Edward M. House Papers
Colonel E. M. House to President Wilson
Dear Governor: After receiving your cable93 I notified Lord Grey that I would not be able to return with him to the United States on September 20th, as I had promised. He seems a little timid about the whole adventure and I hope you will give him the warmest possible welcome. He is one of the finest characters I have ever met and you will find him the most satisfactory man representing a foreign government with whom you have had to deal. He would like to meet you in a personal way first before discussing business, and if [Page 641] you could have him around some evening alone I think it would be a joy to you both.
I had a talk with Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, yesterday. He believes that England can pull through and finally pay all her obligations provided she gets a little helpful consideration from the United States. It is not merely money that they want but at the moment they would like the interest payments deferred, and they would like the use of the American dollars which will come to them in one way or another during the next few months.
I am counting upon going over to Paris on the 13th. It is my intention to be there in an advisory capacity and not to sit in negotiations that are now pending. I shall try to get things so organized as to shorten their labors and bring them to an early conclusion. There is an enormous amount of criticism here and I suppose everywhere because of the delay.
The Hungarian, Bulgarian and Austrian Treaties should be out of the way by the first of the month, and it seems by common consent the Turkish Treaty is to be deferred.
I shall count upon sailing for the United States the 10th of October. This would bring me there after the Treaty is out of the way.
Affectionately yours,