Great Britain

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Harry Munro Ferguson

In the years before the war, Great Britain was led by men like President Wilson and William H. Taft. Consequently, the British have been unable to use their strength like the other allies. The United States would perform even worse then the British. Robert Harry Munro Ferguson should not attempt to serve as he will not be sent to the front. Theodore Roosevelt’s friends Frederick Courteney Selous and R. J. Cuninghame are physically fit for their age but were refused front line service. If the United States entered the war, Roosevelt would serve with the expectation that he would eventually “break down.” He concludes with brief updates on the Roosevelt children.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lawrence Godkin

Theodore Roosevelt has read Frederick Scott Oliver’s book and agrees that Oliver’s description of English politicians is equally relevant to American politicians. William H. Taft has been “floundering around in the professional pacifist mudpuddle” and President Wilson has failed to prepare the country for war. Roosevelt wishes that more public men had advocated on behalf of Belgium and military readiness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Scott Oliver

Theodore Roosevelt compliments Frederick Scott Oliver’s book, Alexander Hamilton. If the United States enters the war, Roosevelt hopes to raise a cavalry regiment similar to the Rough Riders and serve with his four sons. He argues that Great Britain would probably not have entered the war if Germany had respected Belgian neutrality and is distressed at his own country’s failures to defend international rights. Roosevelt has been annoyed at the activity of pacifists. English pacifists should be concerned about defeating Germany and American pacifists should be demanding that the United States follow through on the country’s international obligations. Pacifists are “playing Germany’s game” by demanding peace without regard to the terms of peace. Roosevelt believes a nation must be strong to preserve friendships and respect. He would like the United States and Great Britain to have a “peculiarly close degree of friendship.” Roosevelt is currently out of sympathy with the American public and commands little support.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-07-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee

Theodore Roosevelt has been impressed with the efficiency of Germany’s industry and military. He is distressed that the United States has not matched European nations in industrial and military matters. Roosevelt blames American leadership for this failure. If he had been president, an immediate stand would have been taken against Germany and the United States would likely now be fighting with Great Britain. Roosevelt is disgusted by American pacifists and President Wilson’s statement that the nation is “too proud to fight.” There should have been a “popular revolt” against Wilson. Roosevelt wishes he and his sons were in trenches and is already planning to raise a “division of mounted riflemen” similar to the Rough Riders. He concludes with updates on several Roosevelt family members.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Wister

Theodore Roosevelt met with Owen Wister’s English pacifist friend and could not help telling him that Englishmen should be at home doing their duty. The prime duty of the English and Americans should be to prepare against disaster and stop making promises they do not intend to keep. Roosevelt expresses his displeasure at the policies of the Wilson administration and the influence of American pacifists.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Emilio Frers

Theodore Roosevelt discusses with Argentine politician Emilio Frers the actions that the United States should have taken in the early days of World War I regarding Belgian neutrality, German submarine warfare, and British treatment of neutral vessels. Roosevelt feels it would be “a shameful thing” to ignore major offenses but raise a fuss about minor ones.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-02-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to David Lloyd George

Theodore Roosevelt congratulates David Lloyd George on the action that was taken to get a coalition cabinet. Roosevelt says that more than anything, he wishes to congratulate Lloyd George on what he has done in association with World War I. Roosevelt thinks that when the war is over, Lloyd George will have to take up the part of dealing with many matters, but the prime business at present is for Lloyd George to save his country, and Roosevelt admires the straightforward manner with which Lloyd George has devoted himself to this task.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Scott Oliver

It is difficult to “chasten” your own side during a crisis as it will lead to accusations of assisting the enemy. Theodore Roosevelt has had to speak unpleasantly about his countrymen and much of what Frederick Scott Oliver has been writing about the British also applies to Americans. Roosevelt has been distressed by the reaction of American intellectuals and disgusted by the pacifists calling for international leagues but not standing up for Belgium. He wants the United States to keep its promises and international obligations. Roosevelt wishes there was a better candidate to run against President Wilson. There has been a movement to nominate him but as a pioneer against Wilson his current reputation is too “battered and splattered.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-04-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Estanislao Severo Zeballos

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Estanislao Severo Zeballos for his letter. In response, Roosevelt notes that actions of Great Britain against American merchandise shipments are of “insignificant importance” compared to the aggression that Germany displayed in the invasion of Belgium and the murder of innocent civilians during their attacks on passenger ships.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-02-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hugo Munsterberg

Theodore Roosevelt agrees that good people can “be on exactly opposite sides of every question.” For example, his mother’s family fought for the Confederacy and she was an “unreconstructed rebel to the day of her death.” Roosevelt denies he favors any foreign nation and provides several actions he took while president to support the assertion. He believes that the United States could learn a great deal from German social and industrial life. Roosevelt particularly enjoys the style of German clubs and regrets that he is unlikely to be welcomed by them anymore.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-02-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur James Balfour

