Mr. Hay to Mr. Choate.

No. 861.]

Sir: The correspondence which has been exchanged between the Department and your embassy has acquainted you with the intention of the President to send a special embassy to represent the United States at the ceremonies which are to take place at London on June 26 next incident upon the coronation of His Majesty Edward VII.

The special embassy is composed of the following persons:

  • His Excellency Whitelaw Reid, as special ambassador.
  • Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson, U. S. Army, to assist Mr. Reid as the representative of the War Department.
  • Capt. Charles E. Clark, U. S. Navy, to assist Mr. Reid as the representative of the Navy Department.
  • Messrs. J. Pierpont Morgan, jr., Edmund L. Baylies, and William Wetmore will attend Mr. Reid each in the character of secretary and attaché.

[Page 500]

It is not possible at this time to give Mr. Reid specific and detailed instructions. He has been instructed to freely consult with you upon his arrival in London. The President doubts not it will be your pleasure to cooperate with him in all possible ways in order to insure armony of action in the important duty intrusted to him.

I am, etc.,

John Hay.