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Reports of a meeting between German Emperor William II and British King Edward VII are premature. Discussions are ongoing seeking to determine the possibility of such a meeting, but nothing has been determined yet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-14
This newspaper article draws a correlation between the Thirty Years’ War in Europe that brought freedom to the people of the German empire and the end of the thirty-year-old custom of calculating postal weights in a way that benefitted railroads and no one else. The author believes getting rid of this custom will bring greater and fairer benefits to both railroads and the public.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-06
President Roosevelt transmits a letter from Secretary of State Elihu Root outlining an international commission between the United States and a variety of countries. The commission aims to investigate and eradicate the “opium evil.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-11
Emperor William II of Germany expresses to President Roosevelt a desire to foster and promote friendship between the United States and Germany. He thanks Roosevelt for the warm welcome the German minister has been shown in Washington and assures him that United States Ambassador David Jayne Hill will receive the same courtesy. He also praises Admiral Robley D. Evans and the Atlantic fleet, and expresses hope that China, the United States, and Germany can come to an agreement regarding the open door policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-01
A poem about an international incident, possibly by Secretary of State Root, reads: “This Tower of silence / Has suffered violence / For everyone talked / When the Kaiser balked / Except this home of the dead.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-16
The author of the Observer article offers commentary on an incident in which Emperor William II of Germany, who liked United States Ambassador to Germany Charlemagne Tower and his wife, was not happy with President Roosevelt’s choice of David Jayne Hill to replace Tower. Tower and his wife were millionaires who were able to throw lavish parties, while Hill, though qualified, does not have money. The Observer notes that although wealth should not be a qualification for a diplomatic post, it would be wise for countries to pay diplomats more. The article concludes by suggesting that even after leaving the presidency, Roosevelt will play a large role in American affairs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-05
German Emperor William II has accepted David Jayne Hill, President Roosevelt’s nominee for the American Embassy in Berlin, thereby ending a recent embarrassing incident involving the posting. Part of the Emperor’s reservation in accepting Hill’s posting in Berlin was due to Hill being less wealthy than Charlemagne Tower, the outgoing American ambassador. The author of the article praises Hill’s qualifications, and agrees with Roosevelt’s insistence “that merit must go before millions,” but notes that in practice this can sometimes result in uncomfortable positions and suggests that states provide their ambassadors with ample means if they are not already independently wealthy in order that they are able to present themselves with the appropriate dignity and gravitas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-01
French politicians consider H. H. Asquith’s statement in the British House of Commons a triumph for The Times. Many people in France have also been very interested in the recent controversy concerning a letter between German Emperor William II and Lord Tweedmouth. The widespread belief is that foreign leaders should be prevented from interfering in internal affairs of other countries.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-11
A summary of the reaction of several Russian newspapers to an incident arising from a letter German Emperor William II sent to Edward Marjoribanks, Baron Tweedmouth. Several of the newspapers criticize the letter as a breach of private correspondence and diplomatic etiquette.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-11
Austrians believe that Parliament handled the recent letter between German Emperor William II and Lord Tweedmouth with “reserve and dignity.” The argument that the letter was essentially the same as a verbal discussion is not, however, accepted, as such an in-person meeting would be highly unlikely to happen under the circumstances that the letter was written. Many newspapers in Austria hold different opinions on the way The Times reported on the situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
The Times provides excerpts from several German newspapers about the furor surrounding a letter that German Emperor William II wrote to Lord Tweedmouth about the British Navy. The German papers place the blame, not on the letter, but on The Times for driving a hysterical response to the letter, and while the British Parliament has left the issue behind, the British press and public is still focusing on it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-11
German newspapers seem to have reported adequately on the British Parliament’s response to the affair involving the letter sent by German Emperor William II to Lord Tweedmouth, and are satisfied with how the situation was handled. Many of the papers, however, have treated English public opinion inaccurately and “are mere caricatures.” There is some talk of publishing the Emperor’s letter, but there is presently no copy of it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
Several French newspapers have commented on recent actions by the British Parliament relating to the letters between German Emperor William II and Lord Tweedmouth. While English political parties have their differences, they are united in their desire to remain free from foreign influence, which is what it seems that Emperor William II was attempting to do. Nonetheless, Parliament seems to have handled the situation tactfully, and the French press should consider the matter closed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
Reuters reports that while German Emperor William II wrote a letter to Edward Marjoribanks, Lord Tweedmouth, he did not attempt to interfere in British naval policy. There is no objection to the publication of the Emperor’s letter, but officials in Germany regard the correspondence as personal between the Emperor and Lord Tweedmouth. There has been much discussion about the letter in various countries.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-07
The Standard has learned that before responding to the letter from German Emperor William II, Lord Tweedmouth conferred with Foreign Secretary Edward Grey to see how it should be treated. Grey felt that it should be treated and responded to as a personal letter, and regardless of subsequent events, The Standard praises Tweedmouth’s actions in this respect. While there are benefits to not publishing this letter, as it was treated as a personal letter, The Standard feels that overall it would be more beneficial to publish the exchange. By not publishing the letter, and letting news about it come out through rumors and conjecture, the issue is more muddled than it otherwise would be.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
A letter to the editor of the London Times alleges that German Emperor William II has recently written to Edward Marjoribanks, Lord Tweedmouth, about British and German naval policy, and that this letter is attempting to improperly influence British naval policy for the benefit of Germany. The author suggests that this letter be laid before Parliament so that the contents can become public.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-06
German Emperor William II recently wrote to First Lord of the Admiralty Edward Marjoribanks, Lord Tweedmouth, on the subject of British and German naval policy. It is believed that this letter was an effort to influence British naval policy. The author sets up a hypothetical scenario where Edward VII, King of Great Britain, wrote to try to influence German naval policy, and predicts that in this case Germany would be filled with outcries of anger, and would summarily increase the size of its navy. If William II has comments about the British Navy, there are official channels of communication which should be used.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-06
Both houses of Parliament have rebuked The Times for inciting a furor over the recent exchange of letters between Baron Tweedmouth and German Emperor William II. Opposing political parties united in their disapproval of the way that the newspaper treated the incident, and prominent politicians have expressed their satisfaction with how Tweedmouth handled the situation. Former Prime Minister Archibald Philip Primrose, Earl of Rosebery, stated that the treatment of the issue in the press has made Great Britain the laughingstock of Europe, and more broadly denounced anti-German sentiment and yellow journalism.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
The Daily News proclaims that the incident of German Emperor William II’s letter to Baron Tweedmouth can be considered as closed, as Tweedmouth has addressed the House of Lords and presented the facts of the case. After receiving the letter from William II, Tweedmouth conferred with Edward Grey, who agreed that the letter should be treated as a private letter, and not an official one. After learning of the letter, however, The Times blew the issue out of proportion and drove public outcry, and the Daily News speculates on what would have driven this sort of irresponsible journalism.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
German Emperor William II feels that the British press has treated his letter to Edward Marjoribanks, Baron Tweedmouth, very unjustly. He resents the implication that he would try to influence British naval policy, but feels that relations between Germany and Great Britain are undisturbed by the recent furor over the letters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10