763.72/3313½a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: From a newspaper correspondent who is I believe reliable comes the information that he has found in visiting the Entente Embassies here a change of sentiment in the last day or two as to the desire that this country should be drawn into the war. It now seems, according to this informant, that they are as anxious now to have us keep out as a few days ago they were anxious to have us come in. The conclusion drawn from his conversation with various members of the Embassies was that they had decided that they did not want this Government to take part in the peace negotiations because we would be too lenient with Germany.
I do not know what was said to him and I only give you his opinion as of interest without attempting to value it.
There is, however, this: You may recall that last spring, when the Sussex affair was being discussed, I said that I could see a possible reason for Germany’s wish to have us in the war as her antagonist if she was convinced that she would be defeated or could not win, and that was, that when the peace was negotiated we would be a generous enemy and favor moderate terms, so that she would be protected from the hatred of the Allies.
The present viewpoint of the Embassies would seem to be the complement of that idea.
Faithfully yours,