Letter from James F. J. Archibald to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Alien labor, Burwell, William Turnbull, 1846-1910, California--Yerba Buena Island, China--Yingkou, Crozier, William, 1855-1942, Emigration and immigration--Social aspects, Foreign workers, Fort Stevens (Or.), Fournier, Ernest François, 1842-1934, France, Great Britain, Hawaii, Hawaii--Honolulu Harbor, Hawaii--Pearl Harbor, Japan, Japan--Akita-ken, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Military bases, American, Military operations, Naval, Military readiness, Naval art and science, North America--Strait of Juan de Fuca, Oregon--Portland, Pacific Ocean--Gulf of the Farallones, Pacific Ocean--Monterey Bay, Pacific Ocean--Puget Sound, Pacific Ocean--San Diego Bay, Pacific Ocean--San Francisco Bay, Pacific Ocean--Strait of Juan de Fuca, Pacific Ocean--Willapa Bay, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Rhode Island--Newport, Russia (Federation)--Sakhalin (Sakhalinskai︠a︡ oblastʹ), Russia (Federation)--Vladivostok Region, Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Submarine mines, Torpedoes, United States--Columbia River, United States--Pacific Coast, United States. Navy, War, Maritime (International law), Washington (State)--Grays Harbor, Washington (State)--Port Townsend, Washington (State)--Seattle, Wilcox, Theodore B. (Theodore Burney), 1856-1918
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James F. J. Archibald reports to President Roosevelt on the submarine defense of the Pacific Coast and the Hawaiian Islands. Archibald believes America to be “so far behind” other nations in this area of marine warfare—particularly Great Britain, France, and Japan. Upon visiting principal cities and harbors, he finds the Pacific Coast and Hawaiian Islands in a “deplorably defenseless position” and notes that the people living in these areas feel vulnerable because of the large extent of “oriental labor and immigration.” Whereas guns and mines are not ideal defense weapons because of the foggy weather, Archibald feels the Pacific Coast is prime territory for the use of submarines due to the large harbors, climates, and topography of the region. Archibald details the number of submarines and personnel he believes to be needed at each of four geographic locations–the Puget Sound, the mouth of the Columbia River, the San Francisco Bay, and the San Diego Bay–as well as the costs of these fortifications, and he emphasizes that his opinions are shared by military officers and civilian experts.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-01-02
Creator(s)
Archibald, James F. J. (Francis Jewell), 1871-
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
23
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 James F. J. Archibald to Theodore Roosevelt. [January 2, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55134. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Archibald, James F. J. (Francis Jewell), 1871-. Letter from James F. J. Archibald to Theodore Roosevelt. [2 Jan. 1907]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 8, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55134.
APA:
Archibald, James F. J. (Francis Jewell), 1871-., [1907, January 2]. Letter from James F. J. Archibald to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55134.
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 8, 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.
