Estrada Palma, Tomás, 1835-1908

Recipient

Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940

Publication Date

2011-11-10

Repository

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Record Type

Image

Resource Type

Telegram

President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about his distress over the government in Cuba. He then describes his trip aboard the Mayflower to see Admiral Evans’s fleet at Barnstable with cousin William Emlen Roosevelt, C. Grant La Farge, and Archie. They watched a gunnery exercise on the battleship Missouri (BB-11). Roosevelt ends the letter with updates on Ted and Quentin.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1906-09-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt appears as a cowboy, on horseback, with Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma, on foot, driving cattle labeled “High Protectionist, Senatorial Pledge Breaker, [and] Beet Sugar Senator” into the “Reciprocity Corral.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1902-12-17

Cartoon shows Uncle Sam looking at a smoking cannonball as President Estrada Palma looks on benevolently from Cuba. Translation: “The episode is sparkling: raised on the fence above, are many eyes and ears expectant. Uncle Sam grows impatient but good Estrada Palma tells him: Sonny, be calm: let me count and recount.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-31

Creator(s)

Torriente, Ricardo de la, 1869-1934

President Roosevelt supports what Secretary of State Hay told Ambassador to Cuba Herbert G. Squiers. However, Roosevelt sees no harm in telling President Tomás Estrada Palma that the United States considers the coaling stations to be their possessions and there will be difficulties if the stations are not turned over to the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt will carefully consider Senator Foraker’s communication. Concerning Cuba, he will act “only as I feel compelled…in accordance with my oath of office for the protection of the persons and property of the United States.” He clarifies there is no intention to act against the established government of Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt wishes to see President of Harvard Eliot to talk over the “many interesting points” raised in his letter. He discusses General Leonard Wood’s leadership during the Spanish American War, currents attempts to avoid intervention and occupation in Cuba, the conceit of educated men, and dealing with the “negro problem.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt discusses his thoughts about the situation in Cuba with Senator Foraker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt relays to General Dodge his stance on the recent actions taken by Secretary of War William H. Taft during his visit to Cuba. Roosevelt states he did not send Taft to Cuba until Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma’s choice to resign was clear. Although Sir William Cornelius Van Horne and Mr. Menduley believe military control of Cuba is possible, Van Horne also states that “the Island is perfectly adapted to guerrilla warfare and…ten men to one would be required to suppress the insurrection and a great many lives would be lost doing it.” Roosevelt agrees that the cost of life is too great for the United States to hold Cuba by military force. Influential members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Senator Eugene Hale, and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge also believe in resisting more conflict and believe it is in best interest to “let the Cubans govern themselves.” However, Roosevelt believes the possibility of continued unrest in Cuba could sway public opinion and bring congressional support for future intervention from the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Senator Lodge for the letter informing him and his wife about their son, Ted, who does not write home often enough. Roosevelt wrote to Ted an “earnest and truthful” letter about his “folly.” Roosevelt also informs Lodge of the meeting in Cuba between Secretary of War William H. Taft, First Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon, and Cuban President Tomas Estrada Palma. The temporary agreement for a provisional government with military support from the United States will help secure peace while Cuba begins self-government. Roosevelt hopes this will secure Cuba’s liberty, and any future policy will be in the “permanent interests of both Cuba and the United States.” Roosevelt also has acted to “prevent hurt” to the Republican nominees in the upcoming state elections, particularly in New York, and New York City. Wealthy business men, like William Randolph Hearst, and “Bourbon reactionaries” are running for office to gain political power, not for the “have-nots,” but to deflect regulations on their wealth. Roosevelt believes Charles Evans Hughes is the right man to run against Hearst for governor, as he will enact progressive reforms with a fair mind.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Reaffirming his good feelings for Minister Gonzalo de Quesada and Cuba, President Roosevelt warns that Cuban independence is in jeopardy. He admonishes Cuban patriots come together to ensure liberty. As per treaty, the United States has the right to intervene “for the maintenance in Cuba of a government adequate for the protection of life, property and individual liberty.” Roosevelt is sending Secretary of War William H. Taft and Acting Secretary of State Robert Bacon as representatives to render aid.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is impressed by Acting Secretary of State Bacon’s suggestion about Secretary of State Elihu Root and regrets being unable to talk to Root before his departure to Cuba. During Bacon’s upcoming visit, Roosevelt wants to consider the benefit of sending a formal letter to Cuba regarding American intervention. He directs Bacon to work with American Consul General Maximilian Steinhart, as he finds Chargé d’affaires Jacob Sleeper and Minister to Cuba Edwin V. Morgan lacking in their diplomatic posts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs President of Harvard Eliot of his plan to send a separate message to Congress regarding the Reed memorial and asks him to send supporting materials to raise a subscription for the widow. Regrettably, he is unable to speak at Harvard next year. In “strict privacy,” he shares of President of Cuba Tomás Estrada Palmas’ request to intervene and in connection, discusses the justification of the Revolutionary War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Acting Secretary of State Bacon of the immediate need to act “to protect American interests by fulfilling American obligations to Cuba” as evidenced by the lack of governmental leadership and repeated requests for aid. Seeing the situation as “one of impending chaos,” and finding the usual diplomatic communications useless, the enclosed letter will be sent to Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma and be published.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt appreciates Chief of Staff Bell “taking thought in advance.” He instructs Bell to show the letter to General Fred C. Ainsworth, who will follow through with Bell’s suggestions concerning sending officers to Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of War Taft that Culver C. Sniffen should be appointed Paymaster General and asks Taft to notify General Fred C. Ainsworth. He approves of Taft’s proposed travel arrangements for the Panama trip and is “extremely pleased” that Taft sent his speech to the Maine Committee to be reviewed by Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon or Representative Charles E. Littlefield. He sympathizes with Helen Herron Taft’s views of William Jennings Bryan. In a postscript, Roosevelt advices sending men to Cuba at once as “we cannot afford to neglect any chance of learning the situation down there.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks Cuban minister Gonzalo de Quesada to deliver the enclosed note to President Tomás Estrada Palma. He is deeply touched by the wedding gift that the Cuban people sent to his daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt requests more information from Senator Proctor about the alleged promise he made with General Francis Safford Dodge to appoint Hugh J. Gallagher.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Cuban chargé d’affaires Sleeper informs Secretary of State Root that the expected armed uprising has occurred in two Cuban provinces. Sleeper lists the strength of the rebel forces and their leaders, noting that the Rural Guard has had defectors. As nearly half of the Guard’s members are disaffected with their leadership, President Tomás Estrada Palma has called for 2,000 more soldiers. To date, the insurgents have merely committed petty crimes, but while no serious fighting has occurred, they have entrenched in a church near Pinar del Rio’s capital. Dr. Juan F. O’Farrill, the acting Secretary of Government, feels Venezuela can fully cope with the situation, and while Sleeper feels the situation is more serious than O’Farrill admits, he agrees that the nation should be able to “crush the revolt with the resources at its disposal.” He encloses several pertinent newspaper clippings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-21

Creator(s)

Sleeper, Jacob, 1869-1930

Benjamin F. Barnes encloses President Roosevelt’s reply to Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma’s note of July 7.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-23

Creator(s)

Barnes, Benjamin F., 1868-1909