The motives of the United States in this war, the President continued, "were unselfish, but the motives of Great Britain seemed to him to be of a less unselfish character." Mr.Wilson cited the treaty between Great Britain and Italy as a sample of British statesmanship which he regarded as proving this contention.

The President's reference to this Italian treaty has considerable historic value; there has been much discussion as to when the President first learned of its existence, but it is apparent from this conversation with ex-President Taft that he must have known about it on December 12, 1917, for President Wilson based his criticism of British policy largely upon this Italian convention[67].
The President showed more and more feeling about the matter as the discussion continued.

"There are too many Englishmen," he said, "in this country and in Washington now and I have asked the British Ambassador to have some of them sent home." Mr.Wilson referred to the jealousy of France at the close relations which were apparently developing between Great Britain and the United States.

This was another reason, he thought, why it was unwise to make the bonds between them any tighter.

He also called Mr.Taft's attention to the fact that there were certain elements in the United States which were opposed to Great Britain--this evidently being a reference to the Germans and the Irish--and he therefore believed that any conspicuous attempts to increase the friendliness of the two countries for each other would arouse antagonism and resentment.
As Mr.Taft was leaving he informed Mr.Wilson that the plan for his visit and that of the other speakers had originated with the American Ambassador to Great Britain.