Office of the Historian

File No. 893.001L76

The Secretary of State to Minister Reinsch

No. 517
American Legation,
Peking, October 25, 1916.

Sir: I enclose, with office copy, a letter addressed by the President of the United States to His Excellency Li Yuan-hung acknowledging the receipt of his letter of September 4 last, in which he announced his assumption of the Presidency of the Republic of China.

[Page 102]

You will forward the office copy to the Foreign Office and deliver the original in the manner most agreeable to His Excellency.

I am [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
Frank L. Polk
[Inclosure]

The President to the President of the Republic of China

The White House,
Washington, October 19, 1916.

Great and Good Friend:

I have received the letter of the 4th of September last, in which Your Excellency announced your assumption, on the 7th day of June last, of the Presidency of the Republic of China and your entrance upon the duties of the office.

I cordially reciprocate the sentiments you express for the continuance of the friendly relations which have heretofore existed between the United States and China, and I assure Your Excellency of my best wishes for your personal welfare and for the prosperity of the Republic over which you have been called to preside.

Your good friend,

Woodrow Wilson