Memorandum from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Bell, James Franklin, 1856-1919, Bliss, Tasker Howard, 1853-1930, Brownson, Willard H. (Willard Herbert), 1845-1935, Chaffee, Adna Romanza, 1842-1914, China--Lüchun Xian, Defensive (Military science), Dewey, George, 1837-1917, Folger, William Mayhew, 1844-1928, Gillespie, G. L., Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920, Hemphill, Joseph N. (Joseph Newton), 1847-1931, Japan, Metcalf, Victor Howard, 1853-1936, Military readiness, Military research, Moody, William H. (William Henry), 1853-1917, Murray, Arthur, 1851-1925, Navy-yards and naval stations--Planning, Navy-yards and naval stations, American, Oliver, James Harrison, 1857-1928, Philippines--Luzon, Philippines--Manila, Randolph, Wallace Fitz, 1841-1910, Remey, George Collier, 1841-1928, Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), South China Sea--Manila Bay, South China Sea--Subic Bay, United States, United States. Congress, United States. Department of the Army, United States. Dept. of the Army, United States. Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States. Navy Department, United States. Navy Dept., United States. War Department, United States. War Dept., Wood, Leonard, 1860-1927, Young, S. B. M. (Samuel Baldwin Marks), 1840-1924
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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
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
17
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:
Memorandum from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt. [April 14, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. 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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 11, 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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o58492.
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. December 11, 2025. 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.
