Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Sperry
Subject(s): Diplomacy, Diplomatic etiquette, International relations, Japan, Metcalf, Victor Howard, 1853-1936, Pillsbury, John Elliott, 1846-1919, Race relations, United States. Navy. Atlantic Fleet. Battleship Force
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President Roosevelt informs Rear Admiral Sperry that he is to command the Great White Fleet on its return trip. This will require a great deal of responsibility as it involves visiting Australia and Japan and passing through the Suez Canal. Roosevelt exhorts Sperry to be careful during the time he is in East Asian waters, as he does not want there to be any “suspicion of insolence or rudeness on our part.” Outside of maintaining the safety of the ships, Roosevelt would much rather the fleet be insulted than to be seen as giving insult, although he is sure the Japanese will also be taking care to avoid giving any sort of slight.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-03-21
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Sperry, Charles S. (Charles Stillman), 1847-1911
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
2
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 Charles S. Sperry. [March 21, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o202062. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Sperry. [21 Mar. 1908]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 30, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o202062.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1908, March 21]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Sperry.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o202062.
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. March 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.
