Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose, Earl of, 1847-1929

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt requests that Ambassador Reid explain to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes that his African trip is a scientific expedition to collect specimens for the National Museum, not “a game butchering trip.” However, if given the opportunity, Roosevelt may collect some trophies. The invitation from the chancellor of Oxford, George Nathaniel Curzon, to present the Romanes lecture gives Roosevelt a genuine reason to visit England on his return from Africa. He details his travel itinerary, plans for appropriate formal attire, and people to call upon. Roosevelt is interested in what the Japanese minister for foreign affairs Jutarō Komura says and includes his letter to Japanese ambassador Kogoro Takahira and the reply. Reid’s full statement on the incidents of the Olympics pleases Roosevelt, who believes intense international matches inevitably result in misunderstandings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid sends President Roosevelt a confidential memorandum. Reid also discusses a British dinner party and European perspectives of international relations and politics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-23

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Otto Trevelyan

President Roosevelt reflects to his friend George Otto Trevelyan on the result of his election, his presidency, and his feelings on leaving office. He feels good about his accomplishments in office and is confident about leaving William H. Taft as his successor. Although he enjoyed, as always, the new edition of Trevelyan’s Life of Macaulay, he takes exception to Trevelyan including a quote from Archibald Philip Primrose Rosebery which called Macaulay’s marginalia “sublime.” Finally, Roosevelt discusses the reading habits of his sons, Ted and Kermit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt had not been able to read Senator Lodge’s book A Frontier Town, and Other Essays until their voyage to Panama. Roosevelt is very pleased with the book and provides his thoughts on several of the essays.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge discusses a number of topics regarding the late Secretary of State John Hay. Lodge bemoans the editing of a publication of Hay’s letters, claiming that Hay was “one of the best if not the best letter writer of his time,” but the publication does not do him justice. He reminisces on the many men of letters he has known in his life, and believes that Hay was the most “brilliant, humorous, sympathetic, [and] witty” among them. Lodge holds more criticism for Hay in his role as a secretary of state, discussing how Hay bungled multiple treaties, took credit for accomplishments that were not his own, and formed poor relations with the Senate. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-14

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid updates President Roosevelt on a number of personal, social, and official matters. In particular, Reid focuses on the fallout of a controversial interview given by Emperor William II of Germany to the British press. The interview has been suppressed in Germany and caused domestic issues for William, but may improve relations with the English. Reid discusses plans to reform the House of Lords, and a shooting outing he hosted where his son Ogden Mills Reid related stories about the presidential campaign in the United States. Reid also intends to give a dinner for Frantz Bille, the retiring Danish minister. Reid writes that everyone was on “pins and needles” waiting for information about foot and mouth disease.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-24

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid updates President Roosevelt on a number of matters happening in England, including the nervous breakdown of Lord Edward Marjoribanks Tweedmouth, whose recent trouble relating to a letter from German Emperor William II was only the latest in a long string of misfortunes. He also offers insight into the English interest in the American Presidential election, and explains that he has told questioners that he believes Roosevelt will answer the call if his party ultimately nominates him against his wishes. Reid also discusses the lack of a profitable liberal newspaper in England.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-01

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-01

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid sends President Roosevelt a number of news clippings from British papers that might interest him. One reports on a speech by Archibald Philip Primrose, Earl of Rosebery, who Reid sees as one of the country’s best speakers. There is also a complimentary review of the recent portrait of Roosevelt by August Benziger.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-24

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid discusses with President Roosevelt a conversation he had with Ronald Craufurd Munro Ferguson regarding British and American politics. He also discusses Great Britain’s treaty with Japan and expresses his hope that the British provided at least a hint of such an agreement with the president. He includes a lengthy, handwritten addition congratulating Roosevelt on his coordination of the peace conference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-02

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Cecil Spring Rice to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt

Cecil Spring Rice updates Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt on the declining political and social situation in Russia. Although revolution seems to be in the air, Czar Nicholas seems impervious to demands for reform and determined to maintain the autocracy. Crowds are being shot down in the streets, including women and children; trains are being robbed of munitions; and a complete breakdown of order appears imminent. Spring Rice also describes Great Britain’s stance toward Russia, Japan, and America, particularly King Edward VII’s admiration for President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-13

Creator(s)

Spring Rice, Cecil, Sir, 1859-1918

The Emperor William and Lord Tweedmouth: German Arguments

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-11

Creator(s)

The Times

Austrian opinion

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Creator(s)

The Times

The German Emperor and Lord Tweedmouth: Satisfaction in Berlin

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Creator(s)

The Times

Newspaper article on letter from William II, German Emperor to Edward Marjoribanks, Baron Tweedmouth

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Creator(s)

The Standard

Kaiser’s letter

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Creator(s)

Daily News

Newspaper article on letter from William II, German Emperor to Edward Marjoribanks, Baron Tweedmouth

The Daily Telegraph feels that the sooner the recent business regarding the letter from German Emperor William II to Baron Tweedmouth is forgotten, the better. The letter has been stated to have been personal and private, and will therefore not be published, despite requests for the contrary from some parties. Nevertheless, there is a general feeling that such communication from foreign sovereigns should not be a normal occurrence, as people in positions of power are not able to separate their private lives from their political ones, much as they may wish to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Creator(s)

Unknown

Kaiser’s letter

Edward Marjoribanks, Baron Tweedmouth, Henry Charles Keith Petty-FitzMaurice, Marquess of Lansdowne, and Archibald Philip Primose, Earl of Rosebery recently gave speeches on the letters exchanged between Tweedmouth and German Emperor William II. Lansdowne feels that Tweedmouth has broadly handled the events well, although there are broader questions about whether these extra-official communications are proper. Rosebery worries about Great Britain becoming a laughingstock in the international community due to the handling of the subject by the press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Creator(s)

Unknown

The German Emperor and Lord Tweedmouth

The explanation from Edward Marjoribanks, Baron Tweedmouth, regarding the letters sent between him and German Emperor William II have not contradicted any of the statements by The Times or added to the explanation Acting Prime Minister H. H. Asquith gave to Parliament. Given the tone of the comments by several politicians, The Times comes to the conclusion that many people think that these sorts of letters should remain entirely private, and that any mention of international relations and naval policy should be done through official channels and not personal letters. While the letters have been treated as personal communication by many people, there is no doubt that William II wanted to influence thinking about British naval policy with them. The Times calls for the publication of the letters, as proof that they did not discuss policy would quiet public anxiety about the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Creator(s)

The Times

Letter from James Nicol Dunn to Seth Low

James Nicol Dunn asks Seth Low if President Roosevelt and Secretary of State John Hay would allow their names to be included on a committee to erect a statue to English poet William Ernest Henley.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-19

Creator(s)

Dunn, James Nicol, 1856-1919