Crewe, Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, Marquis of, 1858-1945

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton for clarification about hunting guns and safari guides. Roosevelt would likely avoid hunting in the reserves, as the idea bothers him, and he would also like to avoid all press coverage and fanfare while out on Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. He enjoys hearing of Edward North Buxton and Emily Digby Buxton’s life together, and writes that he and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt have spent time over the summer taking rides and going out on the water, while Ted Roosevelt gets ready to go into business. In a postscript, Roosevelt writes that he would like to avoid the reserves completely, but wonders if it would be possible to hunt one or two potentially restricted specimens outside the reserve, for the National Museum.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for the interesting letter, especially for the insight on Newfoundland. He is interested in what Secretary of State of India John Morley says about India, and discusses the intricacies surrounding “the control of thickly peopled tropical regions by self-governing northern democracies.” Roosevelt hopes to speak with Morley after presenting the Romanes lecture at Oxford. He asks Reid to inquire of the British statesman, Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, about conditional hunting on the reserves. The Vermont elections went well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt is determined to shoot a white rhinoceros on his African safari, and would like Ambassador Reid to speak with Lord Crewe about his obtaining permission to hunt in the same places in Uganda as Winston Churchill did. He would like Reid to inquire if the British Museum would like a white rhinoceros specimen if he is lucky enough to shoot three; the first two are promised to the Smithsonian Institution. He discusses a number of international events including the situation in India, and the ongoing controversy between the United States and England that arose during the summer Olympics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for speaking to Lord Crewe. He accepts a special license for shooting and entering game reserves in Africa, which he will only use if it is unclear that he is on land belonging to a reserve. Roosevelt outlines his plans for procuring supplies for his safari. He makes passing references to the situation in the Balkans, and his thoughts on women’s suffrage. He is amused by a cartoon and article that Reid sent, and shares his feelings about caricatures. The one by Thomas Nast as “an absolute outrage.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt clarifies for Ambassador Reid that on his African safari, he intends only to shoot specimens for the National Museum, with the exception of half a dozen trophies for himself, if he is able to shoot extras under his license. He discusses at length is plans for traveling through Europe following the safari. He accepts that he will have to see various heads of state in the countries he visits, and informs Reid that he will be delivering the Romanes lecture at Oxford. Roosevelt approves of the Japanese plan to postpone their international exposition until 1917 and wants to help them “put a good face” on the situation. He agrees with Reid’s assessment of various incidents at the Olympic games. However, Roosevelt stresses that all public statements about the Olympics should be positive.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt thanks Edward North Buxton for being willing to go see Lord Crewe. He assures Buxton that he and his son Kermit will be the only two in the safari party who are shooting, and they will largely only shoot animals for the National Museum. They may bring back only a dozen personal trophies between the two of them. Roosevelt discusses his itinerary for the trip, and lists all of the animals he hopes to shoot, in order of most important.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt outlines his travel plans and schedule for his upcoming safari in Africa for Ambassador Reid. He wants Reid to make clear that he only intends to shoot specimens for the Smithsonian Institution, and perhaps a few extra trophies for himself and his son Kermit. He does not want special treatment in any of the countries he will pass through, although he would appreciate any game reserves being opened for him if possible. If it is not possible for him to travel through Europe without fanfare during the months following the safari, Roosevelt will likely return straight home to America. If he does travel through Europe with his family, he would like the American diplomats to make it clear that he is traveling as a former president and does not want to meet heads of governments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt is obliged to Ambassador Reid for speaking to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes. He has already written Reid about the matter regarding president-elect William H. Taft, and cannot speak on it until Taft speaks to him. Roosevelt hopes Reid can stay at least until he finishes his visit to London the following year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Reid if he would be able to petition Lord Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes to write to officials in Uganda that Roosevelt would appreciate being given a guide and information that would allow him to hunt a white rhinoceros or elephant. The current unrest in India concerns Roosevelt, and asks what the feelings of British officials are towards it. Roosevelt also remarks briefly on his plans to leave immediately after William H. Taft’s inauguration as president, and comments on a controversy that arose at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, which is still fostering some resentment between the two nations. If Roosevelt can secure a third specimen of the white rhinoceros, he would be happy to send it to the British Museum.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for what he said to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, and will accept the offer of the special shooting license for himself and his son Kermit. He is glad that Crewe-Milnes understands that he does not want a fuss in Nairobi when he first arrives. Roosevelt wants to go directly to Mombasa, and from there to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. Roosevelt also states that Reid’s feeling about the complications in the Balkans was justified, and that what Reid heard about his answer to the women’s suffrage people is true. He is amused with the cartoon of himself and the article on Reid, and shares Reid’s feeling on caricatures.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt describes his plans for his upcoming African safari to Edward North Buxton. Roosevelt does not want to be given any special consideration and only wants access to reserves that anyone else might have access to. Roosevelt assures Buxton he only intends to take specimens for the National Museum and for food, and only taking half a dozen trophies for Kermit Roosevelt and himself. Roosevelt lists the types of animals he wants to shoot.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt sends Ambassador Reid details about his plans for his African safari. Roosevelt discusses the timing and route of his trip, as well as his plans for hunting and gathering scientific specimens for the United States National Museum. Roosevelt is “delighted beyond all measure” that Sir F. R. Wingate has opened the reserves under his command to Roosevelt’s expedition. He assures Reid that he will not take too many trophies or slaughter game without cause. Roosevelt asks Reid to pass along this information to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes in the hopes that he will open the reserves in British East Africa, Uganda, and Sudan, as well as to relieve the minds of other East African provincial officials about the nature of Roosevelt’s trip. Roosevelt would also like to visit Italy, France, and England on the way home from his safari, but does not want to place undue burden on the governments of those nations. He does not wish for official state functions, but to visit old friends with his family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid goes into detail about a recent conversation with Lord Crewe. He just sent a brief telegram on the matter, but Crewe is willing to write to the Ugandan authorities about President Roosevelt’s planned elephant hunting. Crewe also gave the common warning that white rhinoceros will be hard to find. However, Crewe was happy to hear that if Roosevelt gets two he intends to give one to the British Museum. They also discussed the issue of Sir Robert Bond. No one is looking forward to the royal family’s upcoming trip to Berlin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Telegram from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid informs President Roosevelt that Lord Crewe will happily write to the Ugandan authorities about the matter they requested.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid updates President Roosevelt on his plan to speak to Lord Crewe soon about the white rhinoceros. He shares the details of his recent shooting excursions at Wrest Park. Reid applauds Roosevelt’s political triumphs in the “late shindies.” He apologizes if his previous letter put Roosevelt in a difficult position. It would please Reid to stay in Great Britain at least until Roosevelt’s visit, but he does not want to cause his friends trouble.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-02

