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President Roosevelt comments on the work of several diplomats, including Maurice Francis Egan, David Jayne Hill, and John Wallace Riddle. Roosevelt writes that he looks forward to talking with Egan about various social and political issues in Denmark. Roosevelt also provides his opinions on the value of farming populations and agricultural states in the United States.
1908-10-05
President Roosevelt has received praise for Minister to Denmark Maurice Francis Egan, along with John Wallace Riddle and David Jayne Hill, from Nicholas Butler Murray. Roosevelt is confused by the rates of depression and tendency toward socialism in Denmark, a country of farmers. Mississippi is the most agricultural state in the United States, and Roosevelt concludes that although there are many great Mississippians, a mixture of farmers and townsfolk is the best population to have.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-05
President Roosevelt is glad to hear Nicholas Murray Butler’s thoughts on Maurice Francis Egan and David Jayne Hill. Roosevelt would prefer men like them over any other type of American representative.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-01
President Roosevelt summarizes two letters he has received from Oscar K. Davis for Elihu Root. The letters, from Times reporter William Bayard Hale, describe an interview Hale had with German Emperor William II. In the first letter, Hale describes the two-hour interview itself, in which William makes several incendiary statements regarding England, Russia, China, Japan, the United States, and the Catholic Church. In the second letter, Hale reports that after showing the interview to the German Foreign Office and American Ambassador David Jayne Hill, both decided it would be unwise and improper to quote the emperor. Roosevelt told Davis that he strongly discouraged making the interview public. In domestic news, Roosevelt is making a “quiet canvass” of feeling regarding the re-nomination of Charles Evans Hughes for governor of New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-08
President Roosevelt provides Secretary of State Hay with a list of appointments in the diplomatic and consular service after March 4, 1905. Roosevelt includes a handwritten note, “All this is tentative.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-17
Theodore Roosevelt declines Robert Erskine Ely’s request to endorse a series of lectures being given by David Jayne Hill, as it would set a bad precedent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-22
On behalf of President Roosevelt, William Loeb introduces Chase S. Osborn to Ambassador David Jayne Hill per Osborn’s request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-23
President Roosevelt was very interested in what Ambassador Reid wrote to him about the planned reform of the House of Lords, and about German Emperor William II. Roosevelt tells Reid about some of his own foreign relations with Germany, intimating that he used the United States Navy to help shore up relations with Germany during the Venezuela crisis. He qualifies that such threats of force must be “accompanied with every manifestation of politeness and friendship,” and that he follows the policy of “speaking softly and carrying a big stick.” Roosevelt additionally informs Reid of the route he plans to take on his way to Mombasa, and that he wishes to avoid official functions. He also hopes to avoid reporters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-04
President Roosevelt writes his son, Ted, about a variety of matters. He discusses the trouble that Emperor William II of Germany is in with both conservatives and socialists. Last year, he gave a damaging interview to American journalist William Bayard Hale, which Roosevelt intervened to prevent the New York Times from publishing. A portion was published in Century and suppressed by the Germans. Roosevelt reflects on the current state of the liberal and democratic movement, and believes that the situation is not as dire as in the French Revolution, or in 1840s America. He also explains his lukewarm support of women’s suffrage. Finally, Roosevelt offers his son advice on working with the people around him when it is natural, but not pursuing relationships that are merely social in nature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-20
President Roosevelt tells Arthur Hamilton Lee about an interview between German Emperor William II and the American journalist William Bayard Hale, which has been suppressed. In the interview, the Emperor expressed bitterness toward England and said he believed that Japan was preparing for war on the United States. He also stated that war between Germany and England was inevitable. To avoid any bitterness between Germany and the United States, Roosevelt called The New York Times and asked that the interview not be printed. Lee should destroy the letter when he is finished with it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-17
President Roosevelt is pleased to hear what Hugo Münsterberg has to say about David Jayne Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-28
President Roosevelt found Ambassador White’s letter interesting. He wishes he could see George Otto Trevelyan, and says that he admires Prime Minister H. H. Asquith more than late Prime Minister Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Roosevelt has asked Congress for four battleships, because he knew he would not be able to get two unless he pushed for four. He believes White’s reading of the Kaiser-Tower-Hill case was accurate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-27
President Roosevelt tells Hugo Münsterberg that there is “no truth whatever” to the rumors about newly-appointed Ambassador to Germany David Jayne Hill. There are no plans to send Lloyd Carpenter Griscom to Berlin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-25
President Roosevelt is glad to see H. H. Asquith named the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He thanks Ambassador Reid for warning him that the Pilgrims’ Club are “notoriety hunters” and will instruct David Jayne Hill not to attend the dinner. He also notes that he has been approached by Irish societies who have asked him to oppose the arbitration treaty with Great Britain. He refused, citing George Washington’s admonition not to “give way to national antipathies.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-18
President Roosevelt wishes that Cecil Spring Rice and his wife were there to visit with him and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. He reflects on the growing German materialism in light of the controversy surrounding the appointment of David Jayne Hill as new ambassador there. The previous ambassador, Charlemagne Tower, was wealthy, and Roosevelt believes that the Germans dislike Hill because he is not wealthy. Roosevelt reflects on the merits of being rich and concludes that while it is good to have the things that money can buy, “from the standpoint of real pleasure [he] should selfishly prefer [his] oldtime ranch on the Little Missouri to anything in Newport.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-11
President Roosevelt thanks German Emperor William II for his work in fostering friendship between Germany and the United States. He regrets that the situation regarding his nomination of David Jayne Hill as the new Ambassador to Germany was made public, and explains that if he had been told privately that the Emperor wanted a different man, he would have nominated someone else. Roosevelt also provides an update on the progress of the American fleet’s tour of South America, and says that its target practice off the Mexican coast went well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-04
President Roosevelt notifies Secretary of State Root that the German Ambassador, Hermann Speck von Sternburg, visited him to say that the German Foreign Office disclaimed the statements regarding David Jayne Hill, and that he is welcome in Berlin. In a postscript, Roosevelt adds that it appears that Ambassador Charlemagne Tower may have been talking indiscreetly, and that his resignation may need to take place sooner, rather than later. Roosevelt also sent a copy of the memorandum, minus the postscript, to Sternburg.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-29
President Roosevelt is unable to give Hamilton Fish a job in an embassy, as he would prefer to promote from within. David Jayne Hill, who is already in the service, would take preference if any New York man is considered.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-04
President Roosevelt asks German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg if it would be agreeable to have dinner with Columbia University’s Kaiser Wilhelm Professor Rudolf Leonhard and his wife, when Sternburg is well. Roosevelt also asks, personally and confidentially, what Sternburg knows about Minister to the Netherlands David Jayne Hill and his wife, Juliet Lewis Packer Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-30
President Roosevelt wants Secretary of State Root to inform the British Embassy of the poor journalistic practices of Maurice A. Low, who represents “the very worst type of the yellow journalism.” Roosevelt would like to know whether David Jayne Hill can be appointed delegate to the upcoming Hague Convention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-09