811.001 W 69/118½
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: The Russian Ambassador has called on Mr. Lansing today and showed him two editions of “When a Man [Page 308] Comes to Himself” pointing out the language which you showed me the other day. It seems that there are two editions—one is slightly different from the other.
The Ambassador calls attention to the fact that the a [sic] part of the remarks about Russia had been changed, but the change does not seem any more satisfactory than the original language.
I thought you ought to know that he had been here and expressed his embarrassment. He was afraid of the effect of the publication in Russia of extracts in regard to their people.
Mr. Lansing pointed out to him that the copyright is by Harper Brothers and taken out in 1901, and he also suggested to him that in the multitude of cares you had doubtless not had time to look over the speeches before they were reprinted.
I am wondering whether you will think it worth while to say anything to the Ambassador and whether if you desire to say anything, you would rather say it to him orally than in writing. I am inclined to think if you make any correction at all it would be better to follow Mr. Lansing’s suggestion and see him personally—this not only has the advantage of leaving nothing that can be hereafter printed, but an explanation can be spoken much more impressively than it can be written.
If it is done at all it is probably best to do it at once as the Ambassador seemed quite agitated about it.
With assurances [etc.]