The more terrible the war becomes, the greater credit it will be that you saw the trend of events long before it was seen by other statesmen of the world.
Your very faithful,
E.M. House.
P.S. The question might be asked why negotiations were only with Germany and England and not with France and Russia. This, of course, was because it was thought that Germany would act for the Triple Alliance and England for the Triple Entente[65].
The President to Edward M. House
The White House,
Washington, D.C.
August 4th, 1914. [Tuesday.]
Edward M. House,
Pride's Crossing, Mass.
Letter of third received. Do you think I could and should act now and if so how?
Woodrow Wilson.
Edward M. House to the President
[Telegram]
Pride's Crossing, Mass.
August 5th, 1914. [Wednesday.]
The President,
The White House, Washington, D.C.
Olney[66] and I agree that in response to the Senate resolution it would be unwise to tender your good offices at this time. We believe it would lessen your influence when the proper moment arrives. He thinks it advisable that you make a direct or indirect statement to the effect that you have done what was humanly possible to compose the situation before this crisis had been reached. He thinks this would satisfy the Senate and the public in view of your disinclination to act now upon the Senate resolution. The story might be told to the correspondents at Washington and they might use the expression "we have it from high authority."
He agrees to my suggestion that nothing further should be done now than to instruct our different ambassadors to inform the respective governments to whom they are accredited, that you stand ready to tender your good offices whenever such an offer is desired.