Arbitration, International

Benjamin Ide Wheeler, president of the University of California at Berkeley, recommends Professor Bernard Moses to President Roosevelt for a ministry position. Further contact with South America is inevitable, and Moses has expertise in South American language and affairs, as demonstrated in his book The Establishment of Spanish Rule in America. Wheeler also anticipates a visit from Alice Roosevelt, who is coming with Secretary of War William H. Taft and Taft’s family. He briefly discusses an upcoming struggle with Republican senators over foreign policy issues and arguments over railway rate control and the prospect of government ownership.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-23

Senator Platt shares his interpretation of the treaty ratification process and subsequent arbitration process as relates to the seal hunting treaty with Great Britain.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-25

Oscar S. Straus feels the treaty amendments proposed by the Committee on Foreign Relations makes a mockery of the efforts of international arbitration. He suggests it would be better to postpone ratification to a more favorable time than to implement the proposed changes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-10

Secretary of War Taft encloses his correspondence with Henry Cabot Lodge, in which the position of the Senate is “very strongly stated.” Lodge’s opposition would require that cases for arbitration be narrowly defined before entering into any general arbitration treaty. Lodge’s use of the South American treaties is unfair given the potential actions of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-11

Orville Hitchcock Platt agrees with President Roosevelt on the ratification of arbitration treaties by the Senate, but understands why even the “best and ablest men disagree” on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-16

The Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal reprints the foreword and three chapters (two, five, and nine) from Theodore Roosevelt’s 1915 work America and the World War. In the foreword, Roosevelt expounds on the need for preparedness and criticizes President Woodrow Wilson for not bolstering the nation’s defenses. In chapter two, “The Belgian Tragedy,” Roosevelt states that neutral Belgium was a victim of German aggression, and he warns that failing to arm leads to such violations of a nation’s neutrality. Roosevelt invokes his famous maxim of “speak softly and carry a big stick,” and he makes several references to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and their attitudes towards war and peace. Roosevelt says that international bodies and treaties that promote arbitration are worthless unless they are backed with the threat of force.

In chapter five, “How to Strive for World Peace,” Roosevelt stresses that nations either need to rely on themselves for their defense, or international bodies and treaties must have provisions so that violations of agreements and boundaries are punished by force. Roosevelt opens chapter nine, “Our Peacemaker, the Navy,” with a call to not extend a security guarantee to the Philippine Islands if the United States is committed to their independence. Roosevelt also argues that the navy needs to be used for offensive operations and not for coastal defense, and he excoriates the Wilson administration, especially Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, for not maintaining the readiness of the navy with regular training and maneuvers.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

President Roosevelt vents his frustration with the United States Senate in a letter to Senator Spooner of Wisconsin. Roosevelt concedes that the Senate has a right to amend treaties, but he believes that the amendments offered by the Senate in regard to a series of arbitration treaties are so drastic that they render the treaties worthless, and he admits that he may choose to withdraw them from consideration. On six occasions in the letter, Roosevelt pointedly claims that the Senate amendments will make the treaties “shams.”

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1905-01-06

A small card sent by the American Association for International Conciliation encouraging its members to write to the senators in their state and encourage them to ratify the Arbitration Treaties with England and France.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09

A Jewish Morning Journal editorial discusses the issue of Russia not allowing any Jews into the country even with American passports, and Theodore Roosevelt’s suggestion this be taken up in arbitration at the Hague. The author calls Roosevelt a friend of Jewish people, but questions if this is worth pursing since they believe Russia to be unreasonable and uncivilized, other officials have tried and failed to resolve this issue, and if the Hague were to side with Russia then the U.S. would be compelled to accept it without complaint.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-17

The author discusses Italy’s decision to intervene in Tripoli, comparing it to previous movements by countries to bring modern civilization into unruly places. If peace talks and international arbitration were able to control the world, Western civilization would not be what it is today.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-04

The major article of this issue of the Pacific Marine Review deals with the Anglo-Arbitration Treaty, with editor Harold B. Jayne arguing that there is not a great reason to tie the United States to Great Britain through an arbitration treaty, as it would provide few benefits. Other articles deal briefly with the development of the Canadian navy, and the Mexican revolution.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06

An article outlining the recent events of arbitration with Great Britain. The article commends President Taft for his work in creating peace with Britain, but criticizes Theodore Roosevelt for his hesitation. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-21

Henry E. Huck briefly outlines three options for implementing his Proclamation for countries to remove their unwanted populations. The plans include means of granting land concessions to the United States and England, reimbursements, possible forms of governance, and international arbitration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-03

Henry E. Huck argues that the world’s “discontented populations” show gross ingratitude by repaying their kind acceptance by the United States and England with constant provocations against each other. Such provocations will end in a global war. He proposes the two countries join forces through a court of arbitration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-03

Emperor William II assures President Roosevelt that everything Andrew Carnegie heard in London was “foul and filthy lies” to harm relations between Germany and the United States. He says that King Edward VII disapproves of the Hague Peace Conference, and fears that it will increase “friction.” Emperor William also disapproves of it, but insists that Germany is not building its naval strength with “aggressive tendencies.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907

The principle of arbitration in international relations is essentially a Christian one, and President Roosevelt and Secretary of State John Hay have succeeded in negotiating treaties with five countries under this principle. Certain senators, on the other hand, are working to undermine arbitration in the treaties. Christians are obligated to ensure the acceptance of the principle of arbitration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-18

One alleged reason Southern senators oppose the arbitration treaties between the United States and European governments is the worry that foreign holders of repudiated Southern bonds will try to have responsibility for those bonds transferred to the current southern states. The author feels that “senators who listen to counsels like this make themselves and their States ridiculous.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-06

Oscar S. Strauss, member of the International Arbitration Court at The Hague, believes the Senate’s changing of “agreement” to “treaty” defeats the purpose of the treaties and hopes President will withdraw treaties from further consideration if the amendment is not defeated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02

Charles Henry Butler, reporter of decisions of the Supreme Court, discusses the power of congress to give executive authority to submit disputes with foreign governments. In a handwritten note on the first page, President Roosevelt asks Secretary of State John Hay to review and return the memorandum. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-11

This memorandum describes how the United States and Germany would approve an arbitration agreement in their respective governments. While neither country is completely comfortable with a formal treaty or alliance, the United States hopes to send notes as a sign of informal friendliness in international relations. Should this approach prove impossible on Germany’s part, the United States will regroup. Instead, provisions may be made to the arbitration agreement of 1904. Additionally, the memorandum suggests a promissory note from the Hague convention of 1907 might arbitrate all their disagreements.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908