711.21/328½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State

My Dear Mr. Secretary: The Colombian Government is, of course, very sensitive about this matter and we, on our part, are, I think, pledged to the utmost to stand by the terms of the treaty as drawn. I think, moreover, that it is likely that the views of some Senators will prove to have been a good deal modified since the last session by a fuller knowledge of all that is involved.

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I think, however, that it would not be wise to act in this matter as you suggest until you can have an interview with Senator Stone and find out exactly what the obstacles in the Senate were, and how they are likely to be most successfully dealt with. It would hardly do to act on the newspaper versions of what they were.

I wonder if you could obtain such an interview in time, or whether, lacking that, you could get from Senator Stone a letter giving the whole case as it stands in his view?

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Faithfully Yours,

W. W.