Description:

Wilson Regarding "Pomp of Power" Anonymous Exposé About Paris Peace Conference & Versailles Treaty

A 1p typed letter signed by 28th U.S. President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), as "Woodrow Wilson" near lower right. [Washington, D.C.], March 3, 1923. Typed on watermarked bifold stationery with "2340 S Street N W / Woodrow Wilson / Washington D C" letterhead embossed on the first page. A pencil edit affecting punctuation appears on line 13. The inner pages are blank. Expected wear including flattened folds and isolated rust stains. Uneven toning from previous matting just touching the signature flourish. Minor weathering to the last page. Else near fine. 7" x 9.5."

Ex-President Woodrow Wilson wrote this thank you note to Hugh Campbell Wallace (1864-1931), the U.S. Ambassador to France from 1919-1921.

In part:

"It was very gracious and kind of you to send me a copy of 'The Pomp of Power', and I shall look forward with real pleasure to the time when I can give it the careful perusal which I am sure it deserves…"

"The Pomp of Power" had been published in New York by publisher George H. Doran in 1922, and offered a detailed, firsthand account of Anglo-French diplomacy between 1914-1921 from the perspective of an unidentified participant. Its author was "Anonymous." The book was "probably [written by] a sound-minded and well-mannered British gentleman," according to Victor S. Clark, who reviewed the book in the in November 1922 issue of "The Atlantic." The most explosive material of the book, at least to an American audience, concerned its open criticism of Woodrow Wilson's role in the Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles. Anonymous argued that Wilson was outsmarted and outmaneuvered by his European counterparts and that ultimately, "Mr. Wilson sacrificed his own principles and the interests of the civilized world" in ensuring that the Treaty would be approved by his own people. Could Wilson truly read "with real pleasure" a book that condemned his life's capstone achievement?

Wilson continued: "… our thoughts will follow you throughout your journey. I wish we could look in on you at the house party of Lord and Lady Derby and see you enjoying yourself in such pomp and circumstance…" The Wallaces were scheduled to travel to Paris, France in the following days, according to a travel announcement in "The New York Times" published on March 7, 1923. Their transatlantic trip probably included England, where they evidently had plans to meet with Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby (1865-1948), who had served as British Ambassador to France from 1918-1920, and his wife Alice Montagu, Lady Derby (1862-1957).

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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November 2, 2022 11:00 AM EDT
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