Great Britain. Foreign Office

Ronald Storrs, while stationed as Oriental Secretary in Cairo, recounts to Theodore Roosevelt an archeological expedition to Abu Simbel, by way of Aswan, that he took with Arthur Weigall. Weigall suggested Storrs send Roosevelt his article on the topic alongside photographs taken at the site, in the hopes that it could be published in The Outlook. Storrs sends his regards to several members of the Roosevelt family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-24

Creator(s)

Storrs, Ronald, Sir, 1881-1955

Ambassador Carter, Secretary of the American Embassy in London, thanks President Roosevelt for his letters, and for having his daughter Mildred stay at the White House. Carter discusses the response of the British public and press to the “Jamaica incident.” This likely refers to the inadequate relief provided by British Governor of Jamaica James Alexander Swettenham to Jamaican residents after the Kingston earthquake, and the subsequent intervention by American Rear Admiral C. H. Davis. The reaction in Britain is one of “amazement, indignation, and mortification.” However, Roosevelt’s answers to British Secretary of State for War R. B. Haldane’s and British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Edward Grey’s telegrams “had a most soothing effect.” Carter also references an earlier conversation he and Roosevelt had about Swettenham, in connection with the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-25

Creator(s)

Carter, John R. (John Ridgely), 1862-1944

President Roosevelt encloses a letter relating to Tibet and India for British Ambassador Bryce to share with the Foreign Office or any other part of the British government he believes appropriate, but that should otherwise be kept in strict confidence. Roosevelt believes William H. Taft will be elected president, but it is too early to be certain. Roosevelt tells Bryce about his plans for his African safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt plans to appoint American diplomat Henry White as Ambassador to Italy after March 4 and the beginning of Roosevelt’s new term of office. He asks White to petition the British Foreign Office to send Cecil Spring Rice to the United States for a week, as he would like to be able to make his position regarding the Far East clear. He does not feel as open with British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand as he does with Spring Rice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Acting Secretary of State Adee encloses a copy of a dispatch from Ambassador Whitelaw Reid on the subject of fishery rights in Newfoundland. The note from the Foreign Office states that the divergence of views between the American and British governments makes an immediate settlement impossible. The British government, however, is prepared to work on an arrangement allowing conflicting parties to exist peacefully and will submit relevant proposals in the near future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-28

Creator(s)

Adee, Alvey A. (Alvey Augustus), 1842-1924

Ambassador Reid wires President Roosevelt about a proposed temporary agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom regarding fishing vessels along the coast of Newfoundland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-06

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Ambassador O’Brien informs Secretary of State Root that the early change to the British Ambassador in Washington has stirred much conversation in the British press and among its officials. An editorial in the London Telegraph stated that whomever succeeded H. Mortimer Durand would have to be “as popular and effective as” German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg and French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand. The Foreign Office thinks the new appointee should come from outside present diplomatic service members but O’Brien supposes it will be someone from within the current service and describes Sir Alan Johnstone’s qualifications. Johnstone was British Ambassador to Denmark.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-27

Creator(s)

O'Brien, Thomas J. (Thomas James), 1842-1933

Ambassador Reid will send President Roosevelt a pamphlet report of his formal address as well as newspaper clippings about a few less formal speeches he recently made. Reid notes that the English newspapers have taken a great interest in the campaign and seem to understand its significance. Reid further provides updates about the internal affairs of the British Foreign Office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-06

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Whitelaw Reid updates President Roosevelt on the newspapers’ reaction to the measures taken in a shipping and fishing dispute in Newfoundland. Reid details his negotiations with Sir Edward Gray and Sir Charles Hardinge regarding the United States’ right to ship Newfoundland fisherman. Reid also discusses several books with Roosevelt, including one about Alexander Hamilton and a biography of Winston Churchill’s father, Randolph Churchill. Reid comments on Roosevelt’s offer to let the Cubans try self-government again, noting that it silences those who would paint Roosevelt as an imperialist. Reid does not think that the Cubans are ready for self-government, and he believes the United States should make Cuba one of its states. Reid updates Roosevelt on the political conflict between the Labor and Liberal parties in the United Kingdom. Reid notes that due to “bad blood” between the German and English press, it is difficult to trust English newspapers for accurate views of German positions. Reid also offers his opinion on domestic political issues, writing that those who vote for Hearst will be written off as from “the ignorant or dangerous classes.” Reid believes William Jennings Bryan has fallen out of favor, but he does not think they have seen the last of him. Finally, Reid has enclosed several books and clippings for Roosevelt to peruse.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-08

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Ambassador Reid has forwarded President Roosevelt’s letter to the people of Salisbury, and he is sure it will promote kindly feeling. Reid hopes that they may be able to bring the “slow-moving” Colonial Office to an early agreement, as the only currently contentious issue between the parties is that of purse-nets. Reports of William Jennings Bryan’s speech in Madison Square Garden produced instant revulsion in Great Britain, as the public thought he “dished” himself by proposing government ownership of the railways. Reid has not yet had a chance to discuss Roosevelt’s letter to Andrew Carnegie with Sir Edward Grey, but plans to bring it up at first chance. Frederick Scott Oliver, author of the new book about Hamilton, does not seem to be a prominent literary figure among the Englishmen Reid has asked. Reid has been watching the Cuban situation with great anxiety, as he has always believed the United States made foolish decisions about Cuba at the beginning of the Spanish-American War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-14

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Writing on behalf of the British Foreign Secretary, Eldon Gorst informs Ambassador Reid that the British government is reviewing the dispute over the rights of fishing vessels along the Newfoundland coast. As the divergence of views makes an immediate settlement impossible, the British government is willing to agree to Secretary of State Root’s suggestion regarding the forthcoming fishery.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-14

Creator(s)

Gorst, Eldon, Sir, 1861-1911

Ambassador Reid sends Secretary of State Root a letter from Eldon Gorst, the acting British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, about the dispute over the rights of fishing vessels along the Newfoundland coast. As an immediate settlement is impossible, the British government is agreeing to a modus vivendi for the current season.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-16

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Ambassador Reid reports to President Roosevelt about affairs in Europe. Reid’s impression is that neither Great Britain nor Germany want tensions to escalate to a war, and he is still trying to get more details about their negotiations. Reid informs Roosevelt that the King seems to be in ill health. He is also worried that Roosevelt’s friend, Silas McBee, is stirring up trouble by seeming to interfere in debates about the Education Bill. Reid referred the Grocers’ Federation to Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson and Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor Howard Metcalf so that they might receive more information about complying with America’s meat inspection laws, and he enclosed a copy of a speech he gave at Cambridge on the American Revolution. Reid concludes by saying that he hopes the British government will help the United States settle disputes with Canada.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-16

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Ambassador Reid sends a newspaper clipping from a British newspaper to President Roosevelt, asking if he is correct in assuming that its description of Roosevelt’s telegram to Emperor Wilhelm is “unfair and unfounded.” Reid agrees to “look after” Harriet Shonts and her daughters when they arrive in England if the courts are open, but mentions that it can be difficult to accommodate American visitors when there are fewer courts being held. Reid also comments upon the recent Algeciras Conference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-18

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912