China--Manchuria

President Roosevelt complains about Russian “mendacity” and their underhanded efforts to prevent China from recognizing the open-door policy owed to the United States. Roosevelt also hopes for Northern support for Judge Thomas Goode Jones, whose “peonage decisions” in favor of African Americans have angered a large segment of the white South that seeks to reintroduce “serfage or slavery.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is having problems with Russia over the “Manchurian business.” The United States is willing to recognize Russia’s political interests in Manchuria but expects no interruption of American trade in the region. Roosevelt believes that Russia is underhandedly influencing China in opposition to American interests.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt comments that Secretary of State Hay has had problems with Cuba and Manchuria. Although he has nothing specific to say about Manchuria, Roosevelt wonders if it is possible to delicately make the Cubans understand that the United States needs to possess the coaling stations, and that Cuba is setting itself up for “grave trouble in the future” if it does not give them up.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt suggests that Governor Taft make his return to the Philippines overland through Russia and Manchuria.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

An excerpt from a letter from President Roosevelt to George Otto Trevelyan is used to establish the date Roosevelt began his efforts to end the Russo-Japanese War. In the letter, Roosevelt tells Trevelyan he advised the Russian government to make peace six weeks before, telling them the Russian navy could not defeat the Japanese.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-06

Creator(s)

Fitz-Hugh, Carter H. (Carter Harrison), 1861-1932

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

A. T. Mahan acknowledges the receipt of Theodore Roosevelt’s recent letter, and states he found it engrossing. Mahan recently read John Hay’s letters on the question of the Alaskan boundary, and discusses the nature of government as well as the question of Asian immigrants. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-19

Creator(s)

Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer), 1840-1914

President Taft appreciates Theodore Roosevelt’s letter regarding the “diplomatic questions” with Japan. He agrees that action should not be taken in Manchuria that would be considered hostile by the Japanese but American rights under the open door policy should not be abandoned. The Japanese find parts of the new treaty discriminative and reflective of the “old order.” Original and copy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-17

Creator(s)

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

Senator Lodge discusses a number of topics regarding the late Secretary of State John Hay. Lodge bemoans the editing of a publication of Hay’s letters, claiming that Hay was “one of the best if not the best letter writer of his time,” but the publication does not do him justice. He reminisces on the many men of letters he has known in his life, and believes that Hay was the most “brilliant, humorous, sympathetic, [and] witty” among them. Lodge holds more criticism for Hay in his role as a secretary of state, discussing how Hay bungled multiple treaties, took credit for accomplishments that were not his own, and formed poor relations with the Senate. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-14

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Secretary of State Root records an interview he conducted with Special Envoy Tang Shaoyi of China. Much of what was discussed involved the indemnity payments that China had been forced to pay following the Boxer Rebellion, and the return of these payments by the United States to China to be used for educational purposes. Additional subjects include adjustments to the tariff, the situation in Manchuria, and the Chinese Eastern Railway.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-09

Creator(s)

Root, Elihu, 1845-1937

John Callan O’Laughlin reports to President Roosevelt on his recently-finished trip to Japan. In particular, he recounted conversations with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Komura Jutarō and Russian military attache W. K. Samoiloff. Japan intends to declare Manchuria a “zone of special interest.” O’Laughlin’s overall impression is that, while Roosevelt’s and Secretary of State Elihu Root’s efforts to improve relations with Japan have helped, Japan, and not China, represents the United States’s biggest problems in the region. O’Laughlin summarizes twelve conclusions from his trip about the current state of international relations with Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-20

Creator(s)

O'Laughlin, John Callan, 1873-1949

John Callan O’Laughlin recounts his conversation with Jutarō Komura, the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs. Komura assured O’Laughlin of Japan’s commitment to the Open Door in China, although its relations with Russia mean that they have interests in Manchuria. Komura also says that Japan has been discouraging immigration to Hawaii and the United States, although the country would like to be treated as an equal with other nations by the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-21

Creator(s)

