Jacob H. Schiff, Esq.
Mr. Schiff to Dr. Eliot.
NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 1914.
My Dear Dr. Eliot:
I am just in receipt of your thoughtful letter of yesterday, which it
has given me genuine pleasure to receive. While it is true that I have
not found myself in accord with many of the views to which you have
given public expression concerning the responsibility for this
deplorable conflict and the unfortunate conditions it has created, I
never doubted that as to its desirable outcome we would find ourselves
in accord, and I am very glad to have this confirmed by you, though as
to this our views could not have diverged.
As to the means by which a desirable result toward European order and
peace may be brought about out of the chaos which has become created, it
is, I confess, difficult to give guidance at present. What needs first,
in my opinion, to be done is to bring forth a healthy and insistent
public opinion here for an early peace without either side becoming
first exhausted, and it was my purpose in the interview I have given to
set the American people thinking concerning this. I have no idea that I
shall have immediate success; but if men like you and others follow in
the same line, I am sure American public opinion can before long be made
to express itself emphatically and insistently in favor of an early
peace. Without this it is not unlikely that this horrible slaughter and
destruction may continue for a very, very long time.
Yours most faithfully,