File No. 093.11141/23.

Ambassador Page to the Secretary of State.

No. 303.]

Sir: Replying to the Department’s instruction No. 196 of April 1, 1914, with regard to the offer of the Commonwealth of Virginia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland of a replica of the Houdon statue of Washington, I have the honor to report that, immediately on receipt of the instruction under acknowledgment, I addressed a formal offer of the statue to His Majesty’s Government through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and am now in receipt of a note dated April 24, 1914, a copy of which is herewith enclosed, from Sir Edward Grey accepting this gift on behalf of his Government and expressing their high appreciation for the gift and the sentiments which prompted its offer.

I have [etc.]

Walter Hines Page
.
[Inclosure.]

Sir Edward Grey to Ambassador Page.

Your Excellency: I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your note of the 14th instant enclosing copy of the Joint Resolution of the General Assembly of the State of Virginia to the effect that a replica of the Houdon statue of George Washington should be presented by the Commonwealth of Virginia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

In thanking your excellency for this communication I beg you will be so good as to cause to be conveyed to the General Assembly of Virginia the acceptance by His Majesty’s Government of this statue together with an expression of their high appreciation for the gift which it is proposed to present to them on this occasion of the One Hundredth year of peace between Great Britain and the United States.

His Majesty’s Government also desire to say that they have been much gratified by the words of friendship and esteem contained in the resolution and most sincerely reciprocate the sentiments therein expressed.

I have [etc.]

E. Grey
.