The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

220 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

'January 25, 1915: I talked to Mr. Bryan of my suggesting
a commission form of government for Mexico, with the
A.B.C. Powers and ourselves acting jointly. He thought
fairly well of it, but was not as enthusiastic as the President.
I talked of the South American concord and many other
matters.'
Colonel House to the President
PARIS, FRANCE, March 15, 1915
DEAR GOVERNOR:
Since I have been over here, every now and then Mexico
raises its head.
It would be of enormous advantage to your prestige if you
could place that problem well on the road to settlement
before this war ends. I have heard it time and again - not
directly, but through others - that the belligerent Governments will become insistent that order be restored there.
Winslow i tells me that he hears it constantly in Berlin.
I have wondered whether you have taken the matter up
with the A.B.C. Powers, as you contemplated when I left.
This seems to me to be the wisest solution. I think you have
now given them [the Mexicans] every chance to work it out
themselves, and help should be offered them and insisted
upon...
Affectionately yours
E. M. HOUSE
President Wilson, however, was unwilling to take so
decided a step at this time. Three months later he himself
drew a graphic picture of conditions in Mexico: 'Her crops
are destroyed, her fields lie unseeded, her work cattle are
confiscated for the use of the armed factions, her people flee
to the mountains to escape being drawn into unending
bloodshed, and no man seems to see or lead the way to peace
1 Lanier Winslow, attache in Berlin.