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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
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
Acting Secretary of State Adee informs President Roosevelt the White House is sending him translations of the replies from Costa Rica and Nicaragua, which, like El Salvador, are unconditional and encouraging. The responses from Honduras and Guatemala will likely be similar.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-30
President González Víquez of Costa Rica thanks President Roosevelt for his interest in maintaining peace in the republics of Central America and will defer to the suggestions made by him and President of Mexico Porfirio Porfirio Díaz.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
President of Mexico Díaz received President Roosevelt’s draft telegram to the presidents of five American republics appealing they settle their differences through a conference. Finding no fault in it, Díaz will also send a similar telegram.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-27
Acting Secretary of State Adee received a message from Mexican diplomat José F. Godoy that President of Mexico Porfirio Porfirio Díaz is intervening to prevent war between Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua and asks the United States to join. Adee includes a draft of a telegram Diaz and President Roosevelt could send to the presidents of the five Central American republics, including Honduras and Costa Rica.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-23
Acting Secretary of State Adee encloses related items for William Loeb to update President Roosevelt on the situation in Central America and to advise on how to handle the United States’ recognition of Honduras’ provisional government and neutrality.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-19
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
Honduran President Manuel Bonilla updates President Roosevelt on the status of a tribunal to examine the incident between Honduras and Nicaragua. The tribunal had to disband because of the actions of the Nicaraguan government. Although Honduras wishes for peace, they are having to prepare to defend themselves against Nicaraguan aggression. Bonilla thanks Roosevelt for his offer to arrange for an arbitrator, and suggests that either the government of El Salvador or Costa Rica could serve in this capacity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-12
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say Mother is doing well and enjoying her trip to Panama. Alice Roosevelt Longworth has been visiting as she is worried about Roosevelt’s spirits since he has few supporters at the moment. He is serving on a jury right now and informs Kermit that Aunt Corinne’s son Teddy Robinson lost his new baby.
1912-03-09
President Roosevelt sent Secretary of State Hay ex-senator Henry Gassaway Davis’s puzzling comments on Williams C. Fox. He feels Fox should be promoted if he is “of sufficiently moral character.” If Hay sees Elihu Root in the evening, Roosevelt asks them to review the Costa Rica proposition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-14
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Dr. Henry M. Leipziger, Supervisor of Lectures for the New York City Board of Education, about an upcoming lecture. George Kruck Cherrie, who accompanied Roosevelt through South America and is very knowledgeable about the people, flora, and fauna of South America, will be presenting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-20
Theodore Roosevelt reports that Mrs. Edith Roosevelt is “entirely restored to health” and remembers the courtesy Joaquín Fernández Montúfar and the Costa Rican government showed her when she visited. Roosevelt offers his assistance if he can be of any help in Costa Rica’s prosperity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-16
Secretary of State Elihu Root asks that Panamanian President Manuel Amador Guerrero be told that acting on the boundary treaty with Costa Rica is necessary before American rights can be settled. Telegram in cipher with translation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-15
Secretary of War Taft advises William Loeb that no one should go down to the Panama Canal Zone except for Taft, and President and Mrs. Roosevelt. The smaller the party, the better, since space on a ship is small. The Roosevelts are invited to attend a function hosted by President Manuel Amador Guerrero. Taft thinks Roosevelt will have no reason to travel outside the Zone unless he wants to visit Colon to see for himself what Poultney Bigelow had written about. Taft is traveling to Maine from Quebec and expects to arrive in Oyster Bay in a few weeks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-28
Rudolph Forster sends William Loeb copies of telegrams regarding negotiations for peace between Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. In the telegrams, President Manuel Estrada Cabrera of Guatemala expresses his desire for peace and welcomes President Roosevelt’s involvement. President Porfirio Díaz of Mexico and representatives of the Costa Rican government are also willing to be involved in negotiations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-15
Santiago de la Guardia of Panama and Leonidas Pacheco of Costa Rica write to American diplomat John Barrett to thank the Unites States for its help in the Panama/Costa Rica boundary question, saying they have signed three documents that morning which settle the issue. (This is now known as the Pacheco-de la Guardia Treaty.)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-06
President Roosevelt introduces William Lawrence Merry, the United States Minister to Costa Rica, to his friend Louis Adams Frothingham. Roosevelt would like Frothingham to be introduced to the Costa Rican president, and asks Merry to show him attention and courtesy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-19
Representatives of the five Central American Republics met in Washington, D.C., upon invitation of President Roosevelt and Mexican President Porfirio Díaz with the goal of preserving good relations between the respective countries. The representatives agreed to meet during the first fifteen days of November in Washington, D.C., to discuss and adjust any differences between the republics. The countries promise to maintain peaceful relations until that time, and to submit any unresolved differences that may arise before the conference to Roosevelt and Díaz.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11