Dominican Republic

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles William Eliot

President Roosevelt has seen the petition for the United States to give political independence to the Philippines, which Charles William Eliot has signed. Roosevelt writes that the Republican convention will not consider it, and if the Democrats do, they prove hypocritical. Roosevelt believes granting independence to the Philippines is the easy way out, while the right thing to do is to remain involved in the Philippines for the betterment of its people. Roosevelt cites other examples, such as Egypt and Cuba, and refers to Arthur Twining Hadley’s Freedom and Responsibility. Roosevelt asks if Eliot would see Secretary of War William H. Taft about the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Charles O’Brien

President Roosevelt is pleased to be able to offer Edward Charles O’Brien the appointment as minister to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John F. O’Brien

President Roosevelt is pleased to be able to offer the position of minister of Santo Domingo to John F. O’Brien’s brother, Edward Charles O’Brien.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas Collier Platt

President Roosevelt regrets the problem that cost Edward Charles O’Brien a position on the Isthmian Canal Commission, but is pleased that he will be able to offer O’Brien an appointment as minister to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John F. O’Brien

President Roosevelt regrets that Edward Charles O’Brien will not accept the position of minister to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). He apologizes that a spot on the Panama Canal Commission could not be secured.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Barnes

President Roosevelt did not prevent Edward Charles O’Brien from being appointed secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission; the Commission did. Roosevelt also offered O’Brien the San Domingo (Dominican Republic) mission and O’Brien declined.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Bayard Hale

President Roosevelt hopes that the public will come to understand that it is the country’s duty to intervene in Central and South America in the “interest of order and civilization.” However, intervention should be avoided whenever possible. Roosevelt hopes to minimize interference in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Dewey

President Roosevelt is concerned about disturbances in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) but cannot acquire “comprehensive news.” He asks Admiral Dewey to join a group that will investigate conditions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

The Arabian stallions were not sent to President Roosevelt. It was a newspaper story and the horses were actually sent to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. There might not be any horses left for Ted Roosevelt as all of Roosevelt’s horses are having health issues and he currently is unable to ride. It appears that the Panama treaty will be ratified but the situation in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) is chaotic and Roosevelt had to intervene. He hopes to defer doing more for as long as possible. Roosevelt has been paying close attention to the Russo-Japanese War. Russia had been behaving “very badly” in Asia and, secretly, Roosevelt is pleased with the early Japanese victories.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Alexander E. Barthe to Theodore Roosevelt

Alexander E. Barthe introduces Theodore Roosevelt to Frank M. Perkins, who wants to discuss the financial situation in Santo Domingo with Roosevelt. Barthe hopes Roosevelt will use his influence to solve the issue along the lines of what Barthe outlined in his previous letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-06

Creator(s)

Barthe, Alexander E. (Alexander Eugenius)

Letter from Alexander E. Barthe to Abbott Lyman

Alexander E. Barthe sends information to Lyman Abbott about the assassination of President Ramón Cáceres. Barthe states he must use a “nom de plume” and cannot send letters directly to Theodore Roosevelt for his own safety.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-22

Creator(s)

Barthe, Alexander E. (Alexander Eugenius)

Letter from Alexander E. Barthe to Theodore Roosevelt

Alexander E. Barthe informs Theodore Roosevelt of the aftereffects of President Ramón Cáceres’s assassination and requests Roosevelt support Federico Velásquez y Hernández during this transitory time in the Dominican Republic. Barthe informs Roosevelt that James Wilson previously offered agricultural aid to the Dominican Republic. Barthe also previously requested assistance to settle the boundary dispute with Haiti through arbitration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-22

Creator(s)

Barthe, Alexander E. (Alexander Eugenius)

Letter from Alexander E. Barthe to Theodore Roosevelt

Alexander E. Barthe sends Theodore Roosevelt several reports and messages from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The materials include descriptions of some current diplomatic troubles between the Dominican Republic and Italy, and a report on finance and commerce. Barthe also encloses several samples of agricultural products, letters from President Cáceres and acknowledges Roosevelt’s advice on agricultural organization.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-25

Creator(s)

Barthe, Alexander E. (Alexander Eugenius)

Letter from Alexander E. Barthe to Theodore Roosevelt

Alexander E. Barthe writes to Theodore Roosevelt regarding banks and banking in the Dominican Republic, where he is currently working. Federico Velásquez y Hernández, Minister of Finance and Commerce of the Dominican Republic, may visit New York in the near future, and Barthe hopes that Roosevelt might have a chance to talk with him about his country. Barthe additionally raises the question of a border dispute between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and suggests that the nations should have to submit their differences to the Hague Court. After his duties are completed in the Dominican Republic, Barthe hopes to travel to china to help in the organization of the agricultural sector.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-21

Creator(s)

Barthe, Alexander E. (Alexander Eugenius)

Letter from Harry Johnston to Theodore Roosevelt

Harry Johnston thanks President Roosevelt for facilitating a warm reception when he visited the Panama Canal construction site, where he met president-elect William H. Taft. Johnston then wrote a letter to Taft on his return to Colòn about the city’s appalling hotel and infrastructure. He now worries that this was inappropriate. If Taft is angry, he asks Roosevelt to “placate his wrath.” Johnston also wonders why Roosevelt is going hunting in Africa instead of somewhere in South America, Central America, or the Antilles. He shares his address in England, and hopes that United States Minister to Haiti H. W. Furniss will retain his position in the new administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-03

Creator(s)

Johnston, Harry, 1858-1927

Letter from William Henry Hudson Southerland to the Bureau of Navigation

William Henry Hudson Southerland reports to the Bureau of Navigation that revolutionary leaders in Santo Domingo have accepted the government’s terms and will surrender tomorrow.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-10

Creator(s)

Southerland, William Henry Hudson, 1852-1933

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte encloses a translation of a cipher that indicates San Domingo will experience better times soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-11

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Jacob H. Hollander to William Loeb

Jacob H. Hollander encloses the agreement that was reached regarding the debt crisis in Santo Domingo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-17

Creator(s)

Hollander, Jacob H. (Jacob Harry), 1871-1940

Memorandum from Jacob H. Hollander

Dr. Hollander discusses the terms of the contract to settle the debt problem in Santo Domingo. He encloses a plan of adjustment which states that the Dominican Republic has entered into a contract with Kuhn, Loeb & Company for a sale of bonds under a set of terms.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-12

Creator(s)

Hollander, Jacob H. (Jacob Harry), 1871-1940

Letter from Federico Velásquez y Hernández to the Morton Trust Company

Dominican Finance Minister Velásquez y Hernández references an agreement between the Morton Trust Company and the Republic of San Domingo. He asks on behalf of the republic for an adjustment of the terms.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-12

Creator(s)

Velásquez y Hernández, Federico, 1867-1934