Great Britain. Parliament

Arthur Lee is enjoying his holiday in the Scottish Highlands and feels refreshed after engaging in outdoor recreation. He is glad to hear Theodore Roosevelt is likewise taking pleasure in his leisure. Lee discusses recent British political issues, including debates over Constitutional law and Irish Home Rule. Additionally, he comments on international relations between Morocco, Germany, and France, and the United States’ proposed arbitration treaty with Great Britain. Hopefully, in the near future, he and his wife, Ruth Moore Lee, can travel to the United States and visit the Roosevelt family. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-10

Creator(s)

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

British Foreign Secretary Grey updates President Roosevelt about James Bryce’s plans regarding his upcoming trip to Canada and the ongoing conversations about the best position to take at the International Peace Conference. Grey hopes the diplomatic debacle following Jamaican Governor James Alexander Swettenham’s refusal of American help after the Kingston Earthquake is blowing over, as well as the conflict between the Japanese Government and America regarding California. Grey thinks that King Léopold II of Belgium should relinquish control of the Congo, which he believes should pass to the Belgian Government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-12

Creator(s)

Grey of Fallodon, Edward Grey, Viscount, 1862-1933

John R. Carter encloses a newspaper clipping relating to the affairs of the Congo. He informs President Roosevelt that Parliament has accomplished little of international interest, because of their focus on Augustine Birrell’s Education Bill. Newspapers have been focusing on James Bryce’s appointment as ambassador to Washington, which Carter supports. Carter notes that Secretary of State Elihu Root’s request for coal supplies on the Potomac was quickly fulfilled.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-21

Creator(s)

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

American diplomat Henry White updates President Roosevelt on efforts to have British diplomat Cecil Spring Rice visit Roosevelt to discuss policy on the “far east.” Spring Rice, who had recently met with King Edward VII, will visit Roosevelt but stay with historian Henry Adams instead of at the White House. White also discusses meeting with Rear Admiral French Ensor Chadwick, who hopes to receive command of a new squadron. White also notes anti-Semitic attitudes in Austria and Italy towards Jewish diplomats.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-13

Creator(s)

White, Henry, 1850-1927

The Joint High Commission cannot be reassembled until Parliament is again in session.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-12

Creator(s)

Unknown

President Roosevelt hopes Cornelius Newton Bliss has not taken personally the baseless accusations thrown at him of late. Roosevelt does not believe there was any unusual or excessive expenditure in the 1904 election, and in fact there was less than what the British parliament spends on their elections. It was half of what was spent on the 1892 and 1896 elections, but the more important point is that the money was spent legitimately. Bliss has only given the president advice when he asked, and asked for nothing in return, and for that the president is grateful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

William Willett previously spoke to Theodore Roosevelt regarding his proposal for daylight saving, but now sends him additional copies of his papers on the topic in case the originals were lost. He calls Roosevelt’s attention to the list of parliamentary representatives in the House of Commons and House of Lords who have already expressed their support for the bill. Willett suggests that the topic is one that will have to be discussed in the United States eventually, and asks for Roosevelt’s views on the topic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-21

Creator(s)

Willett, William, 1856-1915

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge has written to Ambassador Reid that Reid will remain at his post until August, at which point a successor will replace him. Reid recommends that President-Elect Taft wait to replace him, both because of Reid’s family’s needs and because if a successor came instead in June he would arrive when the King, Court, Ministers, and Parliament were all in session. The rumor that Reid announced he would remain at his post under Taft’s administration is false and Reid published a contradictory statement when it was brought to his attention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

George Otto Trevelyan praises President Roosevelt for his determination to leave office when he said he would, even in face of so much pressure to run for office again. Trevelyan contrasts Roosevelt’s action to that of W. E. Gladstone, who he believes made a mistake in resuming leadership of the Liberal Party after having renounced his position previously. Trevelyan believes that because Roosevelt is still young, however, he could potentially re-enter public life later, after currently fulfilling his vow to leave office. If Roosevelt and his family ever visit England, Trevelyan opens his home to them, and says that it would be a peaceful place for them to visit should they ever wish.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-30

Creator(s)

Trevelyan, George Otto, 1838-1928

Lincoln Steffens apologizes for his slow reply to President Roosevelt, as the previous letter came in the middle of the Republican National Convention. Steffens thinks that if it is necessary to reach socialism, so be it, but his hope is that it is possible to save democracy by getting rid of some of the greater privileges of government, such as those of private owners of public utilities, that drive corruption such as Tammany Hall. Steffens thinks that if they could get rid of some of the biggest sources of corruption, it would become much easier to deal with the smaller ones. He congratulates Roosevelt for driving a progressive agenda at the Republican National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-20

Creator(s)

Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-01

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-25

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-19

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-24

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

Frederick Scott Oliver tells President Roosevelt that there is great talk of whether the colonies are loyal to Great Britain. Oliver believes loyalty is due only to the Union, and beyond that, to “the race.” He hopes a war between the United States and the British Empire will never be necessary, but feels it is easy to imagine circumstances in which it could occur. Oliver also sends Roosevelt a book he does not altogether understand or agree with, but which he believes “to be conceived in a very noble spirit.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-09

Creator(s)

Oliver, Frederick Scott, 1864-1934

Whitelaw Reid tells President Roosevelt that Alice Roosevelt Longworth did him credit during her stay and regrets she did not have time to write. Reid then brings Roosevelt up-to-date on a number of issues. Reid thinks that Roosevelt’s statement about canned meats will have a positive effect on the market; William Jennings Bryan did not do so well at speaking at dinner as he could have, but most of the ministers seem to want to meet him. Viscount Edward Grey cannot remove Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand without Durand losing his pension; King Edward is not receiving as many people as usual, so it might not be possible to present Silas McBee to him, but Reid will push if the President would like him to. Also, there is worry in Egypt and France about the Mohammedan fanaticism.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-17

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

George Otto Trevelyan apologizes that it has taken him so long to send Roosevelt the book Soapy Sponge (colloquial title of Mr. Sponge’s Sporting Tour by R. S. Surtees), as he could not get the correct edition. He has since found the book in London and is having it bound. Trevelyan writes about his experience viewing the English Parliament, in which he believes there has been marked improvement, with earnest, hard-working men in the House of Commons.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-15

Creator(s)

Trevelyan, George Otto, 1838-1928

Ambassador Reid discusses his conversations and observations of Great Britain’s parliament.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-28

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Postcard showing the coronation procession approach Westminster Abbey. The Clock Tower is visible in the background. Many people have congregated on both sides of the street to watch the procession. Charles C. Myers notes Westminster Abbey is the location of the coronation ceremonies.

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Creation Date

1911

Creator(s)

Rotary Photo; Myers, Charles C. (Charles Cleveland), 1879-1942