John H. Clarke to Woodrow Wilson
Title
John H. Clarke to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Clarke, John H. (John Hessin), 1857-1945
Identifier
WWP25493
Date
1918 November 18
Description
Supreme Court Justice advises President Wilson to pay no attention to the opposition.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920)
World War, 1914-1918--United States
World War, 1914-1918--Peace
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Relation
WWP25494
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
My dear Mr. President:-
Permit me to express the hope that you will not heed the opposition, developing in the newspapers, to your attending in person the peace conference.
Your point of view, which I think I understand, is so different from that of the European statesmen (with the possible exception of Lloyd George), and it is so all important that it should prevail that it seems to me no resource should be spared which can aid in its realization.
Your power of stating the case, the personal prestige you have at home and abroad, and the weight of your great office will give many fold greater influence to your advocacy of any measures than would be given to that of any representatives you may send, however able they may be.
Even though you do not stay through all of the sessions, you can speak to the conference on the great fundamentals involved in such manner as to create, I think, a world-wide public opinion, which will insure their acceptance.
The unfortunate results of the management of international affairs in the past surely justifies your neglecting the protest based on the novelty of the course proposed, and encourages the hope that it is not impossible for the present and the future to improve upon the past.
I believe the League of Nations to Enforce the Peace of the World will fail if you do not go, and this, if obtained, will prove the most important result of the war.----If it is not obtained, the sacrifices of the great war will have been, in large measure, made in vain.
Forgive this intrusion,---I know your clear vision will not permit you to waver in your resolution.
Very sincerely yours,
John H. Clarke
The President.
Permit me to express the hope that you will not heed the opposition, developing in the newspapers, to your attending in person the peace conference.
Your point of view, which I think I understand, is so different from that of the European statesmen (with the possible exception of Lloyd George), and it is so all important that it should prevail that it seems to me no resource should be spared which can aid in its realization.
Your power of stating the case, the personal prestige you have at home and abroad, and the weight of your great office will give many fold greater influence to your advocacy of any measures than would be given to that of any representatives you may send, however able they may be.
Even though you do not stay through all of the sessions, you can speak to the conference on the great fundamentals involved in such manner as to create, I think, a world-wide public opinion, which will insure their acceptance.
The unfortunate results of the management of international affairs in the past surely justifies your neglecting the protest based on the novelty of the course proposed, and encourages the hope that it is not impossible for the present and the future to improve upon the past.
I believe the League of Nations to Enforce the Peace of the World will fail if you do not go, and this, if obtained, will prove the most important result of the war.----If it is not obtained, the sacrifices of the great war will have been, in large measure, made in vain.
Forgive this intrusion,---I know your clear vision will not permit you to waver in your resolution.
Very sincerely yours,
John H. Clarke
The President.
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Clarke, John H. (John Hessin), 1857-1945, “John H. Clarke to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 November 18, WWP25493, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.