File No. 24607/30.

Ambassador Reid to the Secretary of State.

No. 1276.]

Sir: With reference to the department’s cable of the 7th instant, instructing me to express to the British Government the sympathy of the President, Government, and people of the United States at the [Page 529] lamented death of King Edward VII, I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of my notes to the foreign office of the 7th and 8th instant in this sense, together with Sir Edward Grey’s replies of the 11th and 13th instant.

I have, etc.,

Whitelaw Reid.
[Inclosure 1.]

Ambassador Reid to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Sir: My Government instructs me to express to you, and through you to the British Government and people, the sincere and profound sympathy of the President, Government, and people of the United States in the loss by their British kinsmen of a ruler so beloved and so justly distinguished among all the nations of the earth for his wisdom and kindliness and for the influence of these high qualities in behalf of all that is best.

I have, etc.

Whitelaw Reid.
[Inclosure 2.]

Ambassador Reid to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the note of May 7, in which you communicate the lamentable information as to the death during the previous night of His Majesty Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Emperor of India.

I had previously kept the President and the Secretary of State of the United States informed concerning the critical illness of His Majesty, and later had announced to them its sad ending. The President immediately offered direct by cable to Queen Alexandra, for Her Majesty and for her son, the late King’s illustrious successor, the most profound sympathy of the people and Government of the United States, whose hearts go out to their British kinsmen in this national bereavement. He had added his own personal sympathy for Her Majesty and for the new King, together with his appreciation of those high qualities which made the life of the late King so potent an influence toward peace and justice among the nations.

I have had the honor earlier to-day of expressing to you, under instructions from the Secretary of State, the sincere and profound sympathy of the President, Government, and people of the United States in the loss by their British kinsmen of a ruler so beloved and so justly distinguished among all the nations of the earth for his wisdom and kindliness and for his influence in behalf of all that is best.

You only do me justice, sir, in the conviction you are kind enough to express that I participate, as indeed I do with all my heart, in the deep and widespread sorrow which this melancholy event has occasioned.

I have, etc.,

Whitelaw Reid.
[Inclosure 3.]

The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Ambassador Reid.

Your Excellency: I duly laid before the King, my Sovereign, your note of the 7th instant, in which your excellency expresses the Condolences of the President, Government, and people of the United States of America on the occasion of the deeply lamented death of His Late Majesty King Edward VII, and I have received the King’s commands to request your excellency to convey to the President and Government of [Page 530] the United States his most sincere thanks for their much appreciated messages of sympathy in the great loss which has been sustained by His Majesty, his royal house, and his subjects throughout the world.

I have, etc.,

E. Grey.
[Inclosure 4.]

The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Ambassador Reid.

Your Excellency: I duly laid before the King, my Sovereign, your note of the 8th instant, in which your excellency informs me of the feelings of profound sympathy of the President, Government, and people of the United States of America on the occasion of the deeply lamented death of His Late Majesty King Edward VII, and I have received the King’s commands to convey to your excellency His Majesty’s best thanks for this communication and for the kind sentiments to which you give expression, which are much appreciated by His Majesty and the royal family.

I have, etc.,

E. Grey.