Aoki, Shūzō, 1844-1914 | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt discusses with Secretary of State Root his anxiety over rising Japanese immigration into the United States. In a meeting with Shūzō Aoki and Admiral Gonnohyōe Yamamoto, Roosevelt insisted on the nation’s right to restrict the immigration of Japanese laborers, but he was not sure he convinced Yamamoto. The navy’s planned cruise around the world should have a pacific effect in the relationship with Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

President Roosevelt was impressed with what John St. Loe Strachey had to say about Berlin and Paris and discusses his thoughts on the war scare between England and Germany two years prior. He tells Strachey that there are those who object to “keeping up the Navy” while also persuading him to come to terms with Japan, which he sees as “inviting trouble” and refusing to prepare if conflict with Japan became a reality. Roosevelt believes that the United States will have to adopt a similar policy on Japanese immigration as Australia but is confused as to why a country with a much smaller population and birth-rate adopted such a policy so soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-22

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

John Callan O’Laughlin informs President Roosevelt that the Japanese government has had a change of heart regarding the agreement between the United States and Japan which was proposed last fall. They would now like to enter into the agreement, which would give assurances that the Japanese would honor United States sovereignty over its Pacific possessions. Regarding a treaty that will end in 1912, O’Laughlin notes that the Japanese would like revisions regarding Japanese immigration to the United States. The Japanese are also thinking about annexing Korea.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-11

Telegram from John Callan O’Laughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

John Callan O’Laughlin reports that Japanese Ambassador Kogoro Takahira has been instructed to revive Foreign Minister Shūzō Aoki’s proposal. Aoki desires to return as a special ambassador to negotiate. O’Laughlin doubts this will be done.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-14

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

John Callan O’Laughlin reports that the Aoki agreement which Japan wishes to enter into with the United States declares the Pacific Ocean an “international highway” and disavows Japan’s designs on the Philippines. O’Laughlin relays to President Roosevelt a conversation he had with Japanese Premier Tarō Katsura. In the conversation, they reviewed the history of relations between the United States and Japan. Katsura assured O’Laughlin of his respect for Roosevelt and the United States, and the desire that Japan and the United States remain friendly. Despite reports from Europe, Katsura denies that Japan is preparing for war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-20

Letter from Kentarō Kaneko to Theodore Roosevelt

Baron Kaneko reaffirms his delight that President Roosevelt has recommended the United States to be part of the Japanese exhibition. Kaneko may come to the United States again for exhibition affairs, as he has been invited.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-06

Letter from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of State Root encloses an invitation for the United States to participate in the proposed national exposition to be held in Tokyo in 1912. Root recommends Congress accept the invitation and begin appropriating money at once, recalling that the four and a half years the United States had to prepare for the French Exposition in 1900 had only barely been enough time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-11

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

John Callan O’Laughlin, of the Chicago Tribune, describes an interview he had with the Japanese Ambassador Shūzō Aoki to President Roosevelt. Aoki said the Japanese government declined to exchange assurances with the United States about the situation in the Pacific unless the question of allowing Japanese workers into Hawaii and the United States mainland were settled at the same time. This attitude caused Aoki to consider resigning, but O’Laughlin urged Aoki not to resign and suggested that perhaps by refusing to negotiate, Hayashi wanted to restore Japanese prestige after the Great White Fleet was sent to the Pacific. O’Laughlin tells Roosevelt that it is obvious sending the Great White Fleet to the Pacific was the right thing to do, but asks why Japan would make assurances to France, Russia, and Germany that are not dependent on allowing the immigration and naturalization of Japanese workers, while assurances to the United States would require such an agreement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-04

Telegram from William H. Taft to Frank McIntyre

Secretary of War Taft instructs Frank McIntyre to direct the message in his telegram regarding his visit in Japan to Secretary of State Elihu Root if he is in town, otherwise to President Roosevelt. Taft has met with many Japanese politicians and officials, and discussed many topics of interest to both nations, primarily concerning Japanese immigration to the United States. Taft does not think it is wise to pursue a treaty including reciprocal exclusion at this time, and wishes to inform Roosevelt so that he can persuade members of congress from California to accept the current status quo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-18

Letter from Alvey A. Adee to Theodore Roosevelt

Assistant Secretary of State Adee sends President Roosevelt a message from Japanese Ambassador Shūzō Aoki, noting that the ambassador wanted to avoid “the formality” of sending the communication through official channels. Adee discusses his interpretation of the treaty of 1894 as it pertains to laborers to present his opinion about the letter from Aoki.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-31

Memoranda from Huntington Wilson to Robert Bacon

Assistant Secretary of State Wilson sends three memoranda to Acting Secretary of State Robert Bacon. In the first, Wilson gives a brief curriculum vitae of Japanese diplomat Admiral Gonnohyōe Yamamoto, indicating he is considered an “elder statesman” in Japan and likely to be the next prime minister. In the second memorandum, Wilson describes Japanese public opinion and press coverage of the immigration situation in the United States, particularly in San Francisco. The third memorandum describes complaints sent by the Chambers of Commerce of Japan to the “principal” Chambers of Commerce of the United States regarding the treatment of Japanese immigrants.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-06

Letter from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of State Elihu Root encloses a letter from Japanese Ambassador Shūzō Aoki, telling President Roosevelt that it is proof that the conflict between Japanese interests and San Francisco is proceeding as an ordinary diplomatic issue, and that newspapermen are creating more drama than there is to enhance sales.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-07

Memorandum regarding Baron Kaneko

This memorandum describes a letter received from Baron Kaneko regarding gifts from Japanese ambassador Shūzō Aoki to President Roosevelt and Edith Roosevelt. The letter was forwarded by the President to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. No record that an acknowledgement was sent to Kaneko can be found.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04

Presidential Snapshot (#37): Excerpt of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

In a letter to Secretary of State Root, President Roosevelt expresses his concern over relations with Japan, specifically the need to check Japanese immigration. Roosevelt vents his frustration with members of the United States Senate who do not appreciate the need to build up the navy and treat the Japanese with respect. Roosevelt cites the need to send the navy’s battleship fleet on a worldwide cruise, and he provides details of his meeting with members of the Japanese diplomatic corps.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1907-07-13

Presidential snapshot (#23): Excerpt of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

President Roosevelt tells John St. Loe Strachey that he believes loose talk and misunderstanding the intentions of each nation almost led to war between England and Germany in 1905. Roosevelt contends that both England and the United States do not suffer from a lust for war, but from a shortsightedness in preparing for it, and he cites Congressman Samuel W. McCall as an example of someone who is both belligerent and critical of armaments. Roosevelt also notes that he is still trying to find a solution to the issue of Japanese immigration to the United States. The letter features Roosevelt’s use of his simplified spelling style.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1907-02-22