American Occupation of Cuba (1906-1909)

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft sends a telegram to President Roosevelt detailing political factionalism in Havana, Cuba. Taft reports that the two parties could not agree and that the moderate faction may “stir up a counter revolution.” The party is delaying the resignation of the President as long as possible, which Taft will allow as long as there are not two insurrections simultaneously.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-28

Telegram from William H. Taft to William Loeb

Secretary of War Taft urgently needs to contact President Roosevelt and wants to know if William Loeb is in contact with him. A quick response is needed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-28

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft will not act until the entire matter is submitted to President Roosevelt. Telegram message sent via letter to the Commandant of Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, for transmittal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-28

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft suggests a draft of a proclamation establishing a provisional government in Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-28

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

William H. Taft recommends that President Roosevelt send 6,000 troops to Cuba to aid in gaining control of the island. The troops will be useful in capturing stray insurgents who do not surrender after an agreement is reached.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-29

Letter from Maurice Latta to Theodore Roosevelt

Acting Secretary of War Latta relays a message from Secretary of War Taft that 6,000 troops will be sufficient to support operations in Cuba. The War Department has been trying to reach President Roosevelt and have not yet received a response.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-29

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft informs President Roosevelt that an agreement over what to do about the Cuban insurrection has been sent to the Revolutionary committee and has been signed. Tomás Estrada Palma is pleased with the United States’ proclamation as he believed no other solution was possible. However, total disarmament of the rebels without trouble occurring is unlikely.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-29

Telegram from Robert Bacon to Alvey A. Adee

Robert Bacon does not believe that the war in Cuba can be ended by a mutual agreement between the two parties. Secretary of War Taft would like to know Elihu Root’s opinion on how best to continue normal diplomatic relations between Cuba and the rest of the world. Bacon also asks Alvey A. Adee for his views on the situation and inquires what the situation was like under Spain.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-29

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt on the recent elections in Cuba which failed. Taft received a letter from Tomás Estrada Palma that he has already sent ahead to Roosevelt and he plans to announce the establishment of a United States military-led government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-29

Telegram from Robert Bacon to Alvey A. Adee

Robert Bacon informs Alvey A. Adee that the Assistant Secretary of State has already issued the instructions Adee detailed in his telegram and notified the diplomats and consuls in Cuba. Secretary of War Taft instructs Bacon to ask Adee to tell Quesada that he fervently hopes that Quesada will not resign, because his services to Cuba and the United States are crucial.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-30

Telegram listing numbers of ships and marines in Cuban waters

Lists numbers of ships and marines already in Cuban waters, en route to Cuba, or preparing to depart for Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-30

Telegram from William F. Fullam to Bureau of Navigation

William F. Fullam reports Cuban revolutionary forces have committed “gross outrages.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09

Letter from William Henry Beehler to Theodore Roosevelt

Captain Beehler sends a letter to Theodore Roosevelt confirming the receipt of a telegram wired on September 18, 1906, concerning the destruction of American property near Cienfuegos.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-19

Letter from James Franklin Bell to William Loeb

Brigadier-General Bell informs William Loeb that he disagrees with Theodore Roosevelt’s endorsement of Captain Parker for the mission to Cuba. While Bell agrees that Parker has many admirable traits, his professional defects heavily outweigh them, and he is “one of the last men in the Army he would voluntarily recommend” for the mission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-19

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte assures President Roosevelt that he is consulting with the Department of State regarding actions in Cuba. Bonaparte made transportation arrangements for Secretary of War Taft and Acting Secretary of State Bacon to travel to Havana by way of Key West, but they decided to go via Tampa instead. Bonaparte believes Taft should command the Navy in Cuban waters during an emergency and urges Roosevelt to send instructions to that effect. On another matter, Bonaparte encloses a letter from Philllips Lee Goldsborough inquiring whether he may serve as chairman of William H. Jackson’s congressional campaign. Bonaparte believes that allowing Goldsborough to do so would benefit Roosevelt politically. Having Jackson in Congress will offset losses elsewhere.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-18

Letter from Juan M. Ceballos to S. C. Neale

Juan M. Ceballos discusses the American intervention in Cuba. He believes forming a provisional government in Cuba with General Wood in charge would benefit everyone. Although the Cuban people generally do not like Americans, Ceballos believes propaganda and education could be used to change their minds.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-19

Translation and extracts from letters

Three translated letters express viewpoints of people in Cuba during the Second Occupation of Cuba by American military forces. One quotes a prominent Spanish individual expressing a desire for America to save the country. Another Cuban individual expresses disappointment in how his countrymen are acting compared to President Roosevelt and is appreciative of the graciousness America is showing Cuba. The final quote is from the owner of the Development Company of Cuba who is afraid that violence will continue to break out and affect the financial interests there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-19

Letter from Alvey A. Adee to William Loeb

Acting Secretary of State Adee sends a copy of a letter from S. C. Neale to William Loeb that Theodore Roosevelt may enjoy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-20

Letter from Alvey A. Adee to Theodore Roosevelt

Acting Secretary of State Adee encloses for President Roosevelt a copy of chargé d’affaires Jacob Sleeper’s report on political conditions in Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-20

Telegram from Robert Bacon to Elihu Root

Assistant Secretary of State Bacon writes to Secretary of State Root. Bacon will answer tomorrow about the arrival of the Dixie and other warships, likely delayed due to weather. Bacon asks Root for updates on ship movement as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-20