Hayashi, Tadasu, 1850-1913 | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Letter from Henry Percival Dodge to Elihu Root

Henry Percival Dodge acknowledges receipt of Secretary of State Root’s telegram regarding Chinese laborers recently expelled from Japan and confirms his reply. Per Root’s request, Dodge has sent two copies of the Imperial Japanese Ordinance No. 352 of 1899 and the Home Office Notification No. 42. Dodge lists the facts that he knows about the situation and states that most newspapers have reported the facts of the case but little editorial comment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-12

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

John Callan O’Laughlin informs President Roosevelt that the Japanese government has had a change of heart regarding the agreement between the United States and Japan which was proposed last fall. They would now like to enter into the agreement, which would give assurances that the Japanese would honor United States sovereignty over its Pacific possessions. Regarding a treaty that will end in 1912, O’Laughlin notes that the Japanese would like revisions regarding Japanese immigration to the United States. The Japanese are also thinking about annexing Korea.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-11

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid updates President Roosevelt on diplomatic affairs in London. Reid has spoken with several British authorities regarding Roosevelt’s upcoming African safari. The Japanese Ambassador to Great Britain, Jutarō Komura, met with Reid at a luncheon given for members of the Olympic committee and emphasized that he and the Japanese Emperor recognized the United States as a friend. The Chinese Ambassador held a dinner and expressed friendly regard toward the United States. Reid provides a detailed description of two controversial Olympic races in London: in the 400 meter race, an American was disqualified for breaking the rules, and in the marathon, the Italian winner was disqualified in favor of an American. Reid notes that the American athletes, while somewhat justified in their frustrations, were seen by the British press as ill-mannered. Finally, Reid says he doubts that Roosevelt can make private visits to Paris and London on his way back from Africa without giving offense to government officials who would expect a state visit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-11

Telegram from Thomas J. O’Brien to Elihu Root

Japanese Ambassador O’Brien has carried out Secretary of State’s Root’s instructions on the matter of Japanese immigration in the United States and Canada. Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Tadasu Hayashi will abide by the new policies Root has set out and will consider new policies that might be put forward.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-27

Report from Elihu Root to American Embassy in Tokyo

Secretary of State Root describes the measures American immigration officials want the Imperial Japanese Government to undertake. Such measures would limit the immigration of Japanese and Korean laborers to the mainland United States and Hawaii with particular emphasis on stricter control over passports provided for Japanese and Korean laborers along with harsher punishments for immigrants who violate said policies. Root concludes that the Imperial Government has not been successful in curbing the number of immigrants and that this report should be sent to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Tadasu Hayashi.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-18

Telegram from Thomas J. O’Brien to Elihu Root

Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Tadasu Hayashi has asked Ambassador O’Brien to pass on a summary of Japanese Ambassador Kogoro Takahira’s conversation with President Roosevelt on 25 October, 1907, to Secretary of State Root. Takahira advised Roosevelt that positive steps must be taken to counteract negative public opinion toward Japan, and expanded on several points to consider. It is the opinion of the Japanese government that an agreement allowing Japanese workers into the United States that is satisfactory to both parties is impossible under existing circumstances. Takahira also asks that the opinions he stated be kept in confidence, as he is not authorized to speak on these matters by the Japanese government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-03

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

John Callan O’Laughlin, of the Chicago Tribune, describes an interview he had with the Japanese Ambassador Shūzō Aoki to President Roosevelt. Aoki said the Japanese government declined to exchange assurances with the United States about the situation in the Pacific unless the question of allowing Japanese workers into Hawaii and the United States mainland were settled at the same time. This attitude caused Aoki to consider resigning, but O’Laughlin urged Aoki not to resign and suggested that perhaps by refusing to negotiate, Hayashi wanted to restore Japanese prestige after the Great White Fleet was sent to the Pacific. O’Laughlin tells Roosevelt that it is obvious sending the Great White Fleet to the Pacific was the right thing to do, but asks why Japan would make assurances to France, Russia, and Germany that are not dependent on allowing the immigration and naturalization of Japanese workers, while assurances to the United States would require such an agreement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-04

Telegram from William H. Taft to Frank McIntyre

Secretary of War Taft instructs Frank McIntyre to direct the message in his telegram regarding his visit in Japan to Secretary of State Elihu Root if he is in town, otherwise to President Roosevelt. Taft has met with many Japanese politicians and officials, and discussed many topics of interest to both nations, primarily concerning Japanese immigration to the United States. Taft does not think it is wise to pursue a treaty including reciprocal exclusion at this time, and wishes to inform Roosevelt so that he can persuade members of congress from California to accept the current status quo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-18

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a copy of his interview with Japanese Prime Minister Kinmochi Saionji. In his interviews with other Japanese government officials, Taft expressed that the disturbances in San Francisco do not reflect the attitude of the United States towards Japan. The Japanese are willing to restrict immigration, but not by treaty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-07

Letter from Kentarō Kaneko to Theodore Roosevelt

Kentarō Kaneko discusses the relations between the United States and Japan, especially regarding the current debate surrounding immigration. He describes Japanese responses to the unrest in San Francisco and urges President Roosevelt to stop it before it damages relations further. Kaneko praises Roosevelt’s views on international relations, as well as his new immigration commission, and condemns Cardinal James Gibbons’s recent article on international peace, which Kaneko feels is anti-Japanese.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-07

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid spoke to Francis Hyde Villiers about Japanese matters, and Villiers did not believe the Japanese would send a fleet to the Baltic as rumored. Peace still seems very distant, but Villiers believes the Russians might be driven to pay war reparations if Japan entered Russian lands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-17

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid writes to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt about events in England following news of the death of Secretary of State John Hay, including the Fourth of July reception held by the embassy there. Reid shares information about the Kings of England and Spain and hopes that she will share the news with President Roosevelt. Reid also expresses some nervousness about speeches being printed verbatim in Europe, and remarks about the volume of speeches he is asked to give. He includes several songs that were sung at gatherings he attended.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-10

Memorandum on lunch at Arsenal Garden

A private communication describes the conversation between Marquis Kinmochi Saionji and Secretary of War William H. Taft during a lunch at the Arsenal Garden in Japan. Saionji expressed relief at learning that Taft’s views align with those of the Japanese government on relations between the United States and Japan and on the belief that the Philippines should remain under United States control. Taft was unable to secure another meeting with Saionji on the topic of immigration, but it was expressed to him that Japan could not act in any way on the matter that would impact their dignity on the world stage.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-01