763.72112/3010½
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I received your letter of the 29th ultimo in reply to mine of the 22d enclosing a draft of telegram to our Chargé at London, and believe that I understand your desire as to the work of the Department at the present time. After my talks with Mr. Page I felt very doubtful whether he would make the situation here as clear to the British Government as he should. It was for this reason that I drafted the telegram.
As you know I have felt that the conduct of our foreign affairs ought to be divorced entirely from the political campaign and for that reason determined at the outset that none of the higher officials of the Department should take any part in the campaign, a course which I felt corresponded with your wishes.
That policy will be rigidly observed, although I confess that it is difficult to “forget the campaign so far as matters of this sort are concerned”, when we are subject daily to unjust criticism based on error or deliberate falsehood. It is not easy to remain silent under such charges and imputations as are being publicly made by the opposition, when they can be so fully and convincingly answered.
Faithfully yours,