Durand, H. Mortimer (Henry Mortimer), 1850-1924

Letter from Arthur Hamilton Lee to Theodore Roosevelt

Arthur Hamilton Lee is hopeful that James Bryce will prove to be more useful in Washington, D.C., than his predecessor, H. Mortimer Durand. He has been talking to King Edward VII about Anglo-American affairs and summarized what happened in the Russo-Japanese negotiations for peace. The King was excited to hear of peaceful intentions and attitudes emanating from the United States. Looking back on it, Lee is grateful for the opportunity to frame President Roosevelt in a good light for the King. Lee is proud in general of what he has been able to orchestrate mostly out of the eye of the public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-24

Creator(s)

Lee of Fareham, Viscount (Arthur Hamilton Lee), 1868-1947

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid discusses his experience at the English royal court, explains the reasons for England’s reluctance to force conversations for peace between the Russians and Japanese, and relays information on the current relationship between Germany and France.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-17

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Telegram from Whitelaw Reid to John Hay

Ambassador Reid reports to Secretary of State Hay a conversation he had with Lord Lansdowne, in which Lansdowne quelled rumors that England wanted the war between Russia and Japan to continue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-16

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge tells President Roosevelt about the establishment of a big German coaling station in St. Thomas, which indicates that German Emperor William II is “still hankering after those islands.” Lodge recommends quickly buying Greenland. In addition, Lodge recommends replacing Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, and disagrees with Shaw’s plan for issuing bonds. Lodge comments on various prominent events happening in the United States and the world and explains he is enjoying his time in “this old Italian town,” but is beginning to long for home. He wants to be near Roosevelt and not have to watch from a distance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-10

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Partial letter from Bellamy Storer

Ambassador Storer is glad that he is able to speak “the English tongue” with H. Mortimer Durand, the British ambassador to Spain. He might oppose the British Empire but can “love and admire an Englishman and gentleman.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901

Creator(s)

Storer, B. (Bellamy), 1847-1922

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid writes to President Roosevelt to discuss Roosevelt’s correspondence with the Japanese, Russian, and British governments during the peace negotiations. Reid commends Roosevelt and asks permission to share the correspondence with Lord Lansdowne and King Edward.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-18

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry White

President Roosevelt is sure that he will enjoy seeing H. Mortimer Durand and looks forward to discussing several matters with Henry White. The Alaska and Panama settlements have made a “good showing” and Roosevelt intends to pass Cuban reciprocity as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William Loeb to John Hay

William Loeb informs Secretary of State Hay that President Roosevelt received the letters from Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand and Minister Lawrence Townsend and now returns them. October works best for Roosevelt to receive Rear Admiral Louis Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquis of Milford Haven, and his officers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-03

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

President Roosevelt was impressed with what John St. Loe Strachey had to say about Berlin and Paris and discusses his thoughts on the war scare between England and Germany two years prior.  He tells Strachey that there are those who object to “keeping up the Navy” while also persuading him to come to terms with Japan, which he sees as “inviting trouble” and refusing to prepare if conflict with Japan became a reality. Roosevelt believes that the United States will have to adopt a similar policy on Japanese immigration as Australia but is confused as to why a country with a much smaller population and birth-rate adopted such a policy so soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for his letter. He is glad that Edward Grey has decided to no longer have H. Mortimer Durand as ambassador. Roosevelt asks about Sir Gerard Lowther, a possible candidate for Durand’s replacement. Roosevelt hopes they send Sir Cecil Spring Rice or Arthur Hamilton Lee instead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Rudolph Forster to Elihu Root

Rudolph Forster relays information to Secretary of State Root about the upcoming visit to the White House from British Ambassador to the United States H. Mortimer Durand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-03

Creator(s)

Forster, Rudolph, 1872-1943

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador to Great Britain Reid for the letter. He finds that Canada’s actions strain foreign relations with Great Britain. Roosevelt asks Reid to deliver the enclosed letter to the hospital that aided the Americans involved in the Salisbury train-wreck.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt was only concerned about the letter he had sent Ambassador Reid because of its nature, but permits him to show any portions he deems proper to King Edward VII of Great Britain or Sir Edward Grey. He also recommends Reid make Roosevelt’s dislike of British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand known, emphasizing that if he had been a man Roosevelt liked, he would have consulted with him more. Roosevelt reflects on the strategies he uses in foreign relations, particularly with the Germans and German Emperor William II, but also with the English and Japanese, which he describes as “to be scrupulously polite, to show a genuine good-will toward her, but to keep our navy in such shape” so as to deter any aggression. He sends his greetings to Reid’s wife, Elisabeth Mills Reid, and remarks that he enjoyed reading about the social news from England.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

President Roosevelt discusses various aspects of his efforts to make peace between Japan and Russia at length with Cecil Spring Rice. He also discusses the current strained relations between England and Germany, and informs Rice that he does not intend to take on the role of regular peacemaker between other countries. It is necessary for him to focus on the affairs of the United States, rather than trying to keep peace in Europe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

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

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

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

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

If Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte agrees, President Roosevelt will direct that the British squadron’s visit be postponed until November, and that they visit Annapolis first before going to New York. Roosevelt further instructs Bonaparte to contact British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand accordingly.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt sends Senator Lodge the complete texts of various cablegrams he sent and received in his efforts to broker peace between Russia and Japan. He includes cablegrams to and from George von Lengerke Meyer, Ambassador to Russia, to show his role in it, as well as congratulatory notes from Kaiser William II, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Emperor Meiji of Japan, and British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt believes Ambassador Reid has handled the matter correctly. While he would be pleased if Cecil Spring Rice were the British Ambassador to the United States, Roosevelt also likes Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand, and would not wish to hurt his feelings. Roosevelt laments the progress of trying to mediate between Japan and Russia, placing much of the blame on Russia’s intransigence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Memorandum draft to Whitelaw Reid

This memorandum draft tells Ambassador Reid to have Henry Charles Keith Petty-FitzMaurice Lansdowne show him the dispatch received from British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand about Russia. Additionally, President Roosevelt has informed German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg he does not believe the United States could join a conference about Morocco, unless France acquiesced. Roosevelt also spoke with J. J. Jusserand, but does not want any publicity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-06

Creator(s)

Department of State