Blockade

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-20

Creator(s)

Hanrick, Ripley A. (Ripley Arnold), 1872-1953

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Cecil Spring Rice explains the political maneuvering he is witnessing in St. Petersburg. Germany has been seeking an alliance with Russia, much to France’s dismay. Germany and France are promising to help Russia defeat Japan. As Japan suffers under a blockade enforced by Russia, the United States and Britain will be unable to prove their support of Japan. Japan will have to acquiesce to Russian demands. Britain and the United States will be excluded from international negotiations and will find themselves increasingly isolated. Spring Rice writes that Kaiser Wilhelm has been working to create a good relationship with Emperor Nicholas II so as to be allowed more influence over Europe. The two rulers seem to be preparing to support each other in efforts to quell internal revolutions, too. Spring Rice disparages Ambassador McCormick’s abilities to be the representative of the United States in Russia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-07

Cipriano Castro, President of Venezuela, hides behind a large rock, hoping that the large claw-type animal trap labeled “Monroe Doctrine” he set will prove effective in preventing the British Lion, a cat labeled “Italy” with the face of Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy, and a boar labeled “Germany” with the face of William II, Emperor of Germany, from coming ashore to demand payment of international debts.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The immediate context of this cartoon is the blockade of Venezuelan ports announced by the principal creditor nations England, Germany, and Italy. President Cipriano Castro arrogantly ignored debts owed by the Caracas government and Venezuelan banks and companies; in February 1902 those powers declared a blockade as a first step to extract debt payments. An international arbitration court at the Hague was suggested by President Roosevelt as a venue to find a solution, but it decreed that as principal creditors, those three powers had a preferential claim. However other nations, including the United States, were also owed money. As the cartoon shows, the European states might have hesitated because of the Monroe Doctrine, but Roosevelt made that a moot point one year after this cartoon by establishing the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine: that in instances like this, the United States would act both as protector against foreign presence in the Western Hemisphere, and a manager to mediate, collect debts, etc., in disputes.

A British bulldog labeled “Commercial Interests” stands before a plate of food labeled “American Products.” He is looking across a small body of water at four cats labeled “France, Italy, Austria, [and] Germany” sitting on a fence labeled “Continental Jealousy” and flying a banner “Commercial Tariff Blockade.” The bulldog is chained to a dog house draped with British and American flags and a with a sign on the front that states “England Biggest Consumer of American Goods — [as per article in the] London Times.” Caption: There is no danger of a European combination while his appetite lasts.

comments and context

Comments and Context

This cartoon is an example of what has since been called the “special relationship” between the United States and Great Britain. High tariffs in America and England worked to mutual advantage. England’s commercial dominance in the world was long-standing, and its continental relations were set. To the United States, trade favors with England seemed satisfactory until the commercial appetites of the rest of the world became clear. A decade after this cartoon, President William Howard Taft sought to mend this situation by futilely proposing a series of reciprocal trade treaties.

President Roosevelt cannot answer Theodore Marburg ofhand, but believes it is Germany’s affair to feed the Belgians. The newspaper reports that the crops from Belgium and Northern France have been reaped and sent back to Germany, and are being used to feed the invading German armies. Under these conditions, Roosevelt believes Marburg’s proposal would amount to a proposal that the Allies should relieve the blockade “in order to enable Germany to more effectively to make war against them.” If that is the case, Roosevelt says it would be criminal for them to make that request, and for the allies to grant it. However, if there could be a guarantee from Germany that none of the food raised in Belgium would be used for German troops or sent back to Germany, importation could be allowed. Roosevelt sees many practical difficulties in making this effective, and he asks that Marburg keep this letter confidential.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-29

Admiral Glass recommends blockading Buenaventura and Tumaco in the event of hostilities with Colombia. The Colombian gunboat Bogota should be captured or destroyed. Each port could be closed with a single vessel and small vessels could patrol between San Miguel Bay and Tumaco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-14

Extract from an unknown work on the importance of international trade and how it can be disrupted through blockades and naval warfare.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-07

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12