Botha, Louis, 1862-1919

United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Reid gives President Roosevelt an update on international politics in Europe, especially events in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Russia. He assures the President that the London Morning Post has a good opinion of him, and proposes a solution to the problem of one of its correspondents writing unfairly on the Roosevelt administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-17

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Marie Koopmans-de Wet thanks President Roosevelt for the confidence placed in her, along with Andrew Murray and Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, to distribute money donated to aid her countrymen in South Africa. Koopmans-de Wet notes that Generals de Wet, de la Rey, and Botha will soon be visiting America and Europe. She encloses a copy of “the document which the patriots handed in giving the reasons why the brave boers had to come to terms and surrender.” Assuring Roosevelt the document is authentic, she notes that it is one of four copies in existence and entrusts it to his care.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-06-29

Creator(s)

Koopmans-de Wet, Marie, 1834-1906

Illustration showing John Bull as Gulliver being tied to stakes with ribbons labeled with the names of battles from the Second Boer War. Some of the Lilliputians are identified as South African generals and presidents, such as “Botha,” “Joubert,” “Kruger,” “Cronje,” and “Steyn.” A broken sword, labeled “British Prestige” lies on the ground next to John Bull.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-02-21

President Roosevelt informs Ambassador Bryce that he does not want to appear to advise other countries and thus will not write the letter MacDonald requested. However, Roosevelt sees no reason not to greet Louis Botha of South Africa, as he is interested in the country’s scientific development and dry land cultivation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Ambassador Reid provides President Roosevelt with a variety of pieces of information regarding the status of English politics. Douglas Robinson and Corinne Roosevelt Robinson met with many different members of the royal family. Reid recounts a scandal regarding Prime Minister Campbell-Bannerman, who nine months after his wife died, was engaged to her caretaker. Regardless, Campbell-Bannerman has surprised most in Parliament at his effectiveness as a leader. Reid is disappointed that Robert Bond and the Liberal Party agreed to govern the colony of Newfoundland. The U. S. government is not pleased with this agreement, and many of the other premiers disagree with the Liberal Party’s policy. In particular, Alfred Deakin, the premier of Australia, is an outspoken opponent to this policy. Additionally, many of the colonies want preference in the British markets, and may sacrifice free trade agreements to achieve this status. Next, H. H. Asquith proposed an income tax for Great Britain that will introduce a new, objectionable system of old age pensions. R. B. Haldane proposed a permanent standing army in the British colonies. Augustine Burrill’s proposed Irish Council Bill is becoming unpopular and he does not have many successes as a politician. Overall, the Liberal Party is disappointed by Campbell-Bannerman’s performance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-24

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Reid comments on Winston Churchill’s recent promotion to the Privy Council, noting that it acknowledges his rise in the party without giving him a seat in the Cabinet. Churchill is still not well liked. Reid relays the debates on Horace Curzon Plunkett in the House of Commons and reports on English newspaper coverage of Roosevelt’s speech at Jamestown. He comments on unease over labor relations in France, the planning of an event after the Colonial Premiers’ Conference, opposition to a proposed move for a limitation of armaments at the Hague Conference, and Lewis Harcourt’s proposed English Land Bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-01

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912