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Important dispatches have been received regarding the situation in Venezuela. European powers would accept arbitration at the Hague but Venezuela wants President Roosevelt to arbitrate. Roosevelt’s vacation does not need to be cut short. There are two copies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-21
John St. Loe Strachey understands President Roosevelt’s objections to arbitration in the Alaska boundary dispute but he supports arbitration especially in light of America’s demand for arbitration in the Venezuelan debt crisis. Strachey wants to avoid a quarrel with the United States but feels that he must support Canada in any conflict.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08-18
Secretary of State Hay spoke with British Ambassador Michael Henry Herbert regarding the blockade of Venezuela. He expressed President Roosevelt’s understanding of the honor the European powers showed to him by asking him to arbitrate the crisis. However, arbitration at the Hague is preferable. Hay expressed Roosevelt’s desire for a quick end to the blockade.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12
In this editorial in The Philadelphia Press, Charles Emory Smith notes that the proposal by England and Germany that President Roosevelt should arbitrate their dispute with Venezuela reflects the growing importance of the United States in the world community and should be seriously considered. It might be better that the United States not be an arbitrator of differences, but remain simply an adviser to the other nations of the Americas. However, if it becomes necessary that Roosevelt act, he will do so with strict justice and to the credit of the nation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-22
Charles Emory Smith editorializes that the European powers’ insistence on the United States arbritrating their dispute with Venezuela might be solved by having a United States Supreme Court justice serve as arbitrator. This would have the advantages of having American issues arbitrated by Americans (rather than Europeans, were the Hague Tribunal to be involved); keeping the judicial and executive actions of the United States separate; and allowing for succession to another justice if the negotiations were protracted beyond the term or life of the one named (succession being a concern if President Roosevelt were named).
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-24
Carl Schurz provides reasons why the United States should decline to arbitrate the Venezuelan crisis. He believes that the Hague tribunal is perfectly suited for the situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-23
Lynde Harrison encloses a copy of the Arbitration Treaty of 1897 and two copies of a statement which he prepared. One of the statements should be delivered to President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-08
Frederick William Holls recommends the appointment of James R. Sheffield as Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island, New York. Holls has been carefully monitoring the situation in Mexico and believes there may be a forthcoming treaty for obligatory arbitration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-07
President Roosevelt provides formal instructions through Secretary of State Hay to the American delegates that are attending the International Conference of the American States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-08
This document contains the text of the preamble and fifteen articles of the Anglo-American Arbitration Treaty, also known as the Olney-Pauncefote Treaty, which was ultimately rejected by the U.S. Senate and therefore never went into effect. The treaty states that the governments of the United States and Great Britain agree to submit to arbitration in all matters of difference between them that cannot be negotiated diplomatically. The documents details related to the arbitration process, and the treaty’s duration and ratification.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-01-11