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Céspedes y Quesada, Carlos Manuel de, 1871-1939

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Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft is sure his itinerary will allow him to go to Idaho as President Roosevelt wishes. He would arrive in late October after he finishes his speeches in Colorado. As for his current trip to Cuba, he thinks it should be shortened because Roosevelt’s letter to Cuban Representative Carlos Manuel de Cespedes y Quesada should have an immediate effect on the situation in Havana. Taft compares it to the way Benjamin Harrison dealt with the incident with the USS Baltimore in Chile, how it almost ended up in war, and how it was like the tale of the men running from the rain to the barn. Taft does not feel the same way; the quicker it is dealt with, the better.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-17

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft is preparing to board a train to travel to Havana and he is sending President Roosevelt several legal opinions regarding his options in issuing an executive order to establish a military government in Cuba. Taft reports that Roosevelt’s letter to Cuban Representative Carlos Manuel de Cespedes y Quesada polled strongly with the Cubans and Robert Bacon is carrying a copy of the president’s proclamation to arm the Cuban insurgents, though Taft thinks they should hold off in announcing it. Meanwhile, Joseph Bucklin Bishop is taking charge at the Isthmus and working on the president’s visit to the canal site. Taft admits he is not completely clear on the situation in Cuba but he knows who he is dealing with and every event will be met promptly. If they have to send in the army, he suggests putting Douglas MacArthur in charge and that he start recalling other staff officers. He knows this goes against the conventional thinking that MacArthur should serve as Chief of Staff to General James Franklin Bell, but this suggestion is only made against a remote possibility.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-16

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930