120 / 194
BRITAIN IN 1914:“THEY HAD FAILEDTO DOWHAT
THEY OUGHTTO HAVE DONE”
182
●
ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. Typed Letter Signed, to Harvard historian Robert
M. Johnston, sending money to subscribe to his new magazine [not present], and observing
the British reaction to his own statement that Britain should have been better prepared [for
the war], and adding that the U.S. would have done worse. 1 page, small 4to, personal sta-
tionery; “Return” written in unknown hand at upper left, folds.
Oyster Bay, 24 November 1915
[1,000/2,000]
“
I feel as gloomy as you do; . . . I look forward to seeing your articles in the Tribune.You may be
amused to know that the English are most sensitive about my having stated that they had failed to do
what they ought to have done, thanks to their lack of preparedness in advance; and this although I
stated at the same time that we would have done infinitely worse.”
WITH
—
Theodore Roosevelt.Typed Letter Signed, “T. Roosevelt,” to Charles E. Knowles, expressing
regret that he cannot help him. 1 page, oblong 8vo,“Republican State Committee” stationery; all edges
trimmed, collector’s note typed near letterhead. NewYork, 30 November 1898.