763.72111 Em 1/33½
The Secretary of State to Colonel E. M. House
Dear Colonel House: I received your letter of the 17th congratulating me upon the reply we made to the Austrian Statement in regard to the sale of munitions of war. I am very glad that you so heartily approve of it. It seems to have been received most favorably throughout the country, and I hope will stop, in a measure, the propaganda which is being carried on by peace societies and other well-intentioned persons who have not appreciated the practical side of the question.
[Page 129]Mr. McCormick called to see me this morning. He seems to have a fund of information in regard to Haiti and I have asked him to discuss the subject with Mr. Long, the Chief of the Latin-American Division. Not having your letter at the time he called I did not realize his desire to be of service to the Government in connection with the situation which exists there. As to that situation, I confess that I dislike very much the idea which was involved in our action, but there was really no other practical way in which to handle the question.
Yesterday I received a telegram from Mr. Polk,38 who was at Plattsburg to see Mr. Mitchel.39 His telegram said that the matter was satisfactorily arranged between them, but he asked that in case the President saw fit to appoint him it should not be made public immediately. I assume that the Mayor wishes to have time to make up his own mind as to a successor without being bombarded with applications. I hope very much that the President will act promptly in this matter as I am beginning to feel the wear and tear of doing double work in the Department.
Very cordially yours,