[ Autograph ] Woodrow Wilson Fine content T.L.S. as President on White House letterhead, 2pp. 8vo., Washington, Nov. 19, 1918 Just a week after the signing of the armistice ending World War I Wilson faces a dilemma concerning military commissions. In part: "...I took up the matter of your commission with the Secretary of War, and he and I are both in a quandary about it. As soon as the armistice was signed, the policy was adopted of making no further appointments or promotions in the army, as it was believed that there would be no further military need for them, and public announcement of this policy appeared in the press on the morning of the twelfth there are a great many cases of persons who had justificably expecting commissions, had closed up their business, purchased uniforms and equipment, and in some instances submitted to voluntary induction as privates upon the assurance of commissions Unless we now commission all of these, it seems we should not commission any [do you] feel that we were doing you an exceptional injustice if we asked you to submit to the general disappointment..' Wilson hoped that his League of Nations would eliminate the need for any military forces whatsoever. Light soiling and slight toning along one fold, otherwisevery good. With transmittal envelope.