File No. 093.11141/23.
Ambassador Page to
the Secretary of State.
No. 303.]
American Embassy,
London,
April 29, 1914.
Sir: Replying to the Department’s instruction
No. 196 of April 1, 1914, with regard to the offer of the Commonwealth
of Virginia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland of a
replica of the Houdon statue of Washington, I have the honor to report
that, immediately on receipt of the instruction under acknowledgment, I
addressed a formal offer of the statue to His Majesty’s Government
through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and am now in receipt
of a note dated April 24, 1914, a copy of which is herewith enclosed,
from Sir Edward Grey accepting this gift on behalf of his Government and
expressing their high appreciation for the gift and the sentiments which
prompted its offer.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure.]
Sir Edward Grey
to Ambassador Page.
Foreign Office,
London,
April 24, 1914.
Your Excellency: I have the honour to
acknowledge receipt of your note of the 14th instant enclosing copy
of the Joint Resolution of the General Assembly of the State of
Virginia to the effect that a replica of the Houdon statue of George
Washington should be presented by the Commonwealth of Virginia to
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
In thanking your excellency for this communication I beg you will be
so good as to cause to be conveyed to the General Assembly of
Virginia the acceptance by His Majesty’s Government of this statue
together with an expression of their high appreciation for the gift
which it is proposed to present to them on this occasion of the One
Hundredth year of peace between Great Britain and the United
States.
His Majesty’s Government also desire to say that they have been much
gratified by the words of friendship and esteem contained in the
resolution and most sincerely reciprocate the sentiments therein
expressed.
I have [etc.]
