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John R. Carter sends President Roosevelt a copy of Guy Laking’s work in the Royal Collections of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, presented by Edward VII, King of Great Britain, and a clipping of an editorial from The London Times. He wishes Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt happy holidays.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-20
Arthur Hamilton Lee writes to President Roosevelt about the president’s impending retirement and hopes that it will not impact Anglo-American relations significantly when another man takes office. Lee is distressed about how the papers in New York are covering Roosevelt, as if his character is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He hopes the president continues to shine light in dark places of the securities industry so that scandals will be brought to light. Lee ends his letter requesting that Roosevelt sit for a painter, Fülöp László, for two to three hours and believes that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt will agree.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-13
Ambassador Reid updates Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt on the visits of royalties to London, England, including the dinner held for German Emperor William II and his wife Auguste Viktoria. Reid raves about Auguste Viktoria’s dress and notes she wore the “biggest pearls I ever saw worn in any part of the world.” Reid also tells Roosevelt about the Bourbon wedding he and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid attended. The ambassador includes an anecdote about Spanish King Alfonso XIII who wanted to change his clothes, but his wife Maria Cristina told him he could not because the luggage had already left. Reid concludes by telling Roosevelt about a luncheon for the new Mexican minister and a dinner for the Alfonso XIII and Maria Cristina of Spain. Reid discusses his plans for a leave of absence, which will include stopping in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-20
Secretary of State Root encloses a copy of a dispatch from Ambassador Whitelaw Reid wherein he transmits copies of telegrams congratulating President Roosevelt on his birthday. At a dinner party on October 27, Reid gave a toast to the president.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-16
Andrew Carnegie has a “deep anxiety” about President Roosevelt’s plan to expand the number of ships in the Navy. This reversal of his original disarmament policy could harm relations with other naval powers, particularly Great Britain, which had been committed to reducing its naval arsenal over the past several years. While Carnegie dismisses the possibility of a war, he cautions that such an act will cause unnecessary tension, give Roosevelt the appearance of weakness and indecisiveness, and would bring unnecessary expenditures during a time of economic crisis. Carnegie instead urges Roosevelt to focus his energies on helping economic recovery.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-18
Secretary of State Root instructs Ambassador Reid to thank King Edward VII for his birthday congratulations on behalf of President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-31
Ambassador Reid describes a birthday message sent by King Edward VII to President Roosevelt for Secretary of State Root.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-04
Ambassador Reid tells President Roosevelt that Edward VII, King of Great Britain, sent his Master of Ceremonies, Arthur Henry John Walsh, to wish Roosevelt happy birthday.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-27
Ambassador Reid is glad to present King Edward VII of Great Britain’s Master of Ceremonies, Arthur Henry John Walsh, and the unidentified ambassador of another nation in honor of President Roosevelt’s birthday.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-27
Ambassador Reid seeks Theodore Roosevelt’s direction as to whether William H. Taft will stop by London on his way back from the Philippines, seeing as he will already be stopping at St. Petersburg and Berlin. If so, Reid will arrange some visits for Taft with British dignitaries. Reid also encloses some news clippings from British publications discussing American political affairs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-10
Ambassador Reid sends an addition to “the bundle of gossip” he recently sent to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, noting that this dispatch is a bit more serious and more likely to interest President Roosevelt with his description of a number of political events, in addition to more social fare.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-01
German Ambassador Sternburg tells President Roosevelt that if his own representatives in Mexico had not told him of a recent wave of Japanese immigrants there, he would not have given the matter any attention, calling the idea of a Japanese reserve of men stationed to attack the United States “quixotic.” A German naval attaché in Tokyo says Japan is not considering another war in the near future. Sternburg includes a lengthy excerpt from a letter from German diplomat Friedrich von Holstein, who says that British diplomacy, led by King Edward VII, is geared toward using Japan as a “bogey,” stoking anxiety in Russia and the United States about the possibility of Japan initiating hostilities. Sternburg mentions a recent newspaper article that says Germany is actually spreading anti-Japanese feeling, which he finds amusing. Sternburg praises the Great White Fleet’s trip to the Pacific, and notes that many former soldiers emigrate from their home countries, “war seems to create a restless spirit among the fighters.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-19
Ambassador Reid updates President Roosevelt on the activities of the American Embassy in London. Reid has attended and given some short speeches at the dedication of memorials related to Harvard or Yale alumni, noting that relationships forged though the universities strengthens ties between Great Britain and the United States. Reid has made a proposal for the arbitration between the United States and Great Britain regarding fisheries off of Newfoundland. Arthur F. Winnington Ingram, the Bishop of London, is looking forward to visiting the United States and will be present when Roosevelt dedicates a lecturn to Bruton Parish Church. King Edward VII and Parliament are still at work until August, but the current Parliament has not yet achieved much in the way of legislation. Reid describes the King and British people’s reactions to the International Peace Conference at The Hague, and the prevailing attitude about the immunity of private property at sea. Finally, Reid describes some press coverage at the recent 4th of July events at the Embassy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-19
Ambassador Reid sends Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt descriptions of social events and diplomatic gossip from Great Britain. In a handwritten postscript, Reid says his wife and daughter are going to see her sick father in the Adirondacks and he will be alone by the end of summer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-25
Elmer Roberts, Associated Press correspondent in Berlin, reports to Melville Elijah Stone two conversations regarding international affairs, particularly the relationship of Japan and the United States. The British naval attache, Philip W. Dumas, states that Japan is building up its navy to prepare for war with the United States and to claim the Philippines back from them. Friedrich von Holstein speculates that the British are spreading this rumor, in hopes of influencing the United States to align itself with Great Britain against Japan. Such an alliance would keep the United States from drawing closer to Germany.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-10
J. Stewart Barney sends William Loeb a photograph of his progress on the lecturn commissioned for the 300th anniversary of Williamsburg by President Theodore Roosevelt. The lecturn will be presented by Roosevelt to the Bruton Parish Church to hold a Bible presented by King Edward VII of England. Barney asks permission to release the photograph to the press.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-18
British Foreign Secretary Grey outlines the position of the British government with regards to the rights of American fishing in the waters of Newfoundland pursuant to the Convention of 1818. Due to the difference in interpretation of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain, a temporary agreement has been put in place to assure a peaceful fishing season. Grey summarizes the main points of disagreement and makes several proposals for regulation going forward.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-20
Ambassador to Great Britain Reid has received photographs of President Roosevelt show jumping a horse, and will present them to King Edward VII when there are fewer dignitaries in town. Reid is amused by Roosevelt’s remark that he was not sure if his “encounter” with labor leaders and socialists was covered in the English papers – Reid describes the coverage as mostly in Roosevelt’s favor, adding his thoughts on the danger of anarchist ideas infiltrating labor movements in the United States and abroad. Reid discusses the similarity between the conflict between California and Japan and Newfoundland and the United States. Finally, Reid comments on the ongoing talks at the International Peace Conference at the Hague.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-07
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-24
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-01