In a memorandum requested by President Roosevelt, Secretary of War Taft outlines the reasons for the reversal of the Joint Board of the Army and Navy’s 1903 unanimous decision to construct a defensive naval base at Subic Bay in the Philippines. The decision was reversed in 1907 due in part to the emerging strength of Japan and the cooling of relations with Japan, and to the indefensibility of the area by land.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-14

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Publication Date

2020-07-09

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Original Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Papers

Repository

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Page Count

17

Production Method

Typed

Record Type

Multi-image

Resource Type

Memorandum

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:

Memorandum from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt. [April 14, 1908?]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o58492. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930. Memorandum from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt. [14 Apr. 1908?]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o58492.

APA:

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930.: , [1908, April 14?]. Memorandum from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o58492.

Cite this Collection

Chicago:

Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. 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 Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.

APA:

Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.