Mr. White to Mr. Hay.

No. 1837.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that, yesterday being the Emperor’s birthday, I then, with the diplomatic corps, made the usual visit of congratulation to the palace, attended the religious service, and was afterwards received by His Majesty. Our conversation related entirely to the approaching visit of Prince Henry to the United States, with which the Emperor seemed especially pleased.

I may add that, during the past week, I have had several conversations with the Prince on the subject of his journey, one being at the house of the secretary of state for foreign affairs and two at my [Page 423] own hotel, and in each of these he spoke of his visit with evident satisfaction.

During his dinner with me on Friday I received three long telegrams from organizations in the United States desirous of offering hospitality to him, and since that there have come several more; but I have referred the senders to His Majesty’s ambassador at Washington, and have in no case sought to influence the Prince as to the routes he should take or the things he should see, save in answering to the best of my ability requests made by him or by members of his suite for information.

I have also had conversations with the chancellor, Count von Bülow, and the secretary of state for foreign affairs, Baron von Richthofen, upon the same general subject, and especially regarding a reception proposed by the press of the United States at New York. There seemed for a time some doubts regarding its acceptance here, the doubt apparently arising from the fact that the initiative in the matter was taken by a German journal at New York; but in answer to questions from the chancellor and the secretary for foreign affairs I expressed the opinion that this fact did not really militate against the character of the invitation as American, this answer to them being, in my opinion, authorized by telegrams received at this embassy from leading persons connected with the American press in no way devoted to German interests.

I remain, etc.,

And. D. White.