to you that I am making the trip at the suggestion of the State Department, which is inclined to believe that in no other way can we bring about a consummation of the plans for trying to assist China financially.

You will recollect that, at the instance of the State Department and the foreign offices concerned, we called a meeting of the Groups in Paris last May to form the Consortium. This was accomplished, the whole plan laid before the governments for their final approval. Our State Department and the British and Franch foreign offices of course promptly approved, but the Japanese government made a reservation on Mongolian-Manchuria as belonging to their special sphere of influence. Of course this claim was inadmissable, controvening the principles laid down by the State Department and also those laid down by the banking groups looking towards a free and full partnership in the interests of China.

Diplomatic exchanges have been taking place ever since, but Japan has never receded. We think that their attitude is due partly to bluff and partly to misunderstanding. The people in the State Department here believe that we shall never get anywhere by cable and that through purely the business end, that is the banking groups, we may be able to get Japan to waive her reservations. That, in a word, is the reason that I am going out. The hope may be vain, but it is a chance that your people think is worth while taking, and I shall of course confine my activities to the banking end. I have had long talks with Lansing, Frank Polk, Breckenridge Long, etc. and we are thoroughly and completely in accord. I believe that if we can get this question of the Consortium settled, it will be a long step in getting Japan in line and maintaining the peace out there, including especially friendly relations between the Nationals of our country and of Japan.

I said also to Grayson that while I was in China, in fact while I am in Japan, leading officials there are likely to sit down with me and talk about Shantung. I will let them do the talking but there is one chance in a thousand that when they have available an American business man who has no private interests to serve, they may make on each side some suggestion that will be of interest in adjusting that bad situation. It was really to inquire whether you had any views to express to me on this point that I was led to hope I might see you for a moment. Perhaps, therefore, if you find anything in this letter to comment upon, you will be so good as to let me have a word from you, but, if not, pray then, Mr. President, do not bother.

Any word should be addressed to my at my house, 49 East 65th Street, New York, to reach here not later than Wednesday afternoon, because I am starting Thursday morning.

Again with most cordial regards, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Thomas W. Lamont

Original Format

Letter

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/D06854A.pdf

Citation

Lamont, Thomas W. (Thomas William), 1870-1948, “Thomas William Lamont to Woodrow Wilson,” 1920 February 9, WWP16178, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.