O'Laughlin, John Callan, 1873-1949

German Ambassador Sternburg shares information gathered by a German military attaché in Japan with President Roosevelt. Japan has been improving her army and navy in order to defend recent gains in war against Russia and maintain her possessions on the mainland, rather than in preparation for renewed aggression in the short term. The attaché suggests, however, that Japan expects another war with Russia in the next five to ten years. This informant maintains that Japan could not conduct aggressive actions in the near future without substantial “sacrifice of blood and money.” A war with the United States would mean the loss of important trade. If Japan had wanted to go to war over the treatment of Japanese immigrants in the United States, she would have aroused public sentiment to that end in the press, but has not done so. That said, it would be a mistake to believe the Japanese have not been deeply offended by events in California, and could turn public opinion to war in the coming years. The informant concludes that while Japan is not on an immediate footing for war with the United States, it is a concern for the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-29

Creator(s)

Sternburg, Hermann Speck von, Freiherr, 1852-1908

Journalist John Callan O’Laughlin relates the “current diplomatic opinion” of Russia, Japan, and Brazil to William Loeb. O’Laughlin says a Russian military attaché, Colonel N. N. Raspopoff, told him he has heard that Japan is preparing for war, and Russia is preparing diplomatic policies with this in mind. Raspopoff does not feel Japan has the money for a war against the United States, and has more to gain from focusing on Korea and Manchuria. In Brazil, war between Japan and the United States is seen as inevitable, and Brazil wishes to support the United States and open her ports to the United States fleet on the way to the Pacific. A friend of O’Laughlin’s who is close with people at the Japanese embassy tells him Japan does not want war. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-07

Creator(s)

O'Laughlin, John Callan, 1873-1949

Ambassador Meyer is reporting to President Roosevelt the state of affairs in Russia after having found St. Petersburg quiet. Meyer traveled throughout Russia, Poland, and the Ukraine. The letter examines the situations in many different cities and other topics including removing Jews from Russia, revolution and revolutionaries’ tactics, a pheasant shoot, military escorts, history, travel, and Russian construction quality.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-28

Creator(s)

Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-1918

Ambassador to Japan Wright informs President Roosevelt about his visit with Emperor Meiji. Wright reports that he followed Roosevelt’s suggestions when presenting his letter of credence, that the emperor asked about Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s health, and that the emperor counts an autographed photo Roosevelt gave him as one of his prized possessions. Wright believes Japan will act in good faith regarding the “open door” policy in Manchuria, but it is taking time because the Japanese military governors in the territory do not want to be replaced by civil administrators and the Russians are moving slowly in removing their troops from the region. Wright says that Japan was strained by the war, and wants to maintain goodwill with the world powers, especially the United States. Wright also wishes power to Roosevelt as he busts trusts at home, noting that American citizens are increasingly tired of political machines in both parties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-07

Creator(s)

Wright, Luke E. (Luke Edward), 1846-1922

Ambassador Meyer writes to President Roosevelt comparing the situation in Russia to events in France during the French Revolution. Meyer goes into detail about the current political crisis in Russia, mentioning the need for reform, the need for improved conditions for the military, and the public opinion of the czar. Meyer describes the shutting down of newspaper offices, the imprisonment of editors, and strikes that could take place. He suggests that an American military attache could be of great help to him, as communication and media in St. Petersburg are not reliable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-20

Creator(s)

Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-1918

With peace talks soon beginning for the Russo-Japanese War, the Progressive Party issues its views with regards to terms for peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-18

Creator(s)

Progressive Party

Assistant Secretary of State Forster writes to William Loeb about a message Forster received from U.S. Minister to China William Woodville Rockhill. The Chinese Emperor urges the United States to continue its work to bring peace between Japan and Russia, and to respect China’s territorial rights in any settlement. Rockhill has urged the Chinese government not to seek representation in the peace negotiations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-05

Creator(s)

Forster, Rudolph, 1872-1943

The war in Manchuria has reached a stalemate with Japanese forces slowed by poor roads and the Russians fortifying along the Tumen River. The Japanese have won a great naval victory at the Battle of the Sea of Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-02

Creator(s)

United States. Office of Naval Intelligence