March 18: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
ON THIS DAY IN 1905, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “St. Patrick’s Day in New York City was more notable this year than ever before because the president of the United States came on from Washington and made a speech to the Friendly Sons at their annual banquet held at Delmonico’s last night. The president got one of the most cordial receptions ever given him in New York and he won the admiration of every Friendly Son when he offered a toast to Patrick McDonnell, a youngster two hours old, whose father sent the following telegram to Grandfather Peter McDonnell, one of the diners: ‘Peter McDonnell, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Patrick just arrived, tired after parade, Sends his regrets to President.’ … President Roosevelt, before he went into his speech proper, said: ‘Now, I want you to join me in drinking the health of Patrick McDonnell and Peter McDonnell and, above all, Mrs. McDonnell.’ There was a great cheer and the grandfather hid his blushing countenance behind a napkin.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “LONDON (U.P.) — A British Foreign Office spokesman said today that the question of Soviet access to Iranian oil resources could not be raised until Red Army troops leave that country. The spokesman, however, tacitly confirmed that the British are studying proposals for internationalization of Iran’s oil which would presumably break the present British monopoly of Iranian oil and give Russia access to a share of the production. The Russians were understood to be already engaged in a last-minute effort to persuade Tehran to give them a North Iran oil concession so that they can come before the United Nations Security Council March 25 with a statement that their troubles with Iran have been settled. The British suggestion indicated that settlement of the Iran crisis might be worked out under some plan under which Soviet troops withdraw from Iran as pledged by treaty in return for a pledge that Soviet oil desires would be met.”