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763.72111/1675½

President Wilson to the Counselor for the Department of State (Lansing)

Washington, January 29, 1915.

My Dear Mr. Lansing: The enclosed letter is from a genuine friend of peace and Americanism and who is intelligently active [Page 195] in trying to correct the gross misapprehensions and prejudices which have prevailed among some of our fellow-citizens of German extraction. I think that his suggestion in the enclosed letter is a very interesting and important one. I am writing to ask if the complaints of the friends of the Allies have been formulated in a way which would give us an opportunity to treat them as we have treated the complaints of the other side. Perhaps this could be done in connection with the letter about Belgium.

Cordially and sincerely yours,

Woodrow Wilson
[Enclosure]

The Editor of the “Milwaukee Journal” (L. W. Nieman) to President Wilson

[Milwaukee, Wis.,] January 26, 1915.

My Dear Mr. President: I forgot to ask you for a companion statement from the State department, dealing with the complaints of friends of the allies. This would greatly strengthen the answer to the partisans of Germany. In no other way could the difficulties of our government be so strikingly brought home to the crowd on both sides. To be useful, this statement should come soon and should not be confined to the case of Belgium, but should also take up minor matters. I went somewhat into details with Mr. McAdoo and Mr. Tumulty.

Very sincerely yours,

L. W. Nieman