Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Comerford
President Roosevelt thinks that William Comerford fails to understand the “bitter indignation” of the Catholic Filipinos and Philippine priests against the friars. After consulting with leading Filipino Catholics, it was decided to try and purchase the friars’ lands with the condition that the friars leave the islands. This seemed the best way to appease Filipino Catholics and do justice to the Catholic Church. If no agreement is reached, the government has no power to force the friars to leave the islands or force the parishes to accept the friars. The Roosevelt administration is doing its best “to safeguard all the rights of all religious people, clerical or lay, in the Philippines.” (Copy of this letter was marked “Void – not sent.)
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-07-16
