Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice
Subject(s): American Civil War (1861-1865), Belgium, Contracts (International law), Ex-presidents, International relations--Moral and ethical aspects, International relations--Treaties, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Neutrality, Peace movements, Politicians--Public opinion, Presidents--Influence, Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Security, International, War--Moral and ethical aspects, Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, World War (1914-1918)
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Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Cecil Spring Rice liked his article in The Outlook. If he had been president, Roosevelt would have called attention to the guarantee of Belgium’s neutrality and accepted the Hague treaties as imposing a serious obligation that must be enforced by the United States and other neutral nations. He would have backed up this statement with force and believes the American people would have followed him. However, as people tend to follow the president in a crisis, the majority are now with President Wilson. Roosevelt compares the situation to the negotiations to end the Russo-Japanese War, which required explicit assurances from both nations and months of negotiations, and the presidential election of 1864, where many who favored peace voted against Abraham Lincoln.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1914-10-03
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Spring Rice, Cecil, Sir, 1859-1918
Language
English
Period
Post-Presidential Years (1913-January 6, 1919)
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 Cecil Spring Rice. [October 3, 1914]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o210506. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice. [3 Oct. 1914]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 9, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o210506.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1914, October 3]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o210506.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. 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. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 9, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
