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New York,
December 26, 1915.
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<note><gap reason=�illegible�></note>
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My letter to the President is the most important document of the day,
and Councellor Polk the most important caller. I arranged with Polk <add>for</add> <del>that</del> the
State Department <add>to</add> <del>should</del> keep me informed by cable while I am absent. A spe-
cial cypher is to be worked out in order that no one excepting himself and Lan-
sing will know what is passing between us.
I tried to make it clear to Polk that my efforts would be minimized if
they permitted me to grope around in the dark without actual information as to
what was going on, not only in Congress and administrative circles, but between
other governments and ourselves. I told him <del><something</del> of the jealousies I
would encounter, particularly in London. I wished him to understand this as
it may have a bearing on many incidents arising during my stay there.
We discussed at considerable length how <del>I could guard</del> these <del>constant</del>
cables <add><gap reason=�illegible�></add> without letting Page and the Embassy know their contents. Polk is
distrustful of Page and the Embassy staff because of their propensity to talk.
It is not the Page talks more than others, but he is more trustful of his
staff. Polk said he would put in each <sic>despatch</sic> something I might read to
Page so as not to hurt his <sic>sensisbilties.</sic>.
A cypher is to be made in the Department tomorrow and will be sent over
by special messenger so as to reach me tomorrow night. Polk spoke of the dif-
ficulties of my undertaking. We agreed the only thing our Government could do
was to press the Ancona and Lusitania incidents to a conclusion, come what may.
I spoke of the selfish outlook of all the belligerent nations and of their cri-
ticism of us for not doing what they wished us to do. Nations are not unlike
individuals and we should not become Quixotic in order to pull their chestnuts
out of the fire. Our people should not be sacrificed unless for a cause that
is righteous.
Every hour of the day has been crowded. Mona and Randolph came from
| Title | ms_0466_s2_v4_001 |
| Transcript |
New York,
December 26, 1915.
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