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased that Arthur James Balfour has gone into office and wishes him success, most likely referring to his appointment as First Lord of the Admiralty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-05-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Callan O’Laughlin

Theodore Roosevelt does not want to be considered in next spring’s primaries. He hopes that the Republican Party will realize that the Progressive Party platform of 1912 was “mere Abraham Lincolnism” and a decent man will be nominated. Roosevelt believes President Wilson should be protesting against the German sinking of passenger ships. British actions should be ignored until action is taken against the “infinitely worse deeds of the Germans.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

Theodore Roosevelt comments on a recent statement by James Bryce, which he believes gives justification to those in the United States who support President Woodrow Wilson’s administration and its pacifist stance toward the war in Europe. Roosevelt has advocated for America to act in defense of Belgium’s neutrality, not for her to stand with England. Although he believes in the friendship of America and England, he has not hesitated to stand for America’s rights when necessary. Wilson’s administration, while speaking of neutrality toward England and Germany, has through its policies and words lent aid to Germany and against the Allies. Roosevelt believes that Bryce’s statement has given support for this stance and done great harm to the Allied cause in the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ladislaus Hengelmuller von Hengervar

Theodore Roosevelt was able to secure wide publication of Ladislaus Hengelmuller von Hengervar’s letter. Roosevelt does not believe there is “substantial feeling against Austria-Hungary in America,” but the public is wary of Germany due to the invasion and occupation of Belgium. He does not see the slightest analogy between his actions in Panama and Colombia while president with the German action towards Belgium. Roosevelt had hoped that Austria-Hungary could develop into a “gigantic Switzerland of South-eastern Europe” with equality for the country’s many ethnic groups. Since the nation became prominent in public life, Great Britain has always been friendly towards the United States. This contrasts sharply with Roosevelt’s feeling that, given the opportunity, Germany would force the United States to accept “utter humiliation or war.” He admires Germany and Germans and has always sought friendship between Germany and the United States. However, Roosevelt sees no justification for German conduct in Belgium and he will always judge foreign nations by their conduct.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Bryce

Theodore Roosevelt believes it is an inopportune time to attempt the creation of a “World League for Peace.” Before any world league is organized, the nations of the world need to meet and enforce current international obligations, which includes having free nations prepared for war. Roosevelt argues that military preparedness is the only way to maintain and enforce peace. He wishes that the United States had defended Belgium but also faults the British for infringing on neutrality. Roosevelt admires Viscount Bryce but regrets that Bryce’s influence will be used to argue in favor of a doctrine that no duty is owed if carrying out that duty “entails risk or hardship.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Kean Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt understands that the United States could help stop the war by prohibiting the shipment of supplies. However, he argues this would be dishonorable as it would mostly harm the allies and benefit Germany. Roosevelt is “plain United States” and wants the country to do their duty towards other nations and to themselves. To do this, the country must be prepared and should have started months ago. The United States needs to prepare for self defense, judge other nations by their conduct, live up to their obligations, and “not be neutral between right and wrong.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert Apponyi

Until the outbreak of war, Albert Apponyi’s correspondence with Theodore Roosevelt was anti-Austrian and Apponyi considered Roosevelt “lukewarm for liberty” because he wanted Hungary to stay within the Austrian Empire. Roosevelt does not agree that the war is against Russia, as Germany stated that the war is primarily against Great Britain and Russia attempted to have the Austria-Serbia conflict placed before the Hague court. He also disagrees about Belgium and does not believe that Britain would have gone to war if Belgian neutrality had been observed. Roosevelt has friends throughout Europe and is working to prepare the United States so they will not suffer a disaster similar to the Belgians or Poles.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. Grant La Farge

Theodore Roosevelt does not understand C. Grant La Farge’s question, but suggests that Henry Adams’s History of the United States During the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson and History of the United States During the Administrations of James Madison will give the most detailed account of the matter. Concerning Napoleon’s account, Roosevelt urges La Farge to “discriminate between the real and make-believe facts.” Roosevelt believes that Great Britain was worse to the United States than France.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee

Theodore Roosevelt does not understand Leopold James Maxse of the National Review who is being “severe” towards the United States and the role Jews play in British society. Maxse supported William H. Taft and is supporting President Wilson even though they do not want the United States to do its duty towards Great Britain. American public opinion is shifting towards Britain and the allies. Wilson is pursuing a policy that will appease the pacifists and not antagonize the allies. Roosevelt hopes Britain will not provoke the United States and other neutrals by violating the rules laid out in the Hague Conventions. He is anxious over German submarines disrupting commerce and chagrined at the German victory in East Prussia. However, Roosevelt believes that Germany will be defeated if the allies remain united.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased that John St. Loe Strachey liked his book, America and the World War. He appreciates that Strachey loves the United States but understands this affection pales in comparison to the love Strachey feels for his own country. Roosevelt believes this is the attitude everyone should take. In the book, Roosevelt wanted to be just towards Germany but he feels that Great Britain was in the right. However, he warns against antagonizing the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-22