Cuba

Letter from Thomas Henry Barry to Theodore Roosevelt

General Barry informs President Roosevelt that Herman Speck von Sternburg and Lillian May Speck von Sternburg have departed Havana, Cuba, for Santiago, Cuba. They are planning to leave for Washington, D.C., on March 10th, and will travel via Tampa, Florida. It is currently Carnival season in Havana, so the city is full of visitors, including Richard Harding Davis and his wife Cecil Clark Davis. Barry says that they have kept the peace in the temporary absence of Provisional Governor Charles E. Magoon, but will be glad to having him back.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-04

Letter from Reginald Ronalds to Theodore Roosevelt

Reginald Ronalds sends President Roosevelt a Christmas present: a photo of Richard Harding Davis, Colonel Henry Ware Lawton, and Woodbury Kane taken in Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-22

Letter from Granville Fortescue to Theodore Roosevelt

Captain Granville Fortescue thanks President Roosevelt for helping him attain his position instructing Cuban forces.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-03

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft is enclosing some letters regarding the conditions on the Philippines for President Roosevelt. Taft thinks that the political situation is improving, although he does not think General Leonard Wood has a firm grasp of it. Taft will stay in the Philippines for another week before continuing on to Russia and Germany.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-18

Letter from Luke E. Wright to Theodore Roosevelt

Former Ambassador Wright advises President Roosevelt on his policy in East Asia, specifically as it pertains to Japan and the Philippines, in anticipation of Roosevelt’s address on Japanese affairs. He agrees with Roosevelt’s statements regarding immigration, but cautions him against claiming that the United States plans on helping the Philippines reach independence. Wright worries that public opinion will not support this idea, and that such a statement would encourage unrest. He suggests that Roosevelt remove this mention of the Philippines from his final statement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-25

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft has read Charles A. Conant’s letter regarding the Cuban currency, and while he believes President Roosevelt should heed Conant’s warning, he is suspicious that Conant is looking for a job related to it. In a handwritten postscript, Taft says he has heard positive news from Ohio about the upcoming election, but he will believe it after the vote, not before.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-29

Letter from Maurice Francis Egan to Theodore Roosevelt

Maurice France Egan writes to President Roosevelt regarding his thoughts on the Bellamy Storer / “Dear Maria” scandal. Egan shares that he and many others feel sympathy for Archbishop John Ireland after the recent controversy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-10

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

General Wood informs President Roosevelt about the situation in the Philippines, reporting that besides the areas of Leyte and Samor, the situation is relatively quiet. He recommends that America keep the islands garrisoned to prevent agitators from upsetting order. Wood opines that the Filipinos are far behind Cuba on the path to deserving independence, but praises the Spanish for having evangelized and civilized the Philippines. Wood recommends the recovering Lieutenant Gordon Johnston for the Medal of Honor. Wood plans to send his family home to the United States for the children’s schooling, and after the Filipino elections hopes himself to visit France and Germany to observe military maneuvers and methods there. Wood hopes afterwards to be appointed to New York where he can work on seacoast defense, but is willing to return to the Philippines if requested. Wood also discusses his opinions on the results of the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-18

Letter from Eugene Hale to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Hale thanks President Roosevelt for consulting him about the Navy, is greatly satisfied with how Roosevelt has influenced events in Cuba, and is concerned with the Japanese in Hawaii but has few doubts that Secretary of the Navy Metcalf will be able to pacify the Japanese government and avoid war. Hale has studied the issue and is against building “monster ships,” but the General Board is divided on this question. Hale has summarized their recommendations about battleships for 10 years, but the recommendations seem to change every year and so has less confidence in them than Roosevelt does. Hale is glad to discuss this or any other matter further.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-31

Letter from Fred W. Carpenter to William Loeb

On behalf of Secretary of War William H. Taft, his private secretary encloses a copy of a telegram from Provisional Governor of Cuba Charles E. Magoon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-23

