Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ladislaus Hengelmuller von Hengervar
Subject(s): Allegiance, Annexation (International law), Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Hungary, Patriotism, Serbia, Serbia and Montenegro--Serbia, War crimes, War--Causes, War--Moral and ethical aspects, World War (1914-1918)
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Theodore Roosevelt was pleased to be able to secure wide publication of Ladislaus Hengelmuller von Hengervar’s letter. Roosevelt has been concerned about the “terrible war.” He believed it would be advantageous for Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter the Austrian orbit instead of the Ottoman or Serbian. However, the Bosnians and Herzegovinians could not be made loyal to Austria and hindsight shows the annexation to be unwise. Roosevelt understands that the warring nations felt forced to act “by the fatalistic pressure of the past,” except for the case of Belgium whose invasion should have been rebuked by all civilized nations. He concludes by congratulating Hengelmuller von Hengervar for the “genuine national spirit” that has been shown by Austria-Hungary.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1914-11-16
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Hengelmüller von Hengervár, Ladislaus, 1845-1917
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 Ladislaus Hengelmuller von Hengervar. [November 16, 1914]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o210656. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ladislaus Hengelmuller von Hengervar. [16 Nov. 1914]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o210656.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1914, November 16]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ladislaus Hengelmuller von Hengervar.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o210656.
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 13, 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.
