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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
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
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
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
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
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
It has been confirmed that Edward Marjoribanks, First Lord of the Admiralty, communicated with German Emperor William II in private letters about a variety of topics, including British and German naval policy. It does not seem that the present Navy Estimates were affected by the letter, and it may even be possible that the letters did not directly reference the estimates, but it is unacceptable for the First Lord of the Admiralty to communicate with foreign leaders on questions of British Naval Policy. Full publication of the letters is a matter of urgent national importance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-07
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
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
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
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
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
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
Daily Telegraph reporters comment on opinions from Brussels, Belgium, and Paris, France, regarding the recent exchange of letters between Baron Tweedmouth, Edward Marjoribanks, and German Emperor William II. Opinions from both countries seem to think that the fervor over the incident was blown out of proportion, and that tensions between England and Germany regarding the English Navy are high.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
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.
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
Most members of the House of Commons seem to want to consider the recent matter of an exchange of letter between Edward Marjoribanks, Baron Tweedmouth, and German Emperor William II as finished. No one was quite satisfied with the outcome, but the general feeling was that the issue had been blown out of proportion and that it would be better to accept the assurances of acting Prime Minister H. H. Asquith and Baron Tweedmouth.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
Members of the British House of Commons asked H. H. Asquith, Acting Prime Minister, several questions about the letters exchanged between Edward Marjoribanks, Baron Tweedmouth, and German Emperor William II.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-10