500.A15/905: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson)
14. Your telegram No. 22, April 25, 11 p.m. I should avoid making any statement which might be taken to mean that principle of universal liability to service in a time of war was inconsistent with American principles. Many of our leading men feel exactly opposite way; and in the Great War we adopted the principle in question. We believe in voluntary standing army in time of peace, but further than that I should not go; and I question whether exigency is of sufficient importance to run risk of any broader statement which might be subject to serious misinterpretation.