ington homestead here, he may be "pushed over." You do the
pushing. Mrs. Page has invited the young White House couple to
visit us on their honeymoon[54]. Encourage that and that may
encourage the larger plan later. Nothing else would give such a
friendly turn to the whole world as the President's coming here.
The old Earth would sit up and rub its eyes and take notice to whom
it belongs. This visit might prevent an English-German war and an
American-Japanese war, by this mere show of friendliness. It would
be one of the greatest occasions of our time. Even at my little
speeches, they "whoop it up!" What would they do over the
President's!

But at that time Washington was too busy with its domestic programme to
consider such a proposal seriously. "Your two letters," wrote Colonel
House in reply, "have come to me and lifted me out of the rut of things
and given me a glimpse of a fair land. What you are thinking of and what
you want this Administration to do is beyond the power of
accomplishment for the moment. My desk is covered with matters of no
lasting importance, but which come to me as a part of the day's work,
and which must be done if I am to help lift the load that is pressing
upon the President. It tells me better than anything else what he has to
bear, and how utterly futile it is for him to attempt such problems as
you present."

_From the President_

MY DEAR PAGE:

. . . As for your suggestion that I should myself visit England
during my term of office, I must say that I agree with all your
arguments for it, and yet the case against the President's leaving
the country, particularly now that he is expected to exercise a
constant leadership in all parts of the business of the government,
is very strong and I am afraid overwhelming. It might be the
beginning of a practice of visiting foreign countries which would
lead Presidents rather far afield.

It is a most attractive idea, I can assure you, and I turn away
from it with the greatest reluctance.

We hear golden opinions of the impression you are making in
England, and I have only to say that it is just what I had
expected.

Cordially and faithfully yours,
WOODROW WILSON.

HON. WALTER H. PAGE,
American Embassy,
London, England.

In December, however, evidently Colonel House's mind had turned to the