Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root
Subject(s): California, Immigrants--Crimes against, International relations--Press coverage, Japan, Kaneko, Kentarō, 1853-1942, Lecky, William Edward Hartpole, 1838-1903, Lectures and lecturing, Morley, John, 1838-1923, War--Forecasting, Yale University
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President Roosevelt praises Secretary of State Root’s recent lectures at Yale University, calling them “lofty essays.” In an extended postscript, Roosevelt says he is enclosing a letter from Japanese Ambassador Kentarō Kaneko, saying he likes Kaneko, but also calls him a “fox.” Roosevelt says the Japanese have reason to be offended over the treatment of Japanese immigrants in San Francisco, and asks what other legal measures can be taken to protect them. On the other hand, Roosevelt says that these problems do not give Japan the excuse to be thinking of war with the United States. Roosevelt does not believe the Japanese will attack American positions in the Pacific or Alaska, but “there is enough uncertainty” for the United States to be on its guard for war.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-07-26
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
4
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 Elihu Root. [July 26, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o199878. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root. [26 Jul. 1907]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 30, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o199878.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1907, July 26]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o199878.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
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 Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 30, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.