Includes 2 autograph letters signed, 3 typed letters signed, and two handwritten transcripts of telegrams. Various sizes.

The first two letters are autograph, written from London, where Hay served as U.S. Ambassador, to Secretary of State William R. Day; the others are written from Washington, Hay having taken over as Secretary of State, to Day serving as head of the American Peace Commission in Paris negotiating the end of the Spanish American War. The most significant letters is the first, 4 pages on American Embassy letterhead, June 4, 1898: “I learn from excellent authority that the Emperor of Germany was on the point of sending a telegram of warm sympathy to the Queen of Spain at the beginning of the war; that his family was in favor of it, and that it required the utmost efforts of Hohenlohe & von Buelow to prevent it. There is still a strong feeling there against us, but the men at the head of the government will prevent any unfriendly action, on grounds not of friendship, but of common sense. They are very much occupied about the distribution of spoil which they imagine will take place after the war is over. Germany is very jealous lest France or England should get the Philippines… Germany is very restive under the Monroe Doctrine. They would like a foothold in South America – in Brazil or Argentina - & might suggest it, if we kept the Philippines. One of the unfortunate results of the action of the Senate in regard to Hawaii will be that when – sooner or later – we do annex the islands, Germany will want Samoa, or something else, as compensation. Hawaii has always been regarded in Europe as within our sphere of influence, as ultimately ours. The opposition in the Senate is teaching them now to think otherwise….” He goes on to speak of the benefits of capturing Puerto Rico, and leaving Cuba to the end, in the hope that Spain will leave voluntarily.