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

404 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

It is a dangerous thing to inflame a people and give them
an exaggerated idea of success. This is what has happened
and is happening in almost every country that is at war....
If those that are in charge of the civil Government now
hold their power when peace comes, there will be no doubt
of their cooperation - provided, of course, our relations grow
no worse, and without actual war they could not be worse.
This is almost wholly due to our selling munitions of war
to the Allies. The bitterness of their resentment towards us
for this is almost beyond belief. It seems that every German
that is being killed or wounded is being killed or wounded by
an American rifle, bullet, or shell. I never dreamed before
of the extraordinary excellence of our guns and ammunition.
They are the only ones that explode or are so manufactured
that their results are deadly.
I have pointed out the danger of such agitation against us
and have tried to show how much it would lessen our influence
in helping Germany when our help is needed. I have indicated where our interests touched at various points anid
how valuable it would be to both nations to work in harmony
rather than at cross-purposes...
There is a general insistence here, as elsewhere, that when
a settlement is made it must be an enduring one; but ideas
as to how this may be brought about are as divergent as
the poles....
Gerard has been exceedingly helpful here. He has not
interfered in the slightest and has insisted upon my seeing
the different Cabinet Ministers and influential Germans
alone. He is very courageous, and is different from some of
our representatives, inasmuch as his point of view is wholly
American.
Affectionately yours
E. M. HOUSE

As in London, House made a point of meeting varied