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War William H. Taft relays to President Roosevelt his view that the Cuban government should pay for the construction and maintenance of quarters for the United States Army’s stay in Cuba during the occupation. However, Army officers’ salaries should not be taken from the Cuban treasury. Taft hopes that United States Comptroller of the Currency William Barret Ridgely will agree that U.S. funds can be expended so that construction can begin immediately and then the Cuban treasury can reimburse the expense. Both Army Chief of Staff General James Franklin Bell and newly named Provisional Governor of Cuba Charles Edward Magoon concur with Taft’s view.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-10

Dictation of Theodore Roosevelt by Elihu Root

President Roosevelt considers an addition to a proclamation from the Cuban point of view. He also approves that Army officers should receive nothing from the Cuban treasury, and instead be compensated by Congress. Roosevelt suggests that the Cuban treasury pay the United States’ Quartermaster for construction costs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-10

Letter from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of State Root has received copies of the correspondence regarding American intervention in Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-11

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

William H. Taft issues a proclamation vacating his position as the provisional governor of Cuba and recognizing Charles E. Magoon as his successor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-12

Letter from William Emlen Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

William Emlen Roosevelt encloses a letter and bill from the Munson-Whitaker Company regarding their request to list Theodore Roosevelt as one of their patrons. Roosevelt also updates Theodore on family matters and writes that he is pleased with William Howard Taft’s work in Cuba and the political prospects in New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-15

Letter from Frederic Jesup Stimson to Theodore Roosevelt

Frederic Jesup Stimson informs President Roosevelt that all the men at Harvard College with whom he has conferred agree that Roosevelt’s son Theodore Roosevelt, has behaved well. Stimson thinks that District Attorney John B. Moran dragging his son before a grand jury is a political stunt. Stimson plans to vote the straight Republican ticket. He also commends Roosevelt, Secretary of War William H. Taft, and Attorney General William H. Moody for the work they have been doing. Stimson regrets missing Moody in Boston, and thinks it is too bad that Moody cannot become a Supreme Court justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-04

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Updating from Cuba, Secretary of War Taft reports that the yellow fever situation is not cause for alarm. Disarmament and surrenders are taking place all over the island, with expected difficulties in the process. Many of the insurgents have just gone home and the prospect of peace is strong.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-05

Cipher Cable from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft writes about the progress of rebel disarmament as the American occupation of Cuba begins. He reports on the condition of the weapons and horses received and difficulties in transfer because of misunderstandings due to language. He faults himself for not providing closer supervision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-07

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid updates President Roosevelt on the newspapers’ reaction to the measures taken in a shipping and fishing dispute in Newfoundland. Reid details his negotiations with Sir Edward Gray and Sir Charles Hardinge regarding the United States’ right to ship Newfoundland fisherman. Reid also discusses several books with Roosevelt, including one about Alexander Hamilton and a biography of Winston Churchill’s father, Randolph Churchill. Reid comments on Roosevelt’s offer to let the Cubans try self-government again, noting that it silences those who would paint Roosevelt as an imperialist. Reid does not think that the Cubans are ready for self-government, and he believes the United States should make Cuba one of its states. Reid updates Roosevelt on the political conflict between the Labor and Liberal parties in the United Kingdom. Reid notes that due to “bad blood” between the German and English press, it is difficult to trust English newspapers for accurate views of German positions. Reid also offers his opinion on domestic political issues, writing that those who vote for Hearst will be written off as from “the ignorant or dangerous classes.” Reid believes William Jennings Bryan has fallen out of favor, but he does not think they have seen the last of him. Finally, Reid has enclosed several books and clippings for Roosevelt to peruse.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-08

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Provisional Governor William Howard Taft seeks guidance from President Roosevelt on the transfer of office in Cuba between him and his replacement, Charles Edward Magoon. Taft feels it is important for the Cuban people to know that the policies already in place with the Platt Amendment will be continued with the new leadership; implying otherwise, Taft asserts, would be “a most serious obstacle to slowly coming peace and tranquility.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-10