Telegram from John Hay to Joseph Hodges Choate
Secretary of State Hay recounts the difficulties associated with the ongoing Alaska boundary dispute.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-07-17
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Alaskan Boundary Tribunal
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay
President Roosevelt encloses a letter and clipping that show political pressure is being used to prevent an impartial decision in the Alaska boundary matter. If necessary, Roosevelt is willing to end negotiations and seize the disputed territory. He believes that such action would be unpleasant but mostly for the British and Canadians.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-09-21
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay
President Roosevelt agrees about the “little islands” and suggests that the rights to the islands could be a bargaining tool in the Alaska boundary matter. If an agreement cannot be reached, he would like to see arbitration before the Hague Court.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-09-15
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay
President Roosevelt found Baron Takahira’s letter to be remarkable and believes that Ambassador Jusserand’s comment is due to jealousy. He hopes that the British will act with “sanity and propriety” in the Alaska boundary business. If they do not, it will be a misfortune for the United States and a greater misfortune for Great Britain and Canada.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-08-21
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay
President Roosevelt opposes a delay in the Alaska boundary proceedings. He does not want the matter pending during the presidential election and believes that if an agreement cannot be reached this fall it will be due to bad faith by the British. Roosevelt wants the British to understand that American representatives have come to negotiate a definitive agreement and that unilateral action could be taken if an agreement is not concluded.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-06-29
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay
President Roosevelt is opposed to arbitration in the Alaska boundary dispute but is willing to appoint three commissioners to meet with commissioners from Canada and Great Britain. However, Roosevelt believes that the Canadian claim is “wholly false” and he does not want to yield on American claims. Secretary of War Elihu Root has been secretly strengthening the garrisons near the disputed territory.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-07-16
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay
President Roosevelt reviews his position on the Alaska boundary question and believes the Canadian claim to be “outrageous and indefensible.” He will not submit to arbitration but is willing to appoint three commissioners to decide upon the border. However, Roosevelt would insist upon the entire claim and instruct the commissioners not to yield any territory.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-07-10
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice
President Roosevelt selfishly hopes that Cecil Spring Rice will be stationed at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. If Spring Rice is sent, Roosevelt would like to show him the maps submitted in the Alaska boundary case which show that the Canadians had no case. Events at the Isthmus of Panama have come to a head. The Colombians were corrupt, incompetent, and impossible to deal with.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-11-09
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry White
President Roosevelt is sure that he will enjoy seeing H. Mortimer Durand and looks forward to discussing several matters with Henry White. The Alaska and Panama settlements have made a “good showing” and Roosevelt intends to pass Cuban reciprocity as well.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-11-26
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry White
President Roosevelt is pleased with Henry White’s news on the Alaska business. The Canadians have published some ugly articles that might influence English opinion. It will be unfortunate if the Commission is deadlocked but even worse for the Canadians and English. If an agreement cannot be reached, Roosevelt will treat the disputed territory as American and forbid all future negotiations.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-09-26
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root, et al.
President Roosevelt writes to Elihu Root, Henry Cabot Lodge, and George Turner to lay out his views on the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-03-17
Letter from George B. Cortelyou to John Hay
George B. Cortelyou returns to Secretary of State Hay the papers regarding the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal and Lord Pauncefote’s memorandum.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-04-07
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. M. Dickinson
President Roosevelt thanks J. M. Dickinson for the interview. He thinks that they might as well accuse him of political corruption in the Alaska Boundary Commission.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-12-30
Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to S. S. Gregory
President Roosevelt will be unable to attend the dinner in honor of Judge Dickinson but commends Dickinson for his work with the Alaska Commission.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-12-18
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Morley
President Roosevelt thoroughly enjoyed John Morley’s biography of W. E. Gladstone and finally feels that he has some understanding and sympathy for the man. Roosevelt believes that the English press are not providing enough support for Lord Alverstone and the Alaska boundary decision.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-12-12
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee
President Roosevelt defends the settlement of the Alaska boundary dispute and comments on Lord Alverstone’s actions in the matter. Roosevelt believes that if all the arbitrators had been judges, as suggested by Arthur Hamilton Lee, the Canadians would have received even less territory due to the weakness of their claims.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-12-07
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee
President Roosevelt congratulates Arthur H. Lee on his promotion and believes that England and America should be pleased with the Alaska boundary settlement.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-11-09
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to D. T. Watson
President Roosevelt thanks D. T. Watson for acting as counsel in the Alaska boundary case and invites him to dinner so that Roosevelt can hear first hand about the matter.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-10-30
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lawrence F. Abbott
President Roosevelt is pleased with the settlement of the Alaska boundary. Roosevelt encloses a newspaper article, which he would like republished, from a Democratic paper in Mississippi that supports James Kimble Vardaman for Governor.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-10-26
Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge, George Turner, and Elihu Root
President Roosevelt congratulates Henry Cabot Lodge, George Turner, and Elihu Root, the members of the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal, on behalf of the American people.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-10-20