England

Letter from Charles Robert Eustace Radclyffe to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Robert Eustace Radclyffe has heard rumors that President Roosevelt may be visiting England soon, and hopes that if this is true, Roosevelt will come visit him. He has also heard that after his presidency, Roosevelt will travel to East Africa or Alaska. Radclyffe would like to join Roosevelt in Alaska, and if he cannot, he would like to offer his private notes and maps of the regions he explored.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-06

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador to England Whitelaw Reid updates President Roosevelt on the ongoing cabinet crisis. King Edward VII did not return to meet with the new Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, upsetting the English, who value precedence. Little is going on while Asquith is in the process of putting together his new cabinet. Reid encloses two articles he believes Roosevelt will enjoy. He also discusses the wisdom of allowing newly-appointed Ambassador to Germany David Jayne Hill be guest of honor at the Pilgrim Club dinner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-09

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid sends President Roosevelt an article from The Observer that provides an alternate view of King Edward VII of England’s actions regarding the Cabinet, but notes that the paper is more like American “yellow” press. Reid offers his views on gossip that has re-emerged about the new Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, and updates Roosevelt on the actions of William Lyon Mackenzie King.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-14

Letter from John St. Loe Strachey to Theodore Roosevelt

John St. Loe Strachey, editor of The Spectator, thanks President Roosevelt for granting him permission to dedicate his book to Roosevelt. Strachey says that the unemployed bill was “an act of madness” and is happy to report that the government ended up condemning it. It took the threat of Member of Parliament John Burns’s resignation to stop support of the bill. Strachey says that Burns is one of the “very few true Conservatives left in the country” and that socialism is a danger in England unlike in the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-27

Letter from Arthur Hamilton Lee to Theodore Roosevelt

Arthur Hamilton Lee is pleased that President Roosevelt was willing to sit for a portrait by Fülöp László, and looks forward to seeing it. He updates Roosevelt on the progress of William Lyon Mackenzie King, who is in England advocating for Roosevelt’s policy on Japanese immigration to English-speaking countries. Lee agrees that such immigration should be limited, and King is making inroads in getting the government to cooperate on this matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-31

Memorandum from William Sowden Sims to Theodore Roosevelt

Commander William Sowden Sims sends President Roosevelt a memorandum on torpedoes and the use of torpedo defense nets. Sims refers to his previous report regarding torpedo defense, and that a gunnery officer’s board had considered the report and recommended a trial of torpedo nets from England on one ship, as the British production and use of torpedo nets was more effective and efficient than other options. Sims notes to Roosevelt that the German navy has a much greater proportion of torpedo boats and destroyers per battleship than the American navy, so torpedo defense nets are less of a concern to them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-04

Letter from Cecil Spring Rice to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt

Sir Cecil Spring Rice writes a friendly letter to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt on a variety of topics. He understands what is happening, and says there is a similar movement in England. Spring Rice talks about the effects of an increased tariff at the end of the Boer War, and how it affected the national character of England. Common people suffered while businesses took advantage of things, similar to the situation in America. He believes that President Roosevelt may have greater moral force to provide an example of how to live once he leaves office, as his authority will be within his own character and not the office then. Spring Rice has been skiing recently, and has enjoyed his time and the people he has met. He wishes he could visit the United States, but does not think he will be able to soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-16

Memoraundum from Newton E. Mason and William Crozier to Theodore Roosevelt

Admiral Mason and Brigadier General Crozier provide a memorandum for President Roosevelt on the topic of explosive for bursting charges for projectiles for the Army and Navy. Mason and Crozier provide details on how this explosive is produced, as well as the quantities the Army and Navy expect to need over the next several years and the costs associated with the amounts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-20

Letter from Adèle Le Bourgeois Chapin to Theodore Roosevelt

Earl Grey, Governor General of Canada, would like to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Quebec by making the Plains of Abraham a national park and building an Angel of Peace statue there. He had noted to Adèle Le Bourgeios Chapin that he thinks it would be appropriate to get contributions from the United States, as the Plains of Abraham are part of its history as well. Chapin would like to ask Grey’s American friends to contribute to the statue’s fund, or perhaps even to give the statue as a gift, and asks President Roosevelt’s opinion on the advisability of this idea.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-07

Letter from Thomas Malcolm Harvey Kincaid-Smith to John J. McCook

Thomas Malcolm Harvey Kincaid-Smith, a member of the British House of Commons, tells John J. McCook that in England the matter concerning Japanese immigration is considered settled thanks to President Roosevelt’s actions. Kincaid-Smith believes the issue will not remain settled, but the concern in England is small, as the problem is largely affecting the American Pacific Coast.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-09

