China

The minister at the Legation of Peking recommends that his infantry guard be replaced by Marines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-24

Ambassador Lay explains that the Chinese boycott of American goods has not affected the American oil industry. He describes threats to those who continue buying American goods or working for American businesses, their violation of the treaty, and the possible dangers to American missionaries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-24

Ambassador Tower relays the telegraphed response of the German Emperor to President Roosevelt’s letter. The Emperor is in full agreement with the President with respect to peace between Russia and Japan. The Emperor had thought that England and France might work against Roosevelt because French foreign minister Théophile Delcassé had a separate plan for peace that would indemnify not only Russia and Japan with Chinese lands, but also Britain and France as the price of their intervention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-13

Alvey A. Adee sends to Benjamin F. Barnes a note from the Chinese Minister for President Roosevelt to review. The Chinese government will not recognize as valid any provision affecting China, without previous approval, that may be contained in a peace treaty between Japan and Russia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-17

United States citizens living in China request that the treaty between China and the United States freely admit merchants, travelers, and students from China, and that the treaty’s enforcement will be just and fair. Graybill explains that from a business perspective China is destined to become a large consumer of products supplied by the United States. The United States has an unprecedented opportunity to lead China educationally. A “friendly understanding” between the two countries is important to the preservation of world peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-17

The United States Consul General in Canton strongly advises against a boycott of American goods to China, explaining that the boycott will raise prices of goods for consumers in China. He further explains that the boycott will adversely affect merchants in the United States who have been friendly toward Chinese interests.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

William Woodville Rockhill acknowledges receipt of a telegram from Herbert H. D. Peirce indicating that the United States will do all it can to preserve the territorial integrity of China during the peace negotiations between Japan and Russia. Rockhill believes the Chinese Government is apprehensive that Japan may seek to secure the reversion of concessions made to Russia of rights in Manchuria. Rockhill also encloses the translation of a despatch sent to him by Yikuang of the Chinese foreign ministry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-08

Ambassador Rockhill will be delighted to host Alice Roosevelt in Peking, China, and will do everything possible to make her and Mabel Boardman’s visit a comfortable one. Rockhill denies reports that he was unfriendly to American missionaries, and he also responds to Roosevelt’s fears that an overwhelming Japanese victory in the Russo-Japanese War might upset the balance of power in the East. Rockhill notes that Japan has a strong influence on China, but he considers it unlikely that the Chinese will become “mere followers” of Japan as they have become strong believers in “China for the Chinese.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-07

This circular discusses methods to modify the “stringent restrictions placed against our [Chinese] admittance to the United States.” The preferred method is a complete boycott of American goods. The authors have formed an association of large merchants and guilds and are having a pamphlet printed for circulation detailing the “unfair and unjust treatment our countrymen have received at the hands of the Americans” and “calling upon one and all to join the general boycott.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-05

Senator Lodge tells President Roosevelt that while he was in Paris, Leopold II, King of the Belgians, invited Lodge to lunch in Brussels. They briefly discussed the Congo, and then had an in-depth discussion about the Chinese building a railroad and Chinese politics. Lodge hopes he correctly understood Roosevelt’s position on these issues, and he gives a lot of weight to the opinions of U.S. Ambassador to China, Rockhill. Lodge thinks the King of the Belgians is a shrewd, able, businessman who is doing good economic work for the people of Belgium. Lodge then spoke about people known to both men who were also in Brussels.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-06

Ambassador Rockhill informs the Secretary of State that the Emperor of China has decided not to send a representative to the United States to guarantee the interests of China are not ignored in the Russo-Japanese War peace treaty talks in Portsmouth. The Minister of the Foreign Office, Na-tung, stated that no one would be sent, and instead China will trust the United States. Rockhill was asked to send the enclosed cablegram asking for the territorial integrity of China to be respected, complete and without loss, especially with respect to Manchuria.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-06

The United States will do all that it can to preserve the territorial integrity of China and to ensure that her sovereignty is not injured in the coming peace negotiations. However, the United States will not be involved in the peace negotiations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-06

English translation of an article titled “Germany and Japan” originally printed in St. Petersburg Slovo. The article discusses the relations between Germany and Japan and the problems they have dealt with regarding one another.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-10

Enclosed is a copy of the dispatch from Minister Conger which reports that Prince Ching Yikuang and Viceroy Shih-kai expressed a strong desire that the United States take an important part in the negotiations for peace between Japan and Russia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-19

On behalf of the American China Development Company, John W. Foster and George L. Ingraham describe the possible take-over of the company by the Chinese government and their company’s possible compensations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-29

James Bronson Reynolds has returned from a trip to the Philippines, China, and Japan, and is interested in future trade relations with China. He thinks America needs to modify its attitude about “coolie labor” and treat Chinese gentlemen with the same respect Americans receive when in China. Roosevelt’s recent consular changes in China are well-received. Reynolds thanks Roosevelt for his actions related to a ministry of Romania. He is traveling to Europe but hopes to return in time to take part in city campaigns. He has enclosed memoranda including recommendations related to the consular service and China.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-16

The Office of Naval Intelligence reports on current geographical considerations as well as troop and warship positions related to the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-12

John Hays Hammond, a friend of Theodore Roosevelt, has been lecturing on the threat Japan poses to America’s political and commercial interests. The Pacific states and Australia fear Japanese immigration and are determined to fight it. American and England should defend their Pacific possessions from Japan. The Japanese claim to have adopted “Anglo-Saxon ideals,” but Hammond calls this into question when he quotes a high-ranking Japanese politician saying it is “Japan’s holy duty to free all Asiatics” and that they should “teach them to conquer Europeans in war, commerce, and culture.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-27

The Office of Naval Intelligence reports on the positions of the opposing armies in Manchuria in the previous week. The Russians advanced to the vicinity of Changtu and Kaiyuen, falling back again to their former position. A delay in repairing the railroad bridge across the Hun River, in addition to the opening of the railroad to traffic, may account for the failure of the Japanese to advance beyond Kaiyuen. Nothing definite has been reported in regard to the absolute whereabouts of either the Russian or Japanese fleet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-28

No movements of the Russian and Japanese armies in Manchuria are reported. The approaching typhoon season will influence the movements of both fleets and render the work of scouting in small vessels dangerous.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-05