John Sharp Williams to Woodrow Wilson
Title
John Sharp Williams to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Williams, John Sharp, 1854-1932
Identifier
WWP25261
Date
1918 October 14
Description
Senate Williams advises President Wilson to let the German sit and stew.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Peace negotiations
Contributor
Morgan Willer
Relation
WWP25262
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
Hon. Woodrow Wilson,
President of the United States,
White House.
My Dear Mr. President:-
I have just made a speech in the Senate the object of which was two-fold: First, from my standpoint as a partisan Democrat--with which you will not have as much sympathy as I have--to put an end to the apprehended success of Republican strategy as outlined by Lodge and by the Chairman of the Republican Executive Committee. Of course, I did not mention Lodge, nor Fess either; it would have weakened the dignity of the Argument to have put it upon the basis of a reply to anybody. I intended it to be an armament of what you had done and a disarmament of any apprehensions that might exist as to what you might do. If you have time you will read it; but I do not think you will have time and I think you will find a whole lot of other things just at this crisis to which you had better direct your attention.
However, there is one part of it to which I want to call your attention, not for the purpose of having you read it but for the purpose of seeing if you think the thought after me---if your mind harmonizes with mine on the subject: It contains a suggestion that you should let the populations of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey “wobble on the gudgeon” a while; “stew in their own grease”, while owing to the quarreling and disputation that is going on, (and which will be emphasized from day to day) the demoralization amongst the German, and Austria-Hungarian peoples may grow, while, of course, no demoralization is occurring on our side, either in Great Britain, France, Itally, or the United States. In fact, Mr. President, the speeches made by Republican Senators, even those made from a Republican partisan standpoint, are unintentionally helping the idea that I want to reenforce. A lot of it will ooze through to Germany, or to Austria, or to Turkey and will create the impression there that the American people are not even willing to let the Germans surrender upon any conditions short of voluntarily kissing the American foot. This will, of course, create the impression that the sooner they throw themselves upon your mercy and the mercy of David Lloyd George, who is almost equally just though not equally unimpassioned, the better for them.
This letter is written with the idea of letting them “wobble” a week or two--two weeks if you can, while you are necessarily consulting with London and Paris and King Albert. Meanwhile I think if I were you I would get a private cipher telegram through to Foche to “push the fighting”, or get it to Pershing with the request that he communicate it to Foche. With you demoralizing their population on the inside, and Foche aggressively attacking their Army on the outside, I think maybe we can bring the enemy to his knees before the New Year begins, although, of course, that is rather an extreme hope. By “bringing him to his knees”, I mean to a point where he almost unconditionally surrenders or solicits terms.
Excuse me for bothering you with suggestions; but everybody else I suppose is bothering you and I might just as well join the “Grand Army of Framers of Presidential Conduct.”
I am, with every expression of regard, Mr. President.
Very truly yours,
John Sharp Williams
President of the United States,
White House.
My Dear Mr. President:-
I have just made a speech in the Senate the object of which was two-fold: First, from my standpoint as a partisan Democrat--with which you will not have as much sympathy as I have--to put an end to the apprehended success of Republican strategy as outlined by Lodge and by the Chairman of the Republican Executive Committee. Of course, I did not mention Lodge, nor Fess either; it would have weakened the dignity of the Argument to have put it upon the basis of a reply to anybody. I intended it to be an armament of what you had done and a disarmament of any apprehensions that might exist as to what you might do. If you have time you will read it; but I do not think you will have time and I think you will find a whole lot of other things just at this crisis to which you had better direct your attention.
However, there is one part of it to which I want to call your attention, not for the purpose of having you read it but for the purpose of seeing if you think the thought after me---if your mind harmonizes with mine on the subject: It contains a suggestion that you should let the populations of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey “wobble on the gudgeon” a while; “stew in their own grease”, while owing to the quarreling and disputation that is going on, (and which will be emphasized from day to day) the demoralization amongst the German, and Austria-Hungarian peoples may grow, while, of course, no demoralization is occurring on our side, either in Great Britain, France, Itally, or the United States. In fact, Mr. President, the speeches made by Republican Senators, even those made from a Republican partisan standpoint, are unintentionally helping the idea that I want to reenforce. A lot of it will ooze through to Germany, or to Austria, or to Turkey and will create the impression there that the American people are not even willing to let the Germans surrender upon any conditions short of voluntarily kissing the American foot. This will, of course, create the impression that the sooner they throw themselves upon your mercy and the mercy of David Lloyd George, who is almost equally just though not equally unimpassioned, the better for them.
This letter is written with the idea of letting them “wobble” a week or two--two weeks if you can, while you are necessarily consulting with London and Paris and King Albert. Meanwhile I think if I were you I would get a private cipher telegram through to Foche to “push the fighting”, or get it to Pershing with the request that he communicate it to Foche. With you demoralizing their population on the inside, and Foche aggressively attacking their Army on the outside, I think maybe we can bring the enemy to his knees before the New Year begins, although, of course, that is rather an extreme hope. By “bringing him to his knees”, I mean to a point where he almost unconditionally surrenders or solicits terms.
Excuse me for bothering you with suggestions; but everybody else I suppose is bothering you and I might just as well join the “Grand Army of Framers of Presidential Conduct.”
I am, with every expression of regard, Mr. President.
Very truly yours,
John Sharp Williams
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Williams, John Sharp, 1854-1932, “John Sharp Williams to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 October 14, WWP25261, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.