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid has heard that white rhinoceros have become extremely rare, and that President Roosevelt may have trouble finding one on his safari. Reid is pleased to send the rifle from Edward North Buxton to President Roosevelt for testing, but did not think that he could send clothes to Roosevelt in the same pouch under the current State Department rules. London is currently getting a few inches of snow, which Reid says “seems to block transportation here as much as a real [blizzard] with us.” He is concerned by the news of the recent natural disaster in Sicily.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-30

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid has discussed President Roosevelt’s upcoming trip to Africa with Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, and reports that the issue regarding permits to enter game reserves has been resolved. The licenses will be taken care of. Crewe-Milnes assured Reid that Roosevelt’s needs will be taken care of, but that the British government understands that he does not want a fuss. Reid also discusses a number of domestic political issues in England, as well as the state of international affairs in Europe. He thinks that in spite of rumors in the British press about southwestern Europe, a war is unlikely. Reid encloses a caricature of Roosevelt that he thinks he will find amusing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-03

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid, Ambassador to the United Kingdom, updates President Roosevelt on King of Britain Edward VII’s respectful behavior toward Sultan of the Turks Abdülhamid II. Turkey has embraced British Ambassador Sir Gerard Lowther, who has ended up in a position of power mostly by luck. The German Emperor William II has been recklessly deepening the financial troubles that plague Berlin. Reid does not think Roosevelt will need his Colonel’s uniform for visiting England, and details the appropriate attire. He discusses an agreement made with Chairman of the Republican National Committee Frank H. Hitchcock to send copies of the Daily Tribune to voters in New York. Lord Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes has been unavailable due to travel, but Reid should have more information when the next session begins in three weeks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-23

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid’s acquaintance Cyril A. Ward went hunting in Africa two years ago. Reid will send President Roosevelt a copy of the book documenting the trip. Ward directs that African Game Ranger Blaney Percival is a useful contact and will give Reid a copy of his supply list. Reid discusses the controversy over King Edward VII’s recent interviews with sovereigns and prime ministers conducted without proper governmental supervision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-31

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from James Bryce to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Bryce thanks President Roosevelt for sharing Ambassador William Woodville Rockhill’s interesting and insightful letter about the Dalai Lama. He sent it to British Foreign Secretary Edward Grey, suggesting Prime Minister H. H. Asquith and Secretary of State of India John Morely see it in confidentiality and is certain they will do so. Bryce sends a letter and a memorandum forwarded from Hesketh Bell, the Commissioner of Uganda. He has spoken with both Edward North Buxton and Colonial Secretary Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, who will eagerly do all he can to aid Roosevelt in his Africa trip. Bryce and his wife, Elizabeth Marion Ashton Bryce, will return to America in late September.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-17

Creator(s)

Bryce, James Bryce, Viscount, 1838-1922