Alaskan Boundary Tribunal

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

President Roosevelt is looking forward to John St. Loe Strachey’s visit to Washington, D.C. Roosevelt has been occupied over an Alaskan boundary dispute with Canada and is not inclined to compromise since he believes that the Canadians do not have a “leg to stand on.” Roosevelt also met with some Boer prisoners with whom he sympathized, describing the men as “admirable stock out of which to make a nation.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay

President Roosevelt lays out his understanding of the Alaskan boundary dispute between the United States, Great Britain, and Canada. Roosevelt finds Canadian claims to be “outrageous and indefensible,” but is willing to appoint commissioners to investigate the boundary. However, arbitration is out of the question.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-10

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge discusses a number of topics regarding the late Secretary of State John Hay. Lodge bemoans the editing of a publication of Hay’s letters, claiming that Hay was “one of the best if not the best letter writer of his time,” but the publication does not do him justice. He reminisces on the many men of letters he has known in his life, and believes that Hay was the most “brilliant, humorous, sympathetic, [and] witty” among them. Lodge holds more criticism for Hay in his role as a secretary of state, discussing how Hay bungled multiple treaties, took credit for accomplishments that were not his own, and formed poor relations with the Senate. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-14

Letter from Arthur Hamilton Lee to Theodore Roosevelt

Arthur Hamilton Lee recently returned from Canada where he was on a mission to gather opinions related to the Alaskan Arbitration land dispute. Locals seems to be glad the matter is over, although there is resentment towards Newfoundland’s “modus vivendi.” Self-described “King of Newfoundland” Robert Gillespie Reid thinks only the basest politicians are against it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-30

Presidential snapshot (#21): Excerpt of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Oliver Wendell Holmes

President Roosevelt informs Justice Holmes that he agreed to a commission to arbitrate the boundary dispute between Canada and the United States because he wants to maintain good relations with Great Britain. Roosevelt asserts that he is prepared to unilaterally draw a boundary line without regard to either Canada or Great Britain, but that he hopes the commission can prevent this and thus avoid any offense to Great Britain.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1903-07-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt sends his greetings to Senator Lodge on his return from the successful Alaska boundary negotiations. Roosevelt needs Lodge’s assistance in the Massachusetts campaign, where William Alexander Gaston and Richard Olney have been attacking Roosevelt “savagely.” Olney is attacking Roosevelt for the Post Office scandals, despite the fact that they began under the administration of which Olney was a part. Roosevelt sends love to Lodge’s wife Nannie, and congratulates him on his new grandson, John Davis Lodge.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-10-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt is against breaking off negotiations with the British over the Alaskan boundary, even if the British request extra time for the presentation of arguments.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-07-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt provides updates on the Post Office investigation and the Alaska boundary dispute. Roosevelt would prefer that the Alaska negotiations end before the presidential campaign.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-06-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root, Henry Cabot Lodge, and George Turner

Secretary of War Root, Senator Lodge, and Senator Turner have been appointed as American representatives to the tribunal that will determine the boundary between Alaska and Canada. Roosevelt instructs the representatives to impartially judge the questions that come before them and then explains the American interpretation of the boundary. This copy of the letter was sent to Lodge.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-03-25

Draft letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Gurney Cannon

Third draft of a letter with handwritten edits. President Roosevelt formally accepts the Republican presidential nomination. He then reviews several campaign issues and the achievements of his administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root, Henry Cabot Lodge, and George Turner

Secretary of War Root, Senator Lodge, and Senator Turner have been appointed as American representatives to the tribunal that will determine the boundary between Alaska and Canada. Roosevelt instructs the representatives to impartially judge the questions that come before them and then explains the American interpretation of the boundary. This copy of the letter was sent to Turner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-25

Lodge backs Bates

Summary and text of speeches delivered by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and Governor John Lewis Bates to the Norfolk Club. Primary topics were the Massachusetts gubernatorial election, Lodge’s work on the Alaska boundary tribunal, and defending President Roosevelt from Democratic attacks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-01

Letter from Arthur Hamilton Lee to Theodore Roosevelt

Arthur Hamilton Lee thanks President Roosevelt for writing concerning his appointment as Civil Lord of the Admiralty for the Royal Navy. Lee discusses the resolution of the Alaskan boundary dispute, Joseph Chamberlain and the Tariff Reform movement, recently appointed Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand, and protectionism.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-22

Letter from Albert Shaw to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert Shaw mentions a letter from Representative John W. Dwight and discusses the Revolution in Panama as well as the Alaskan boundary dispute, settled by Lord Chief Justice of England Alverstone. Shaw writes about Seth Low’s defeat in the New York mayoral election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-04

Telegram from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry Cabot Lodge writes to President Roosevelt confirming receipt of his letter enclosing a message from Assistant Secretary of State Loomis. Lodge advises Commissioners to explain, but not comment on or publish articles regarding a present matter. Lodge relays that he will address the issue in a speech scheduled that afternoon. Lodge requests that Roosevelt postpone discussing the matter with Mr. Turner until Lodge and Roosevelt meet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-31

Letter from John Hay to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of State Hay sends President Roosevelt a typed extract from a letter written by First Secretary of the London Embassy, Henry White. Hay also sends comments made by Joseph Hodges Choate regarding negotiations to reconcile the Alaskan border dispute between Canada, the United States, and Russia. Choate and White praise work done by United States Commissioners Henry Cabot Lodge, George Turner, and Elihu Root, and the conduct of Lord Alverstone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-29

Letter from John W. Foster to Theodore Roosevelt

John W. Foster sends President Roosevelt a copy of his article regarding the Alaskan Boundary decision, which will appear in National Geographic Magazine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-21

Letter from Lawrence F. Abbott to Theodore Roosevelt

Lawrence F. Abbott is pleased with the Alaskan boundary decision as it lays a practical basis for the arbitration of international disputes and “adds lustre” to the State Department of President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration. Abbott returns a newspaper clipping and is pleased to see that some Mississippians recognize the “value of high standards in political life.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-30

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge was pleased to receive President Roosevelt’s letter and read about his summer activities. He was interested in the updates on the labor situation and the Post Office scandals. Lodge is troubled by the opposition to Cuban reciprocity and cannot imagine the resolution failing. He concludes with an update on the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal and is confident of a favorable decision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-12

Letter from Elihu Root to Merritt O. Chance

Secretary of War Root details his travel schedule from Liverpool, England, to Washington, D.C. He wants Collector Nevada N. Stranahan to have a clear understanding that they, and their baggage, should be allowed to enter the country without examination as diplomatic officers. Everyone is well and Root has been receiving the enclosures. They are still unsure how the boundary issue will turn out.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-05