Letter from Charlemagne Tower to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Tower relays to President Roosevelt a private conversation he had with Emperor William II of Germany, who had recently heard reports of Japanese soldiers training and gathering in Mexico, Peru, and Chile. The Emperor believes that the Japanese are preparing to seize the Panama Canal if war is declared. Additionally, reports from Portugal suggest that the Japanese are preparing for war against the United States. He approves of Roosevelt’s decision to send the war fleet out because it has strengthened the position of the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-28

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

Leonard Wood updates President Roosevelt on the geopolitical situation in the Philippines, largely in regard to Japan. In the Philippines, there is a marked concern that Japan is preparing for war. They have scouts on the island and are trying to drum up pro-Japan sentiment. The British, who are allied with Japan, are becoming increasingly uneasy. Wood believes it is imperative that the American fleet stay entirely in Manila until more defenses can be set up. He details the defenses and supplies that should be brought in. Controlling Japan now means securing white influence in Asia and the surrounding waters. Wood also discusses the training, promotion, and management of troops.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-30

Letter from William Sowden Sims to Theodore Roosevelt

Commander Sims, in response to President Roosevelt’s request while aboard the Mayflower, encloses a memorandum on the Brazilian dreadnoughts being built in England summarizing and commenting on Lieutenant Commander Simon P. Fullinwider’s letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-19

Letter from George Otto Trevelyan to Theodore Roosevelt

George Otto Trevelyan received President Roosevelt’s letter and is very glad the work pleased him. The Christmas present will reach him at his home in England, where he hopes someday Roosevelt will visit. He delivered the letter of introduction to Lloyd Carpenter Griscom, who has shown great hospitality. Trevelyan’s son has recently arrived with his wife.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-22

Letter from Cecil Spring Rice to Theodore Roosevelt

Cecil Spring Rice informs President Roosevelt of his recent illness and encourages him to take his children to the doctor if any of them have stopped up noses. Due to his illness he has had to leave Perisa, but Spring Rice tells Roosevelt that he will either take a quiet post or retire when he has recovered. Spring Rice suggests that newspapers are in the hands of Roosevelt’s enemies and are hostile at heart. Spring Rice believes that there is little that can be done to avoid challenging racial difficulties in the future, as the Muslims in the world have had enough of Christian aggression. However, the English government is mostly concerned with internal affairs and has mostly ignored questions of foreign policy. Spring Rice worries about relations between Germany and England and believes that Germany might attack England at some point in the future. He concludes with his well wishes for Christmas and mentions that his wife Florence Spring Rice hopes to see Roosevelt soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-04

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid updates Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt on the visits of royalties to London, England, including the dinner held for German Emperor William II and his wife Auguste Viktoria. Reid raves about Auguste Viktoria’s dress and notes she wore the “biggest pearls I ever saw worn in any part of the world.” Reid also tells Roosevelt about the Bourbon wedding he and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid attended. The ambassador includes an anecdote about Spanish King Alfonso XIII who wanted to change his clothes, but his wife Maria Cristina told him he could not because the luggage had already left. Reid concludes by telling Roosevelt about a luncheon for the new Mexican minister and a dinner for the Alfonso XIII and Maria Cristina of Spain. Reid discusses his plans for a leave of absence, which will include stopping in New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-20

Letter from Frederick Courteney Selous to Theodore Roosevelt

Frederick Courteney Selous writes to President Roosevelt on behalf of prominent English athlete Charles Burgess Fry to ask if Roosevelt would be willing to write an article for C. B. Fry’s Magazine, a publication dedicated to encouraging athleticism and outdoor activities in boys. The nature of land distribution in England means that outdoor activities are more difficult than in the United States or Canada which have more open areas, so he and Fry would particularly appreciate if Roosevelt would speak to his outdoorsmanship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-26

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Elihu Root

Ambassador Reid describes a birthday message sent by King Edward VII to President Roosevelt for Secretary of State Root.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-04

Letter from Caspar Whitney to Theodore Roosevelt

Caspar Whitney describes his travel plans across the Sahara Desert and into Sudan for the coming winter. He has to take a roundabout way to get to his destination, the Baḥr al Ghazāl region of Sudan, because the English will not allow him to travel through their territory in Egypt, as they do not want to be responsible for him. The solution, according to Whitney’s friend Vance Thompson, is to travel with French military caravans. Whitney asks Roosevelt to give him a letter, such as Thompson suggests, to endorse his experience and fitness to the French government to allow him to travel with them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-06

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a copy of his “infernally long” speech. If possible, he requests Roosevelt read it and suggest edits. Taft directs Roosevelt to his comments on the Brownsville Affair.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-10