Arbitration, International

Letter from Henry White to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry White spoke with Prime Minister Arthur James Balfour and Balfour expects his new cabinet to be excellent. White encloses Balfour’s famous Economic Notes on Insular Free Trade. The Alaska Tribunal is going well and a satisfactory decision appears to be on the way. Even Senator Lodge, who was previously doubtful of a decision, is hopeful. White and Ambassador Joseph Hodges Choate have provided letters of introduction to General Ian Hamilton, Baron Ribblesdale, and John Poynder. Original and typewritten copy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-19

Creator(s)

White, Henry, 1850-1927

Letter from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Root returns Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s letter and agrees with his views on the length of the upcoming Alaskan Boundary Tribunal. After speaking with Colonel T. W. Symons, Root believes that the White House picnic incident is being misrepresented in the press. Due to some confusion, Symons had to revoke a permit he had given for a picnic on the grounds.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-19

Creator(s)

Root, Elihu, 1845-1937

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge has been meeting with British leaders before the beginning of the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal and they are in favor of a quick, amicable settlement. The Canadians will be more difficult and the British fear offending their sensibilities. Lodge believes the American case is strong and that the tribunal could conclude by the end of October. He has been pleased with President Roosevelt’s high standing in the United Kingdom.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-01

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Telegram from Wayne MacVeagh and Joseph Hodges Choate to John Hay

Joseph Hodges Choate and Wayne MacVeagh recommend further negotiations regarding the Hague protocol and appointment of arbitrators in response to the Venezuela crisis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-13

Creator(s)

MacVeagh, Wayne, 1833-1917; Choate, Joseph Hodges, 1832-1917

Letter from Frederick William Holls to Theodore Roosevelt

Frederick William Holls argues against joining Great Britain and Japan in their opposition to the Russian annexation of Manchuria. He believes that friendship with Russia is very important and that Russian and American interests do not seriously conflict. Holls will be unable to serve as an “umpire” to arbitrate claims by Germany and Italy against Venezuela. He has other commitments that will prevent him from leaving the country during the summer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-09

Creator(s)

Holls, Frederick William, 1857-1903

Letter from W. A. F. Gevers to John Hay

W. A. F. Gevers has passed on to his government President Roosevelt’s agreement to select the umpire provided for in the protocol between the Netherlands and Venezuela. Gevers also transmits Queen Wilhelmina’s gratitude for Roosevelt’s help.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-03

Creator(s)

Gevers, W. A. F.

Letter from Francis B. Loomis to William Loeb

Assistant Secretary of State Loomis encloses a note from W. A. F. Gevers, Minister of the Netherlands, regarding Queen Wilhelmina’s gratitude towards President Roosevelt for agreeing to select an umpire in the settlement between Venezuela and the Netherlands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-06

Creator(s)

Loomis, Francis B. (Francis Butler), 1861-1948

Letter from John Hay to William Loeb

Secretary of State Hay encloses documents from Dr. Lima, President of the Peace League of Portugal, congratulating President Roosevelt for the arbitration between Venezuela and the Allied Powers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-26

Creator(s)

Hay, John, 1838-1905

Letter from John Hay to Theodore Roosevelt

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands has requested that President Roosevelt appear as an arbiter for the settlement of claims between the Netherlands and Venezuela. Secretary of State Hay sees no reason why Roosevelt should not accept.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-28

Creator(s)

Hay, John, 1838-1905

Letter from John Hay to Michael Henry Herbert

John Hay reports that President Roosevelt refuses to arbitrate the Venezuelan crisis and suggests the preferred method of arbitration is the high court of the Hague.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-06

Creator(s)

Hay, John, 1838-1905

Letter from Frederick William Holls to Theodore Roosevelt

Frederick William Holls is concerned about the Alaskan boundary agreement and insists that under international law the agreement constitutes an attempt at arbitration. Holls fears the political effects of the treaty and would like to discuss the issue further with President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-02

Creator(s)

Holls, Frederick William, 1857-1903

Letter from S. de Magalhães Lima

President Lima requests that his appreciation be forwarded to President Roosevelt for his part in negotiating an agreement to end the Anglo-German blockade.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-01

Creator(s)

Lima, S. de Magalhães (Sebastião de Magalhães), 1850-1928

Letter from Charles Emory Smith to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Emory Smith discusses a couple of options in the Venezuelan crisis. One suggests that President Roosevelt handles the arbitration. Smith is not altogether opposed to this idea, but prefers the suggestion that Roosevelt appoint a Supreme Court justice to handle the arbitration. This idea would not unduly encumber Roosevelt, but would have his authority behind it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-24

Creator(s)

Smith, Charles Emory, 1842-1908

Telegram from Orville Hitchcock Platt to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Platt does not object to President Roosevelt arbitrating the Venezuelan crisis if there is no other answer to the situation. While he fears setting a precedent, Platt believes that U.S. involvement is better than a precedent that allows nations to collect demands by force.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-25

Creator(s)

Platt, Orville Hitchcock, 1827-1905

Letter from Paul-Henri-Benjamin Balluet, baron d’Estournelles de Constant to Theodore Roosevelt

Deputy Estournelles de Constant thanks President Roosevelt for supporting the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague, likely in reference to the Venezuelan crisis. He also points out that Europe has been reluctant in this area to resort to international justice. Original and English translation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-27

Creator(s)

Estournelles de Constant, Paul-Henri-Benjamin Balluet, baron d', 1852-1924

Letter from John C. Shaffer to Theodore Roosevelt

John C. Shaffer congratulates President Roosevelt on the Venezuelan crisis being submitted to the Hague Tribunal. While the Europeans thought that the idea of the tribunal was dead, Roosevelt made it work. Secretary of State Hay’s handling of Peking and Venezuela make him the premier diplomat in the world. Shaffer hopes to meet with Roosevelt on an upcoming visit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-29

Creator(s)

Shaffer, John C. (John Charles), 1853-1943

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid thanks President Roosevelt for an autographed portrait and congratulates him on the arbitration of the Venezuelan crisis. He states that he agrees with the statement of Andrew Carnegie regarding Roosevelt as a great man as the world took a great step that the U.S. led.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-30

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from Robert B. Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Robert Roosevelt congratulates President Roosevelt from escaping arbitrating the Venezuelan crisis. He believes that doing so helped the nation’s reputation. He wishes the Roosevelts a merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Robert Barnwell, 1829-1906

Letter from Carl Schurz to Theodore Roosevelt

Carl Schurz advises President Roosevelt not to accept the position of arbitrator of the Venezuelan crisis. Rather, he suggests that this would be an ideal case to submit to the Hague Tribunal, and that not to do so would set back organized international arbitration significantly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-23

Creator(s)

Schurz, Carl, 1829-1906

Letter from Albert Shaw to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert Shaw sends an article he wrote entitled “The President and the Trusts” and believes that arbitrating the Venezuelan crisis at the Hague will be “a great triumph of American statesmanship.” Shaw wishes President Roosevelt a merry Christmas, but adds that Butler’s wife is very ill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-23

Creator(s)

Shaw, Albert, 1857-1947