Your TR Source
John A. Herman writes Theodore Roosevelt in response to reading Roosevelt’s introduction to H. J. Mozans book Along the Andes and Down the Amazon (Following the Conquistadores). Herman has travelled in South and Central America in a parallel journey to Mozans. Not all men agree with Mozans’s conclusions, so Herman appreciates Roosevelt’s approval.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-16
President Roosevelt informs the Diplomatic and Consular Representatives of the United States that Frederick Palmer, a journalist from the Chicago Tribune, will be traveling through Central America, and asks that they give him all proper assistance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-10
President Roosevelt asks Isthmian Canal Commission Chairman Shonts if he has looked into the issue regarding the Central and South America Telegraph Company raised in James Alexander Scrymser’s recent letter. Roosevelt thinks that Scrymser may be just, but he is not familiar enough with the situation to be certain.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-22
President Roosevelt asks the Diplomatic and Consular Representatives of the US in South and Central America to extend Rev. Dr. Francis E. Clark “any proper official courtesy” during his goodwill trip to the region.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-09
William Loeb forwards Dr. Francis E. Clark the “letter of introduction to our diplomatic and consular representatives in Central and South America,” as per Clark’s request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-09
Acting Secretary of State Adee informs President Roosevelt that the five Central American envoys have signed the agreed protocol for the settlement of Central American questions. The envoys have asked Adee to thank the president for bringing them together, and they hope to reach a lasting agreement between what difficulties may or may not exist in Central America.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-17
Second Assistant Secretary of State Alvey A. Adee informs President Roosevelt more fully about the meeting of the Central American ministers in Washington, D.C. All five ministers agreed to holding a conference overseen by Roosevelt and Mexican president Porfirio Díaz in Washington, D.C., to discuss any disputes between the countries. Adee informs Roosevelt that he and Díaz should consult about the wording of the invitation to make sure that both parties follow the same course.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-12
President Roosevelt informs Mexican President Porfirio Díaz that he has received Díaz’s telegram and is open to soliciting the opinion of the other Central America foreign ministers regarding the site of the proposed conference. Nonetheless, Roosevelt still prefers to hold the conference in Mexico. The president also asks for Díaz’s opinion on the draft of a message.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-12
Second Assistant Secretary of State Adee informs President Roosevelt that he and Mexican Charge José F. Godoy, along with five Central American ministers, had developed a protocol for a conference in Washington, D.C., in November 1907. Roosevelt and Mexican president Porfirio Díaz would extend the invitation, and one or both would arbitrate over any disputes that arise in the coming months. Adee will send more details tomorrow.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
Second Assistant Secretary of State Adee received William Loeb’s letter regarding the Central American conference. Diplomats Joaquín Bernardo Calvo Mora of Costa Rica and José F. Godoy of Mexico have suggested to Adee that a protocol fixing the location and preventing demonstrations be signed. Adee discusses support for potential locations and dates. He feels they should follow the recommendation of Mexican president Porfirio Díaz and express Nicaragua’s proposal of Mexico as a location.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-04
President Dávila of Honduras gladly accepts President Roosevelt’s offer to participate in peace settlements with neighboring Central American republics. Honduras has remained, and will remain, neutral.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-30
President of El Salvador Figueroa appreciates President Roosevelt’s telegram and will cooperate in peace settlements with other Central American republics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
Ambassador David E. Thompson shares details of his meeting with Mexican President Porfirio Diaz concerning the political upheaval in Central America. Diaz would welcome any assistance that Roosevelt could provide him if the situation was to worsen but maintains that he would have to seek consent from the Mexican Congress and his people if he were to consider armed intervention. The opinion of both Diaz and Minister Ignacio Mariscal was to let the Central American states “fight for a little” then escort them to a peaceful resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-07
American Minister to the Dominican Republic McCreery informs Secretary of State Root that Mexican President Porfirio Díaz has called on the presidents of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica to act in accordance with the United States and Mexico on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-12
James Alexander Scrymser reviews recent developments between various telecommunication interests in South America and asks that the State Department work for the extension of rights of the English Cable Company in South America.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-12
William Emlen Roosevelt encloses a copy of a letter from James Alexander Scrymser to Secretary of State John Hay. He does not believe the American government should subsidize foreign cables, but it is important to sustain communication with Central and South America.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-12
President Roosevelt, dressed as a firefighter, drives away as a house labeled “Central America” catches on fire labeled “war.”
Students of times subsequent to this cartoon might not be aware of the conflicts that were called the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Central American Wars. It was not a mere stereotype but fact that countries of that region were frequent adversaries, frequently invading each other, frequently employing members of local groups with shifting loyalties, frequently making, and breaking, the peace. From Mexico and also into South America, the numbers of governments and leaders through the decades were numerous. The numerous revolts and declarations of independence of the region of Panama against Colombia is, today, a forgotten but plausible justification dealing with rebel leaders prior to arranging for construction of the Panama Canal.
Transcription of a manuscript written by Theodore Roosevelt where he defends American involvement in the affairs of Central and South America. He mentions Panama, Cuba and San Domingo. A number of words are left out of the transcription. The exact date of this item is not known except that he wrote it after his presidency, possibly right before his trip to South America.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1913
Uncle Sam, as Santa Claus with his bag of toys, hands a bag of money labeled “$10,000,000” to a little boy wearing a hat labeled “Panama” and holding a huge ship, some books, one labeled “Ledger,” and towing a model train. A railing on the right divides the space into an area with a Christmas tree and an area without. Hanging on the railing, looking in, are five boys labeled “Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, [and] San Domingo” who are depressed and possibly angered that Santa Claus/Uncle Sam has nothing for them.
Only a month before this cartoon was drawn, on November 18, 1903, the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty was ratified between the United States and the very new Republic of Panama. It followed the declaration of Panama’s independence from Colombia in such short time that Secretary of State John Hay proposed and signed the treaty with Panama’s appointed representative, Philippe Bunau-Varilla in a New York hotel room; the “Minister” had not yet been to Panama.
Uncle Sam, taking a break from digging, leans on a shovel while speaking to a diminutive man wearing two handguns and a knife, and a sombrero labeled “Central America.” In the background is a sign that states “Panama Canal Route.” Caption: Uncle Sam — Now, young man, while I’m digging here, I’d like a long period of depression in the Revolution Business.
This cartoon was drawn immediately upon the signing of the Hay–Herrán Treaty that ceded rights to United States to build a canal through Colombia. (The signatories were John Hay, United States Secretary of State; and Tomás Herrán, Colombian chargé d’affaires.) The treaty was signed on March 14, 1903, and this issue of Puck is dated March 25.