ROOSEVELT, Franklin Delano (1882-1945). Typed Letter Signed as President. The White House / Washington, December 16, 1937. One 4to page on a folded folio sheet of light blue White House stationery. Typed page approximately 9 x 7". Addressed to Miss Rhoda Hinkley, Eden Hill, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.: "Dear Rhoda:-" Signed "Very sincerely yours, Franklin D Roosevelt". A SUPERB LETTER FROM ROOSEVELT TO A CONSTITUENT, IN WHICH HE PROPHETICALLY STATES: "WE ARE NO LONGER FOR PEACE AT ANY PRICE" WITH IMPERIAL JAPAN. 

"PERSONAL / Dear Rhoda:- You shot so many questions at me that it would take me have an hour to answer them verbally. The simplest way of putting it to you is that Boak Carter's [Carter was a controversial radio commentator, known for his continual criticism of Roosevelt] statements, as a general proposition, are half of them untrue and the other half misstated. The particular ones you wrote me about fall into both categories.

The point is that not only this Administration but this Nation want peace -- but at the same time they do not want the kind pf [sic] peace which means definite danger to us at home in the days to come.

I happen to know a very nice Chinese family which lives quite far in the interior. For years they have said that China wanted peace at any price and that they felt no possible harm could come to them back from the seacoast. The other day most of the family was wiped out by some Japanese bombing planes which wrecked their community and killed one thousand people. I got a message from one of the survivors which read 'we ar no longer for peace at any price.'

I hope to see you one. of these days soon."

This letter, dated four years (virtually to the day) before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, is prophetic in nature, and anticipates the looming conflict with Japan.  It very clearly demonstrates FDR's mindset regarding Japan, and his willingness to to abandon America's isolationist position.

Rhoda Hinkley had written various letters to Roosevelt and other members of his administration on various humanitarian topics, including taking European refugees into the United States. 

One horizontal crease, very minor toning near margins. Fine.