William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Reid gives President Roosevelt an update on international politics in Europe, especially events in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Russia. He assures the President that the London Morning Post has a good opinion of him, and proposes a solution to the problem of one of its correspondents writing unfairly on the Roosevelt administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-17

Letter from Charles S. Francis to William Loeb

Ambassador Charles S. Francis notes that Professor John Williams Burgess attended Ambassador Charlemagne Tower’s recent dinner at the Embassy in Berlin and will be traveling to Vienna. Due to Burgess’s criticism of President Roosevelt, Francis does not want to entertain him, and asks William Loeb’s opinion on the matter. Francis hopes that Roosevelt approved of unofficial efforts to pressure the Austrian Phoenix Insurance Company to reach an agreement with a committee representing the San Francisco earthquake claimants.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-11

Letter from John St. Loe Strachey to Theodore Roosevelt

John St. Loe Strachey relays to President Roosevelt an account of his trip to France and Germany. He and his wife visited Ambassador Charlemagne Tower and his wife in Berlin as well as Ambassador Robert Sanderson McCormick and his wife in Paris. Strachey believes that Chancellor Bernard Fürst von Bülow will be defeated in his reelection bid and that the Emperor was also held in disfavor by the German people. Strachey is concerned about the warlike nature of the Germans. He relays his thoughts on some of the French politicians and theologians whom he met; he found the French people and politicians generally to be pacifistic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-11

Note to Theodore Roosevelt

A note to President Roosevelt mentions that the day before was the birthday of Kaiser William II and that Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon suggest that Roosevelt might send “a few words of congratulation & goodwill”.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-28

Letter from Hermann Speck von Sternburg to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Sternburg thanks President Roosevelt for his letter, and informs him that he has thanked German Emperor William II as Roosevelt requested.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-23

Letter from Hermann Speck von Sternburg to Theodore Roosevelt

German Emperor William II wrote Ambassador Sternburg that the Russians are sending Friedrich Fromhold Martens to Berlin to discuss the Second Hague Conference. William II would like to make a preliminary agreement with Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-20

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid now realizes that there is “grave danger” in the Kaiser’s correspondence when he references the Hague Conference. Reid believes that some European nations will not consent to a reduction and “probably not to a limitation of armament especially on land.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-15

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid traces the origins of a story that President Roosevelt heard. Reid does not think the story could have come from the British Ambassador at Berlin, Frank Cavendish Lascelles. Reid has looked over the correspondence Roosevelt sent to see if there is anything in Roosevelt’s letter or the Emperor’s which could do harm if known to the King.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-12

Letter from Charlemagne Tower to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Tower passes along Christmas wishes from Kaiser Wilhelm II to President Roosevelt. Tower also provides an update on the progress of the Tariff Commission investigating economic relations between the United States and Germany.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-04

Letter from Arthur Hamilton Lee to Theodore Roosevelt

Arthur Hamilton Lee is hopeful that James Bryce will prove to be more useful in Washington, D.C., than his predecessor, H. Mortimer Durand. He has been talking to King Edward VII about Anglo-American affairs and summarized what happened in the Russo-Japanese negotiations for peace. The King was excited to hear of peaceful intentions and attitudes emanating from the United States. Looking back on it, Lee is grateful for the opportunity to frame President Roosevelt in a good light for the King. Lee is proud in general of what he has been able to orchestrate mostly out of the eye of the public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-24

Letter from John William Burgess to Theodore Roosevelt

John William Burgess, a prominent American political scientist, reports to President Roosevelt on the success of the Roosevelt Professorship, and the exchange program, at Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universita¨t Berlin. Burgess describes the impact of his inaugural address as Roosevelt Professor, that it was pre-approved by both the Prussian Ministry of Education and by Emperor Wilhelm II’s former tutor Georg Hinzpeter, and well-received by the Germans and by the Emperor himself. He says those who objected were Americans and Englishmen who oppose friendship between the United States and Germany. He says this press completely misrepresented what was said through the “journalistic hysteria” that was published in American papers. Burgess reports that the Roosevelt Professorship is now “on a foundation which cannot be shaken.” Burgess also expresses his view the issue of states’ rights and federal treaties, namely that the Constitution gives the president treaty-making powers which the citizens of the states are bound by just as they are to laws of Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-18

Letter from Charles S. Francis to William Loeb

Ambassador Francis informs William Loeb about the Wiener Männergesang-Verein and its plan to visit the United States next year. He asks if President Roosevelt would allow the choir to visit him at the White House and give a private concert.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-14

Telegram from William Loeb to Ruldoph Forster

William Loeb wishes the following dispatch from President Roosevelt to be delivered to Ambassador Jusserand: “If a conference is held and any differences of opinion should arise between France and Germany, Germany will be ready to back up the decision that is considered most fair and practical.” The emperor would like to prove that what Roosevelt has done is in the interest of peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-30

Letter from Hermann Speck von Sternburg to Theodore Roosevelt

Hermann Speck von Sternburg updates President Roosevelt on the efforts of Germany to reconcile with France. Sternburg tells Roosevelt that Emperor William II will support any decision Roosevelt recommends.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-28

Letter from Hermann Speck von Sternburg to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Sternburg thanks President Roosevelt for the advice he gave Ambassador J. J. Jusserand and states it “brought on this great result.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-24

What now?

The writer discusses the factors leading to the Japanese victories over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War as well as the controversy surrounding proposed negotiations for peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-23

Letter from J. J. Jusserand to Théophile Delcassé

Jean Jules Jusserand informs Théophile Delcassé that President Theodore Roosevelt is partial to making concessions to Emperor Wilhelm II in order to avoid a war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-18

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Nicholas Murray Butler is giving President Roosevelt the schedule of his upcoming trip along with the address where he can be reached. He wants Roosevelt to know that he will be meeting with the Emperor at Wilhelmshohe in August to discuss the interchange of professors and educational subjects. Butler is also congratulating Roosevelt on his role in the Japan-Russian matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-15

Telegram from William Loeb to Maurice Latta

William Loeb transcribes several telegrams sent to President Roosevelt in his absence concerning the ongoing international diplomatic efforts to end the Russo-Japanese War. In response to Roosevelt’s suggestion, plenipotentiaries from both Japan and Russia will negotiate terms of peace. It is rumored that Russia will recommend Paris as the location for the meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-11

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge tells President Roosevelt about the establishment of a big German coaling station in St. Thomas, which indicates that German Emperor William II is “still hankering after those islands.” Lodge recommends quickly buying Greenland. In addition, Lodge recommends replacing Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, and disagrees with Shaw’s plan for issuing bonds. Lodge comments on various prominent events happening in the United States and the world and explains he is enjoying his time in “this old Italian town,” but is beginning to long for home. He wants to be near Roosevelt and not have to watch from a distance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-10