Mr. de Weckherlin to
Mr. Day.
Legation of the Netherlands,
New
York, September 12,
1898.
Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor
herewith to transmit to you, with a translation, the letter whereby Her
Majesty, the Queen, my august sovereign, announces to the President
that, having attained her majority, she has taken the reins of
government in hand.
Begging you to be pleased to forward said letter to its high destination,
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Wilhelmina, by the grace of God, Queen of the
Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, etc.
To Mr. William
McKinley,
President of the United
States of America.
Very Great and Good Friend: Having attained
my majority, I have just assumed the royal power, which, during my
minority, has been exercised, in my name, by Queen Emma, my
well-beloved mother, with such wisdom and devotion that they will
ever be indelibly engraved in my heart and in the hearts of my
faithful subjects. I desire to inform you that I have taken the
reins of government in hand, and I beg you to believe that, on my
part, nothing shall be neglected in order to maintain and draw
closer the amicable relations existing between the Netherlands and
the United States of America. I flatter myself that I may rely upon
your highly valued cooperation for the attainment of this object.
The welfare of the nations whose destinies are confided to us will
certainly be promoted thereby. With my best wishes for the
prosperity of the United States of America and for your own
happiness, I beg you to accept the assurances of my high
consideration.
Done at The Hague, this 31st day of August, 1898.
Your good friend,
-
Wilhelmina.
- W. H. de Beaufort,
The Minister of Foreign
Affairs.
