Mr. Jackson to
Mr. Hay.
Embassy of the United States,
Berlin, August 7, 1900.
No. 1338.]
Sir: I have the honor to confirm, on the
overleaf the text of my cipher telegram of to-day’s date, and to
append hereto a translation of a communication which has just been
handed to me by Mr. von Derenthall at the foreign office.
Mr. von Derenthall sent for me in order to hand to me the
communication in question, similar communications being given to the
representatives of the other powers interested in affairs in China.
I was told that the German embassy had been instructed to confer
with you in this matter.
Count Waldersee’s reputation is too well known in the United States
to make it necessary for me to say much about it. He was Count
Moltke’s chief assistant up to the time of his death, at the great
general staff. He then commanded the Ninth Army Corps for several
years, commanding also an “armie” on several occasions during the
Imperial autumn maneuvers, and he is now one of the five “armie”
inspectors, with the rank of general field marshal. His wife is an
American, a daughter of the late Mr. David Lee, of New York.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
John B. Jackson,
Chargé d’Affaires.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Communication handed Mr. Jackson by Mr. von
Derenthall, at the German foreign office, August 7,
1900.
His Majesty the Emperor of Russia has declared to our Most
Gracious Lord that he would be especially pleased to put the
Russian troops operating in the province of Tschili under the
command of Field Marshal Count Waldersee. His Majesty the German
Emperor is ready to take upon himself the task resulting from
this, as he has reason to think that besides Russia there are
other governments which consider a German commander in chief as
expedient; for example, the Japanese Government has let it be
understood that it would prefer a German chief command to that
of another power more deeply interested in eastern Asiatic
affairs. The Government of His Majesty the German Emperor would
be grateful for information as to what views are entertained by
the Government of the United States in regard to the “chief
command,” and in which way it would be inclined to join the
American forces in the province of Tschili to the army operating
under Field Marshal Count Waldersee.
