England

Armored vessels building or to be built for Italy, Brazil, Argentine and Chili

This memorandum describes the types of armored vessels being built for the countries of Italy, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, with details including the location of construction, name, type and displacements of the ships, and current condition of the ships. One ship being constructed in Italy is reported to be for Japan. A number of smaller ships are being built for Brazil in England. Argentina and Chile have no ships under construction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-29

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid sends President Roosevelt a pamphlet, “Horses–Illustrated,” which covers the International Horse Show at the Olympia London exhibition center.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-03

Letter from Mary Lord Harrison to Theodore Roosevelt

Former First Lady Harrison was deeply moved by President Roosevelt’s visit to her late husband Benjamin Harrison’s grave. She hopes to have Roosevelt stay with her in Indianapolis when they unveil a statue of Harrison.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-13

Letter from J. Stewart Barney to William Loeb

Architect J. Stewart Barney encloses a letter written to Right Reverend Henry Yates Satterlee. Barney needs information for a lectern he is working on and Rev. Dr. Goodwin suggested that he contact President Roosevelt. He encloses a photograph of the model, apologizes for the quality of the photograph, and explains his design that symbolizes “the union of England and America.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Silas McBee

Silas McBee encloses a letter from the Executive Committee of the Laymen’s Missionary Movement of the United States and Canada. McBee asks President Roosevelt if he would write a reference letter for the Movement that McBee could use in England. The French Ambassador told McBee about the conversation President Roosevelt had with the ambassador about the Peace Congress. The ambassador begged McBee to tell Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau what McBee had told Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-11

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Reid comments on Winston Churchill’s recent promotion to the Privy Council, noting that it acknowledges his rise in the party without giving him a seat in the Cabinet. Churchill is still not well liked. Reid relays the debates on Horace Curzon Plunkett in the House of Commons and reports on English newspaper coverage of Roosevelt’s speech at Jamestown. He comments on unease over labor relations in France, the planning of an event after the Colonial Premiers’ Conference, opposition to a proposed move for a limitation of armaments at the Hague Conference, and Lewis Harcourt’s proposed English Land Bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-01

Letter from Frederick Courteney Selous to Theodore Roosevelt

Frederick Courteney Selous sends his manuscript to President Roosevelt. He would be extremely grateful if Roosevelt could look over it and write a short introduction. There is no rush to return the manuscript as Selous is going on a bird nesting expedition to Asia Minor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt provides Secretary of State Root information regarding a pamphlet that Bellamy Storer sent to the members of the cabinet. Storer did not give a full account of the events that led up to his dismissal from his ambassadorial post. Roosevelt seeks to address this by including the text of letters between himself and the Storers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-02

Memorandum from George von Lengerke Meyer

Ambassador Meyer explains in a memorandum that the Admiralty are laying down two battleships to be built in Russia. Meyer learned in a conversation with a Russian Admiral that they had begun building the ships since if they had waited until March it would have meant paying off 20,000 workmen and causing great unemployment. Meyer learned from another source that the plan was to have a fleet of four battleships and an English Company is offering to build a ship with ten or twelve 12-inch guns with speed similar to the “Dreadnought.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-06

Letter from Arthur Hamilton Lee to Theodore Roosevelt

Arthur Hamilton Lee updates President Roosevelt on the work he is doing to tell the story of the Russo-Japanese negotiations. Those in England had a different idea of what exactly happened, and Lee has enjoyed painting Roosevelt in a positive light. The English people have responded positively.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-28

Letter from James Bryant Lindley to Theodore Roosevelt

James Bryant Lindley encloses a note from the Duke of Westminster, as he saw from newspapers that President Roosevelt would be going on a hunting trip soon. Lindley asks Roosevelt to let him know if he does plan on taking the trip, and he will ask Westminster to put him up. Lindley notes that he wishes Elliott Roosevelt were alive to rejoice in all the good President Roosevelt has done.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-09

Letter from Flora L. Lugard to Theodore Roosevelt

Flora L. Lugard introduces the topic of British imperialism in West Africa to President Roosevelt. Lugard has been led to believe that Roosevelt is interested in the topic. She will also send Roosevelt a book she has written recently on British development in Africa and hopes that Roosevelt will glance through it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-15

Letter from William Sowden Sims to Theodore Roosevelt

Lieutenant Commander Sims responds to Captain Mahan’s paper from the United States Naval Institute. He generally agrees with Mahan except on the argument of speed, and can modify his own paper to be conclusive.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-29

Letter from George von Lengerke to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Meyer is reporting to President Roosevelt the state of affairs in Russia after having found St. Petersburg quiet. Meyer traveled throughout Russia, Poland, and the Ukraine. The letter examines the situations in many different cities and other topics including removing Jews from Russia, revolution and revolutionaries’ tactics, a pheasant shoot, military escorts, history, travel, and Russian construction quality.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-28

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid updates President Roosevelt on several diplomatic matters in England. The most pertinent issue is the English government’s desire to retire Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand and to find a suitable replacement for him. Many people have been discussed. Roosevelt’s choice, Cecil Spring Rice, could not be promoted to an Embassy without creating a lot of “ill will.” Reid also sends Roosevelt a news clipping telling of the “fall” that Winston Churchill took out of playwright George Bernard Shaw. Finally, Reid updates Roosevelt on a matter involving Democratic Senator Francis Marion Cockrell’s son.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-24

Letter from Arthur Hamilton Lee to Theodore Roosevelt

Arthur Hamilton Lee enjoyed reading what President Roosevelt enclosed. While not familiar with long-term battle practice, Lee would like to compare Britain’s methods with those described by William Sowden Sims. Lee has written to the Admiral for more information and hopes to hear back by the time he returns to Washington, D.C. to visit Roosevelt early next month. There were photographs of the HMS Deadnought in a recent issues of the Illustrated London News and can be now rated a complete success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-19

Letter from Arthur Hamilton Lee to Theodore Roosevelt

Arthur Hamilton Lee thanks President Roosevelt for the prompt and generous response to his request for a letter of credentials. Lee has written to Sir Edward Grey and hopes to get a response within the next few weeks. Lee plans to return to Washington, D.C., to see Roosevelt before he leaves for Panama and proposes lunching with Elihu Root, William H. Taft, and Robert Bacon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-16

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 Henry Cabot Lodge to Stephen Minot Weld

Senator Lodge writes to Stephen Minot Weld about rumors of an inheritance tax being proposed. Lodge points out that the country has a budget surplus and is not in need of raising money, but says that he finds inheritance tax to be one valid method of raising funds for civilized nations. Lodge thinks rich men should pay tax upon their property to even the burden. Public ownership of property, for which William Jennings Bryan, John B. Moran, and others are calling, verges on socialism and could cause disaster. Lodge is confident in President Roosevelt’s stand against government ownership.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-09

Report from George Dewey to Charles J. Bonaparte

Admiral George Dewey sends to Secretary Charles J. Bonaparte a report of United States Navy resources and recommendations from the General Board for the coming year. Dewey feels that, for the foreseeable future, the Navy must continue laying down two battleships per year, and he provides comparisons of the ships both in use and under construction of the principal powers: England, France, Germany, and Japan. In conclusion, he outlines the desired tactical qualities of each type of ship discussed in the report, which includes battleships, scouts, motor ship’s torpedo boats, Helena-type gunboats, small Philippines gunboats, shallow draft river gunboats, and ammunition vessels.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-02