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Philippe Bunau-Varilla urges President Roosevelt to meet again with Panama Canal Commission Chairman Theodore P. Shonts before his departure, in order to secure influence with the engineers of the canal to implement the ideas Roosevelt and Bunau-Varilla have discussed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-24
President Roosevelt shares in President of Colombia Reyes’s desire to “draw a veil over the past” between their countries and Panama, although he protests against Reyes’s suggestion that the United States wronged Colombia during the revolution there and subsequent secession of Panama. In fact, the United States made every effort to help Colombia in the matter, and Roosevelt pledges to help in any way now – but he is not sure what Reyes expects him to do. Panamanian matters are up to the people of Panama. Roosevelt also says that the Navy Department will not be able to make a proposed purchase from Colombia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-20
Theodore Roosevelt provides several corrections to William Roscoe Thayer’s article, “John Hay and the Panama Republic.” Roosevelt denies conspiring with Philippe Bunau-Varilla and defends his actions as Colombia could not be treated as a “responsible power.” Had there not been a revolt, Roosevelt was prepared to seize the isthmus by force. However, he took advantage of the situation and stopped the “bandits” from holding up a great project.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-07-02
If President Roosevelt had known about it in time, he would have advised against The Outlook publishing Philippe Bunau-Varilla’s article. Now he believes there is no reason at all why they should not publish it. Roosevelt is glad that The Outlook will publish his three lectures, and he will send the one about Leo Tolstoy soon. Perhaps he will send an article about the “Japanese question” to be published first.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-16
President Roosevelt draws Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission Shonts’s attention to enclosed letters from Philippe Bunau-Varilla and First Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis. Later, Roosevelt would like to speak to Shonts about Joseph Bucklin Bishop and Van Leer Polk.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-14
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Taft that by executive order, he is placing the supervision and direction of the Isthmian Canal Commission, including jurisdiction and function of the commission, under Taft’s direction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-18
President Roosevelt thanks John Bigelow for his statements regarding Roosevelt’s role with the Panama Canal. He agrees that Secretary of State John Hay and Philippe Bunau-Varilla should be commemorated in some way. Roosevelt would also like to recognize Marcus Alonzo Hanna.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-14
President Roosevelt cautions against adding amendments to the Panama treaty, as he does not want to endanger the treaty in any way. The treaty has almost everything the United States could want and the amendments only clear up a few doubtful points.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-20
President Roosevelt compliments Silas McBee’s editorial and was himself hesitant to mention the government’s activities related to the Panamanian revolution. There have been rumors that Philippe Bunau-Varilla advised the Panamanian revolutionaries of American intentions. However, Bunau-Varilla received no encouragement from Roosevelt or William H. Taft. Bunau-Varilla simply forecasted American interference based on previous actions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-06
President Roosevelt is pleased that John Bigelow approved of his Panama message. He defends Philippe Bunau-Varilla and his actions during the Panama treaty negotiations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-06
President Roosevelt approves of Senator Lodge’s speech. There continue to be rumors that Philippe Bunau-Varilla received assurances from the government during the Panamanian revolution. Roosevelt and Secretary of State Hay gave no such assurances or any sort of information. The article pointed out by Mr. Morgan shows that Bunau-Varilla successfully anticipated American actions many weeks before he ever met with Roosevelt or Hay, so Roosevelt is pleased the article has been made public. Bunau-Varilla surmised what would happen before any negotiations and even before Roosevelt had decided on his own course of action.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-06
President Roosevelt appreciates John Bassett Moore’s help with the message, which turned out “pretty satisfactory.” Roosevelt directs Moore to a remarkable Le Matin article where Philippe Bunau-Varilla closely forecasted American actions in the event of a revolution in Panama. The article appeared before Bunau-Varilla had met with any American officials and even before Roosevelt had formulated his own policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-06
Lawrence F. Abbott encloses a proof of President Roosevelt’s editorial article on Leo Tolstoy. The Outlook will print Roosevelt’s lectures at Sorbonne University, the University of Oxford, and Humboldt University of Berlin unless they hear from him otherwise. While Abbott originally had no qualms about printing Philippe Bunau-Varilla’s article on the Panama Canal, he would rather suppress it now than to print something that would be personally offensive to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-15
Lawrence F. Abbott, president and publisher of The Outlook, asks President Roosevelt if he would write an editorial in support of the lock canal plan used at the Panama Canal to be run alongside an article by Philippe Bunau-Varilla criticizing the lock type. Abbott argues that no one but Roosevelt will have greater influence in persuading people not to worry about the canal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-09
Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission Bishop thanks President Roosevelt for his constant support, and says that if Roosevelt is satisfied with his work, then he does not mind criticism from other parties. Work on the Panama Canal is proceeding smoothly and at a faster pace than was initially thought possible, for which he gives credit to Chairman and Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission George W. Goethals. Bishop blames irresponsible reporting for reopening an argument about whether a canal with locks or a sea level canal is better, but believes the upcoming visit by President-Elect William H. Taft should help settle the debate. Bishop approves of Roosevelt’s denunciations of journalists William MacKay Laffand and Joseph Pulitzer, and says that it is important to fight against “lying and debased journalism.” Bishop’s wife, Harriet Hartwell Bishop, appreciates being remembered by Roosevelt, and he praises her strength in remaining sanguine during their long residency away from the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
Panamanian president Tomás Arias announces the separation of Panama from Colombia and the creation of their own independent nation. The “pacific” nature of the people and the open, honest government both contributed to this end result. There is hope that the Panama Canal and Panama’s relationship with the United States will bring happiness and abundance to the nation, still reeling from the “demoralization caused by the last war.” The Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty signed November 2 will help ensure this new time of peace and rebuilding. Self governance must be done with the good of the entire community in mind and a unity of purpose, as the intolerance of old will lead to ruin. The report writer recounts internal disagreements around the last election and the detention of Colombian, Cuban, Mexican, and Nicaraguan officials who were working against this new unity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-23
Theodore P. Shonts discusses a previous letter regarding Philippe Bunau-Varilla and the Isthmian Canal Commission and quotes Colonel Ernst.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-04
Theodore P. Shonts agrees with the opinions of Colonel Ernst on Philippe Bunau-Varilla’s views on the Isthmian Canal Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-03
Minister Barrett counteracts the Democrats’ accusations that President Roosevelt acted too hastily in the creation of the Panama Canal and had not honored the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty. He demonstrates how a small discontented group in Panama caused unrest by not fully understanding the implications of the Treaty and now all are grateful for Roosevelt’s actions and leadership.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-06
John Barrett has submitted a copy of the letter that Philippe Bunau-Varilla wrote to Secretary of State Hay to the Panama Minister of Foreign Affairs and has also let it be known that the United States is ready to negotiate for the protection of revenues and trade. This letter “absolves the United States Government from blame for alleged arbitrary interpretation of the treaty.” Barrett has heard a rumor that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has found the original Bunau-Varilla letter and the reply from the Junta in his archives.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-20