Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge
Subject(s): Adams, Charles Francis, 1835-1915, Aguinaldo, Emilio, 1869-1964, American Civil War (1861-1865), Anti-imperialist movements, China, China--Jiaozhou, Chinese Americans--Legal status, laws, etc., Christianity and other religions--Egyptian, Colonies, Cromer, Evelyn Baring, Earl of, 1841-1917, Cuba, Egypt, Filipinos--Politics and government, Great Britain, ʻUrābī, Aḥmad, 1840 or 1841-1911, Imperialism--British colonies, India, Indonesia--Java, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sin, Spanish-American War (1898), Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Wood, Leonard, 1860-1927
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President Roosevelt responds to a request from Senator Lodge that he comment on an article about Egypt written by Charles Francis Adams. Roosevelt observes that Adams was apparently not aware of many of the issues related to holding colonies before traveling to Egypt. Comparing the British occupation and control of Egypt and India with the relationship of the United States to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and particularly the Philippines, Roosevelt asserts that the goal of the United States must be to administer the islands for the good of the natives with an eye towards eventual self-government (whereas this has not always seemed to be the goal of the British). Roosevelt also quotes a letter from General Leonard Wood regarding the condition of British colonies and the topic of Chinese labor. Roosevelt believes that the United States has acted much more benevolently towards its island holdings than the British have towards their colonies, and praises the efforts that the United States has made in reducing corruption and increasing the effectiveness of the governments of these dependencies.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-04-30
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
9
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge. [April 30, 1906]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o156114. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge. [30 Apr. 1906]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 4, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o156114.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.: , [1906, April 30]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o156114.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 4, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
