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Simon Wolf can view Secretary of State Hay’s dispatch to Romania by speaking with Acting Secretary of State Hill. President Roosevelt is still working on the Russian matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-22
In the absence of Ambassador to Germany David Jayne Hill, Irwin B. Laughlin, the charge d’affaires, has received the letters of introduction to Helen A. Dickinson and introduced her to various people who will help her study German art.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-17
John S. Briggs informs Theodore Roosevelt of the upcoming fiftieth anniversary of the Thirteenth Regiment, the first volunteer regiment of Rochester, New York. In honor of this, Captain Henry Lomb Camp No. 100, is giving a dinner to the regiment’s survivors on April 25. While Briggs does not expect Roosevelt to attend, he requests Roosevelt send a personal message to be read to the veterans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-30
This memorandum details that David Jayne Hill was considered ill-suited for a government position, specifically due to making a bad impression on Prince Henry of Prussia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908
German Ambassador Sternburg thanks President Roosevelt for his letters. He has been gravely ill but hopes to return to his duties in October. He is upset over the accusation that poor information from him to Emperor William II caused the incident with Ambassador David Jayne Hill. Sternburg asks Roosevelt not to say anything about his illness. He congratulates Roosevelt on the Great White Fleet’s accomplishments, which are “unique in the history of the world’s navies.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-16
Robert Bacon sends President Roosevelt a copy of a dispatch from David Jayne Hill detailing the presentation of his credentials to German Emperor William II, and the cordial manner in which he was received.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-14
Ambassador to France Henry White expresses regret that President Roosevelt was unable to secure funding from Congress for the construction of four battleships. He praises Roosevelt’s handling of the controversy surrounding German Emperor William II’s dislike of the new American Ambassador to Germany, David Jayne Hill. White also offers his assessment of H. H. Asquith, the new British Prime Minister, and updates Roosevelt on the Trevelyans, with whom he recently dined. Includes handwritten original and typed copy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-19
Ambassador to Germany Tower tells President Roosevelt that he did not intend for the telegram reporting Kaiser William II’s dislike of the new ambassador, David Jayne Hill, to be publicly known. Although in the German press it has been reported that the Kaiser’s opinion of Hill is a misunderstanding, Tower assures Roosevelt that it is not.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-16
Ambassador to England Whitelaw Reid updates President Roosevelt on the ongoing cabinet crisis. King Edward VII did not return to meet with the new Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, upsetting the English, who value precedence. Little is going on while Asquith is in the process of putting together his new cabinet. Reid encloses two articles he believes Roosevelt will enjoy. He also discusses the wisdom of allowing newly-appointed Ambassador to Germany David Jayne Hill be guest of honor at the Pilgrim Club dinner.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-09
Upon hearing that President Roosevelt is thinking about taking an around the world trip following his presidency, Reverend Baker invites him to visit Ongole, India, where he is serving as a missionary. He believes it is a good place to get familiar with India and talks about the good flora and fauna to observe there. Baker concludes with a list of references for himself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-02
Ambassador to England Reid sends President Roosevelt an article from the London Times which he thought was interesting. He tells Roosevelt that the old staff has been able to keep control thanks to financial help from Lords Nathaniel Mayer de Rothschild and Charles Henry Wyndham. Lord Cromer told Reid to convey his regret that he could not go to Washington at Roosevelt’s invitation. Finally, Reid updates Roosevelt on his travel plans and expresses that he was glad to be on vacation when the incident surrounding Emperor William II of Germany’s disapproval of David Jayne Hill as new German Ambassador occurred.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-01
Bernhard von Bülow, the German Minister for Foreign Affairs, has spoken with Ambassador to Germany Charlemagne Tower again. He asked Tower to relay to Secretary of State Root that although previously there had been objections to the nomination of David Jayne Hill as new ambassador, the government never considered them to have sufficient grounds to refuse to receive him as an ambassador. All such objections have been formally withdrawn, and Hill will be welcomed in Berlin if President Roosevelt nominates him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-30
Ambassador to Germany Tower has had a long talk with Bernhard von Bülow, Germany’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, regarding the situation that has arisen following Emperor William II’s communication to President Roosevelt that he will not accept David Jayne Hill as the new ambassador. The response of the American press has distressed the German Foreign Office. Tower instructed Bülow to telegraph William II, who is in Venice, for instructions. The foreign office is now aware that the objections to Hill are purely personal on the Emperor’s part, and will issue an official statement that the situation was a misunderstanding and that Hill will be accepted if he is installed as ambassador.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-29
Ambassador to Germany Tower forwards a portion of a letter he sent President Roosevelt to Secretary of State Root regarding newspaper reports that David Jayne Hill would be appointed Ambassador to Germany. Tower says that Emperor William II does not like Hill and asked him to ask Roosevelt to appoint someone else. The Emperor’s request puts Tower in a delicate position as Hill will be his immediate successor. The Emperor understood this and spoke with Lloyd Griscom to relay the message to Roosevelt instead.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-27
Secretary of State Root tells Ambassador to Germany Tower that the department is surprised to hear that Emperor William II disapproves of the appointment of David Jayne Hill as Tower’s successor. Emperor William had agreed to Hill’s appointment before it was publicly announced. Root does not see how anything can be changed at this stage. They await Tower’s letter to President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-25
Ambassador to Germany Tower informs Secretary of State Root that German Emperor William II hopes that President Roosevelt will not appoint David Jayne Hill as ambassador to Germany when Tower leaves. The Emperor’s bad opinion of Hill dates back to when his brother Heinrich, Prince of Prussia, visited the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-21
American Ambassador to Italy Lloyd Carpenter Griscom recounts a conversation he had with Emperor William II of Germany. Ambassador Charlemagne Tower will be leaving his post in Germany, and the Emperor disapproves of his replacement, David Jayne Hill. Tower has done much to improve the social stature and importance of the American Embassy in Berlin, and the Emperor believes that Hill is not up to the task of maintaining that level of influence. He would prefer that Griscom or some other man take the position, and asks Griscom to relay this message to President Roosevelt. Griscom, chagrined, says he is happy with his post in Italy and is not asking for the appointment to Germany.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-18
Ambassador Tower has spoken with Emperor William II about a variety of issues. First, they spoke about a joint declaration by the United States, Germany, and China regarding the Chinese Empire and open commerce policies. The Emperor wants Tower to impress upon President Roosevelt that a formal public announcement of this policy is important to ensure China’s integrity. The Emperor also spoke with Tower about his dislike of David Jayne Hill, who will replace Tower as ambassador in Berlin. He will speak to American Ambassador to Italy Lloyd Carpenter Griscom about the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-16
Andrew Dickson White congratulates President Roosevelt on his appointment of David Jayne Hill to replace Charlemagne Tower as the new ambassador to Germany and suggests that Roosevelt purchase outright or take out a long-term lease on the house the American Embassy in Berlin occupies to also function as accommodation for Hill during his tenure.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-23
Senator Beveridge hopes that when President Roosevelt names David Jayne Hill as Ambassador to Germany he will assign Henry Lane Wilson to fill Hill’s vacated position as Ambassador to the Netherlands and name Beveridge’s brother-in-law Spencer F. Eddy as Ambassador to Belgium. Beveridge assures Roosevelt that he will approve of Eddy’s work. Beveridge also notes that Eddy’s mother is in poor health and would likely be heartened by the news of such an appointment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-07