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President Roosevelt tells Ambassador Reid that he has heard from Andrew Carnegie, who heard from members of the British parliament, who heard from the British ambassador to Germany, who heard from Emperor William II that he is building Germany’s navy up against the United States. This story “did not impress [Roosevelt] in the least.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-10
President Roosevelt assures Emperor William II that he does not believe the rumors that the German Empire is building their fleet against the United States. He hears of such rumors on a regular basis against all countries, and they will never cause “more than good-natured amusement.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-08
President Roosevelt asks Richard Watson Gilder to return the enclosed, with notes on what Roosevelt can say regarding the part he has marked. He knows the amount that the Germans can pay is limited.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-06
President Roosevelt tells British Ambassador to the United States Grey that Rennel Rodd was offered a position interacting with the US government, but turned it down. Roosevelt contrasts the attitudes and relations of a number of different countries with America and England, and takes a specific focus on Japan. Roosevelt notes that Japan has continued preparing for war over the last decade, and writes that there will be industrial competition between Japan and European countries. He also wonders if they are planning on invading America, Germany, or the Philippines. Roosevelt wants the United States and Japan to sign a treaty stating they will keep their citizens out of each other’s labor markets. Roosevelt closes by remarking on the similarities in governmental thinking and military approach between the United States and England.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-19
President Roosevelt supports the Monroe Doctrine and wants South America to “develop on its own lines, with an open door to all outside nations.” He wishes that the same policy could be applied to China. Roosevelt is saddened by England’s military “decay” and wonders if the Franco-Russian alliance will be permanent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-11
President Roosevelt assures Marie Mensing that he is not anti-German and hopes the two nations will maintain close ties.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-10
President Roosevelt thanks Hugo Münsterberg for his telegram and assures him he wants to keep the warmest relationship between the United States and Germany.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-23
Harry Johnston thanks Theodore Roosevelt for sending his collection of essays on birds and mammals. Johnson was also sorry to read in the papers that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt fell from her horse. He plans to visit Germany and Holland soon to study breeding in Europe, and mentioned an invitation from Booker Washington to attend the Negro Confrence in Alabama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-06
Henry P. Curtis describes a recent publication on European natural history that he believes Theodore Roosevelt might be interested in. He explains how many towns were named after the animals that once resided there, such as Wolverhampton (wolves).
Curtis also shares with Roosevelt that his father was a Whig, while Curtis is a Republican. He expresses admiration for Senator John Sherman, discusses his political adversaries, and wishes that Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, and Daniel Webster could have been presidents.
Thomas T. Wright expresses to Oscar W. Underwood that the U.S. needs more American ships in foreign trade and urges Congress to pass a ship subsidy bill to support the merchant marine and boost the southern economy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-11
Arthur Hamilton Lee is enjoying his holiday in the Scottish Highlands and feels refreshed after engaging in outdoor recreation. He is glad to hear Theodore Roosevelt is likewise taking pleasure in his leisure. Lee discusses recent British political issues, including debates over Constitutional law and Irish Home Rule. Additionally, he comments on international relations between Morocco, Germany, and France, and the United States’ proposed arbitration treaty with Great Britain. Hopefully, in the near future, he and his wife, Ruth Moore Lee, can travel to the United States and visit the Roosevelt family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-10
Ambassador Tower encloses his entire correspondence regarding Edwin Lefevre’s desire to interview German Emperor William II. Lefevre wants to write an article in an American newspaper about the character and personality of William II and hoped to personally meet with the German emperor. Although it was not possible because William II was traveling, Tower informs Roosevelt that the Imperial Foreign Office was sympathetic to Lefevre’s intentions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-17
Acting Secretary of State Adee informs German Ambassador Sternburg that he has received Sternburg’s letter regarding Emperor William II’s presentation of busts of Frederick II and Helmuth Moltke to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Adee promises to ensure that the busts are forwarded to their destination.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-17
Edwin Lefevre thanks Ambassador Tower for attempting to arrange an audience with German Emperor William II for Lefevre and only regrets that he probably put Tower to “some trouble.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-14
Ambassador Pourtalès informs Ambassador Tower that Edwin Lefevre cannot be received by German Emperor William II because the emperor is traveling extensively and can only receive official visits. Pourtalès, however, does appreciate Lefevre’s kind intentions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-13
Edwin Lefevre informs Ambassador to Germany Tower that he plans to write an appreciation of German Emperor William II as a companion study to one about President Roosevelt that will be released soon. He is visiting Germany in the hopes of speaking with William II in order to gain a personal impression of him. Lefevre compares his study to H. G. Wells’s study of Roosevelt, which brought him great admiration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-07
A translation of an article from the Asahi Shimbun criticizes a labor regulation which resulted in the loss of employment for foreign Chinese railroad workers. The writer argues that the inexpensive yet efficient labor provided by Chinese workers is necessary for Japan to improve its industry and compete with international, particularly German, commodities. The writer acknowledges the potential harm increasing immigrant labor could cause local Japanese laborers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-02
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Reid gives President Roosevelt an update on international politics in Europe, especially events in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Russia. He assures the President that the London Morning Post has a good opinion of him, and proposes a solution to the problem of one of its correspondents writing unfairly on the Roosevelt administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-17
Andrew Carnegie tells President Roosevelt that he believes the priority at the next Hague Peace Conference must be the establishment of an international police force.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-14
British Foreign Secretary Grey updates President Roosevelt about James Bryce’s plans regarding his upcoming trip to Canada and the ongoing conversations about the best position to take at the International Peace Conference. Grey hopes the diplomatic debacle following Jamaican Governor James Alexander Swettenham’s refusal of American help after the Kingston Earthquake is blowing over, as well as the conflict between the Japanese Government and America regarding California. Grey thinks that King Léopold II of Belgium should relinquish control of the Congo, which he believes should pass to the Belgian Government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-12