8 October 1915
I’ve been very bad about writing, I do apologise. Anyway, now Washington’s back to normal, and I’ll do better.
I saw the minister today. He’s pleased with my work, he says. I have been asked to organise our press work, talking to journalists and passing on selected information. There have been some positive leaders. The way we handle the press is much softer than the German approach, we’ve always been too gentlemanly. We thought the Lusitania would swing public opinion, but they concocted a story that the ship was filled with weapons and people believed them.
It’s hard not to feel hostile towards Germany, but our ambassador is very sensible. He served there, and likes the country. He says, when we win the war – he’s convinced we will, once the Americans join in – our objective must not be to finish the Germans off, but to lead them into more sensible ways. As he puts it, curing the fever doesn’t mean killing the patient.
I saw my friend Margaret Salt at dinner last week, back from summer in the Berkshires. Don’t worry, I’m not going to marry an American girl, though if you met her you might think it was a good idea.