Woodrow Wilson to Colonel House
Title
Woodrow Wilson to Colonel House
Creator
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Identifier
WWP25480
Date
1918 November 16
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Contributor
Mark Edwin Peterson
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
#15
To House.
Your 107 upsets every plan we had made. I infer that [both] French and English leaders desire to exclude me from the Conference for fear I might there lead the weaker nations against them. If I were to come to the seat of the Conference and remain outside I would be merely the centre of a sort of sublimated lobby. All weak parties would resort to me and there would be exactly the same jealousy that was excited by the Germans addressing themselves exclusively to me. I play [exactly] the same part in our government that the prime ministers play in theirs. The fact that I am head of the state is of no practical consequence. [I care nothing for any] No point of dignity; [I only want] the results we have set our hearts upon and must have. [I find that] It is universally expected and generally desired here that I should attend the conference, but I believe that no one would wish me to sit by and try to steer from the outside. I am thrown into complete confusion by the change of programme. The [plan] proposed for me by Clemenceau, George, Reading, and the rest seems to me [excellent as] a way of pocketing me. I hope you will be very shy of their advice and give me your own independent judgment after reconsideration.
[Woodrow Wilson]
To House.
Your 107 upsets every plan we had made. I infer that [both] French and English leaders desire to exclude me from the Conference for fear I might there lead the weaker nations against them. If I were to come to the seat of the Conference and remain outside I would be merely the centre of a sort of sublimated lobby. All weak parties would resort to me and there would be exactly the same jealousy that was excited by the Germans addressing themselves exclusively to me. I play [exactly] the same part in our government that the prime ministers play in theirs. The fact that I am head of the state is of no practical consequence. [I care nothing for any] No point of dignity; [I only want] the results we have set our hearts upon and must have. [I find that] It is universally expected and generally desired here that I should attend the conference, but I believe that no one would wish me to sit by and try to steer from the outside. I am thrown into complete confusion by the change of programme. The [plan] proposed for me by Clemenceau, George, Reading, and the rest seems to me [excellent as] a way of pocketing me. I hope you will be very shy of their advice and give me your own independent judgment after reconsideration.
[Woodrow Wilson]
Original Format
Letter
To
House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938
Files
Collection
Citation
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, “Woodrow Wilson to Colonel House,” 1918 November 16, WWP25480, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.