Costa Rica

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to John Hay

Senator Lodge explains to Secretary of State Hay under what terms the Senate would and would not approve the canal in Panama to be built. He details the decisions that need to be made, most notably with ratifying or terminating the 1850 Clayton-Bulwer Treaty to allow the United States to completely control the canal. Lodge does not believe the treaty should continue to bind the country if the conditions it was signed under have changed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-03-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Lawrence Merry

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-19

Protocol

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-11

Telegram from William Lawrence Merry to Elihu Root

William Lawrence Merry, United States Plenipotentiary to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, informs Secretary of State Root that disarmament of El Salvador will be completed shortly. He believes it would be advisable to visit Nicaragua and from there return to Costa Rica, and asks for permission to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-26

Telegram from Rudolph Forster to William Loeb

Assistant Secretary of State Forster forwards William Loeb a telegram he received from William Lawrence Merry, U.S. Minister plenipotentiary to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, reporting on a planned armistice between a number of Central American powers. Merry also relates some details about plans for further peace talks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-17

Letter from Alvey A. Adee to William Loeb

Acting Secretary of State Adee sends William Loeb a letter from Mexican diplomat José F. Godoy regarding Mexico’s recognition and support of Honduras’s provisional government. Adee asks Loeb to tell President Roosevelt he spoke with Godoy and suggested sending a letter to the presidents of Central America so Roosevelt has a better perspective of the situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Manuel Castro Quesada

Theodore Roosevelt is fond of Costa Rica for the fine quality of its citizens and for the consideration shown to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt during her visit. Roosevelt is not familiar with the matter brought up by Manuel Castro Quesada but if he ever has to deal with it he will take it up with “sincere purpose.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-03-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry M. Leipziger

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joaquín Fernández Montúfar

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-16

Letter from John A. Herman to Theodore Roosevelt

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’ conclusions, so Herman appreciates Roosevelt’s approval.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-16

Letter from Alvey A. Adee to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-12

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Porfirio Díaz

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-12

Telegram from Alvey A. Adee to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-30

Letter from Cleto González Víquez to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-29

Letter from Porfirio Díaz to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-27

Telegram from Alvey A. Adee to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-23

Letter from Alvey A. Adee to William Loeb

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-19

Letter from David E. Thompson to Theodore Roosevelt

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. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-07