Ambassador Reid to the Secretary of State.
London, November 19, 1907.
My Dear Mr. Root: Your letter of November 4 was received a few days ago, and to-day I took the first opportunity since its receipt for talking unofficially with Sir Edward Grey about the Kongo business. After telling him that your letter was confidential I added that perhaps the simplest way of discharging my duty was to read it to him, and so I read it almost in full.
He at once said that the views of this country, and his own views, coincided quite fully with those which you expressed. It was clear that the proposal to which you referred could not be acceptable either in the form in which you sent it or with the various amendments which had since been proposed.
He did not believe, however, that the time had yet come for England to go beyond the expression on this subject recently made by the prime minister in his speech at the Mansion House.
Sir Edward felt quite sure, however, that the English people would not be content with anything like the disposition of the case proposed in the projet de loi referred to. He was extremely glad to learn that the United States took an interest in the subject and held similar views. He would not fail to communicate with me later if any change in the situation should warrant it.
I think the foregoing gives a fair idea of the spirit and purport of a conversation which was prompt, frank, and direct on Sir Edward’s part and seemed to be without any reserves.
Yours, sincerely,