China

James Bronson Reynolds reports of his travels in the Philippines, where he believes Filipinos have just complaints regarding liberty, with the powerful taking the spoils. Reynolds also spent time in China and believes there is great opportunity for trade in China, especially in cotton. He applauds setting up a commission or investigator there. Reynolds also writes of Chinese students in Tokyo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-07

John Callan O’Laughlin informs President Roosevelt of recent developments in the conflict between Russia and Japan. Count Arthur Cassini agrees with the Japanese Minister that there can be no peace until after the battle and question of command of the sea is determined, and O’Laughlin believes Roosevelt would be the best medium through which to initiate negotiations between the two countries. O’Laughlin also cautions Roosevelt regarding a trip to Japan planned by Secretary of War William H. Taft and Alice Roosevelt, which Cassini believes will provoke hard feelings in Russia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-23

Minister to China Conger reports to Secretary of State Hay that China strongly wishes the United States to take an active role in brokering peace between Japan and Russia. In particular, Conger believes it would be beneficial for the United States to guarantee transfer of the railway in Manchuria to China, rather than Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-31

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-05

Creator(s)

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

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Second Assistant Secretary of State Adee forwards copies of papers relating to Chinese neutrality to William Loeb for the use of President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-24

Cecil Spring Rice shares matters of foreign affairs regarding Russia, Japan, Germany, and other countries with First Lady Edith Roosevelt. Issues regarding the resolution of the Russo-Japanese War and terms for peace – as well as the situation within Russia, which Spring Rice says borders on anarchy – make up the bulk of the letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-29

Oscar S. Straus discusses the prospect of appointing an ambassador to Japan as it appears that this is the right course to take.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-15

John Gardner Coolidge relays to Secretary of State Hay the Imperial Chinese Government’s decision to annul the concession of the American China Development Office. The message was relayed from the Chinese minister to the Department of State.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-08

Secretary of State Hay forwards two dispatches regarding the presentation of a photograph and drapery from the Empress Dowager of China.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-09

The Office of Naval Intelligence gives an account of what is happening with the Japanese army and navy along the Sha River.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-03

Ambassador Meyer writes to President Roosevelt regarding his dinner meeting with English Ambassador Egerton and Egerton’s words about the Russian loan. Meyer then mentions his discussion with the King who anticipates Meyer’s move to Saint Petersburg, Russia. The King foresees Russian conflict over China, shares his bad experience involving his tampered letters in Russia, and describes a case in Saint Petersburg involving an Italian Embassy official being bribed by someone seeking to crack the telegraph code.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-14

Assistant Secretary of State Adee writes to William Loeb to make an appointment for a portrait to be presented to President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-17

Hermann Speck von Sternburg offers Theodore Roosevelt a detailed look at the different possibilities playing out that could end the Russo-Japanese War. If the European powers combined interest and resources, Sternburg believes that they could end the Japanese threat in East Asia. However, articles in the French and English press raise doubt as to whether England is willing to combine powers and end an alliance with Japan, while factors in Germany and Russia also cause tension and complicate the ending of hostilities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-09

Carl Abel writes to his “dear friend” to say that the Russian Government inserted an anonymous letter in the London Sunday Times outlining a suggested peace for the Russo-Japanese War in which Russia would evacuate Manchuria, pay a fee to Japan, and Japan would maintain control of Korea and “rent” Port Arthur from China. Abel notes that while this seems improbable, it is an idea from the Russian government and they are eager to end the war quickly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-23

Edwin V. Morgan writes to Commissioner Rockhill to report on his visit to China, including a survey of a German railroad, and his impressions of the Provisional College at Tsinanfu. Morgan also discusses the current state of the war, noting that Fu Zhou, the Governor of Shantung, would like the United States to join China in an attempt to end the conflict.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-24

To augment his previous letter, Carl Abel tells his “dear friend” that Japan seems unwilling to accept the truce proposed by Russia in the newspaper article. He goes on to speculate on the international relations consequences of the possible outcomes of the conflict.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-25

Endicott Peabody, founder of the Groton School, introduces Edward C. Carter, a Harvard alumnus who has been doing missionary work for the YMCA in India. Carter and Logan Herbert Roots, another Harvard alumnus who is a missionary in China, have a plan to increase the number of Harvard men doing missionary work. Carter and Roots would like President Roosevelt to lend his name to the advisory council.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-06

Alvey A. Adee informs President Roosevelt that he has been in touch with Secretary of State John Hay concerning the American position on the Russo-Japanese War. Adee writes that he has passed on the President’s instructions of non-interference and tries to predict Russia’s next course of action.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-26

Rudolph Forster informs William Loeb that the Russian minister has told him that Russia will no longer consider the Chinese government neutral.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-26

Acting Secretary of State Adee reports that John Fowler, the Consul of Chefoo, China, has been informed that the Chinese government has withdrawn all of their war vessels from Chefoo because they cannot enforce neutrality. Thus it would appear that “both belligerents” can infer that military operations can be conducted there. Adee does not believe any further instruction is required to Fowler, and he would like both Fowler and John Goodnow, the Consul of Shanghai, to be removed from any association with larger international implications.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-23