Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

President Roosevelt informs Ambassador Reid that the National Civic Federation’s committee studying municipal ownership of utilities has largely finished their investigations in the United States and will be traveling to Europe shortly. Because of the importance of the subject, Roosevelt feels the government should support it in any way it can, and he asks Reid to do everything in his power to assist. He includes a list of the members of the committee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt notifies Ambassador Reid that Harriet Amelia Shonts, wife of Theodore P. Shonts, and their two daughters, Mary Theodora Shonts and Marguerite Amelia Shonts, will be in London soon. He asks if Reid would be able to help them be presented at court, as “Shonts is a man who would be entitled to this.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt introduces Silas McBee to Ambassador Reid, and asks Reid to help McBee in any way that he can.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Earl Grey will send Ambassador Reid the portrait of Benjamin Franklin which he is returning to the possession of the United States to be hung in the White House. Roosevelt asks Reid to arrange for it to be shipped there. He will write Reid at once about “this Morocco business.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Reid to give King Edward VII the enclosed letter. He discusses the trouble that Germany is causing at the Algeciras Conference, after Kaiser William II did not honor his promise to instruct the Germans to follow Roosevelt’s instructions. Roosevelt believes that Germany believes that it can defeat both England and France now that Russia is out of the way. Domestically, Roosevelt believes that the railroad rate bill will pass after “mild troubles,” including Senator Nelson W. Aldrich losing “both his head and his temper.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for the book and asks him to send his regards to Mr. Barry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends Ambassador Reid an excerpt of a letter from General Leonard Wood expressing the hope that no legislation allowing Chinese labor in any form will ever be passed in the United States. Wood says that British colonies developed by “coolie labor” face problems and have to be defended by “white men brought from somewhere else.” Roosevelt believes that Wood’s assessment is correct.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Reid to thank King Edward VII of Great Britain for the “two beautiful volumes” he sent.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for the bit of jade. It is so beautiful that he is hesitant to use it for cigar ashes. He wishes Reid and his wife merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt believes that if the speech in question is an example of what Ambassador Reid can do when he is not prepared, he should never prepare. He also confirms that he did go through a window in a boat crash, but the window was damaged and he was not. He asks Reid to continue writing to Edith whenever he can, as they both enjoy his letters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt was so interested in Ambassador Reid’s recent letter to his wife Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt that he feels compelled to write Reid himself. He responds to a number of stories Reid told in his letter, and reflects at length upon the duties and responsibilities of rich officials verses poorer ones. Roosevelt believes that each man should live and entertain and conduct himself in “such a position as he has been accustomed to live.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is pleased with the way that Ambassador Reid treated General Adna Romanza Chaffee, his wife Annie, and their associates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Reid to give the enclosed copy of one of his books to King Edward VII. He makes it clear to Reid that he does not expect the King to read the book, but merely to receive it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Ambassador Reid that he values the editorial from the Times. He asks if Reid ever sees John St. Loe Strachey of The Spectator.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Ambassador Reid that he sent British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand communications relating to the peace negotiations between Russia and Japan. He explains to Reid that he did not communicate with Reid because he was communicating freely with the British, French, and German ambassadors and legations directly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Ambassador Reid that he agrees with Robert Harry Munro Ferguson’s recommendation about how to communicate about the treaty between Japan and England. He also discusses the background of the situation currently going on regarding ownership of the Hankow railway in China. At China’s insistence, J. Pierpont Morgan and other American financiers are willing to accept a concession payment and give up their stake in the railway, although Roosevelt told them that the American government was willing to back up their rights to the contract they had signed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt believes that Ambassador Reid should avoid speaking with King Edward VII in any official way, and instead the United States should officially communicate with the Prime Minister or Foreign Office. He laments the poor relations between Germany and England, and urges Reid to bring about better relations between the two if it is possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt reflects to Ambassador Reid on the broader implications of the peace negotiated between Russia and Japan. The British Ambassador to France, Sir Francis Bertie, believes that the terms were too harsh on Japan and will make the United States and Roosevelt unpopular there. Roosevelt believes that Japan’s belief that if it continued the war, it could gain a large indemnity from Russia was incorrect, and nonetheless stresses the importance of the United States remaining ready for any international developments. In a postscript, he takes issue with British criticism of American conduct in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends Ambassador Reid copies of the dispatches he sent to the Japanese government and the Russian Czar. He discusses the implications of a potential Anglo-Japanese alliance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Publication Date

2025-07-24