Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-08
PRESIDENT WILSON AND
A

i II10Oc puUIIC oOiIAS ASssS
Franklin K. Lane to his brother IN
which he tells of dissension IN the
cabinet of President Woodrow Will
o concerning the duty OF the
country to take part in the war sew
eral months prior to the message
Of the president asking congress to
declare war against Germany. From
these letters it appears that the
cabinet was sharply divided until
shortly before the war message
was sent to. congress, but event.
ually they became a unit for wal.
But almost up to the last minute
President Wilson was reluctant to
go to war, and his cabinet was not
sure as to what action he would
take until a very short time before
he sent his message to congress.
The first letter of Secretary Lane
to his brother discloses his impa-
thence with the presidents delay in
forceful words. He says:
washington, February rs, 1917.
MY Dear George: On Friday we
had one of the most animated ses-
sions of the cabinet that l suppose
has ever been held under this or
any other president. 1t all arose
out of a very innocent question OF
mine as to whether it was true that
the wives of American consuls on
leaving Germany had been stripped
naked, given an acid bath to detect
writing on their flesh, and subjected
to other indignities. Lansing an
swered that it was true. Then /
asked Houston about the bread
riots in New York, as to whether
there was shortage of food because
of car shortage due to vessels not
going out with exports.
This led to a discussion of the
great problem which we all had
been afraid to raise: Why shouldn't
we send our ships out with guns
or conveys? Daniels said we must
not convoy-that would be danger
Gus. (Think OF a secretary OF the
navy talking about danger)l The
president said the country was not
willing we should take any risks of
war. I said that l got no such en-
timent out Of the country, but it
the country knew that our consuls'
wives had been treated SO outrage
cusly that there would be no ques-
ton as to the sentiment. This, the
president took as a suggestion that
we should work up a propaganda Of
hatred against Germany. Of course
I said I had no such idea, but that
felt that in a democracy the peo-
pie were entitled to know the facts.
McAdoo, Houston and Redfield
Joined me The president turned on
them bitterly, especially McAdoo,
and reproached all of US with ap-
pealing to the spirit Of the code
duello. We qeuldn't get the idea
out of his head that we were bent
onpushing the country into war;"
That letter was dated a little
more than two months before our
declaration of war. President Will
son had severed diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany, but it srpears
from this letter that he was still
reluctant to take the country into
the war.
The next letter was dated just a
few days before President Wilson
went to congress and asked them to
declare wal against Germany. At
that time the cabinet had become a
unit for war, but even then no one
of them had seen the presidents
message or was sure OF just what
he was going to say to congress.
The second letter follows:
washington, April l, 1917.
my Dear George. l took your let
ter and your proposed wire as to
our going into war and sent them
to the president as suggestions for
his proposed message which in a
couple of days will come out-what
it is to be I don't know, excepting
in. spirit. He is to be for recogniz-
ing war and taking hold of the stu
alton in such fashion as will event
ually lead to an allies victory over
Germany. But he goes unwillingly.
The cabinet is at last a unit. We
can stand Germany's insolence and
murderous policy no longer. Burle-
son, Gregory, Daniels and Wilson
~(secretary of labor) were the last
to come over
1.-THE meetings Of the cabinet
- >> --AI~~ lee than