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Andrew Dickson White tells Vahan Cardashian that he is deeply sympathetic to the issue of Armenians mistreated by Turkey, but at his age of eighty he fears he cannot be too actively involved in Cardashian’s cause. However, he says Cardashian has permission to list White’s name as a member of his committee, if he thinks it will be useful.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-14
Vahan Cardashian writes to Andrew D. White expressing his concerns about the persecution Armenians are facing under the Turkish government and his fears the violence will escalate. He hopes White will be one of several other prominent men to form a committee that will weild their power to advocate for Armenian rights.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-12
President Roosevelt chides Governor Guild for being involved with a petition that recently came to Roosevelt’s desk on behalf of Africans in the Congo Free State. Roosevelt receives hundreds of such petitions on a variety of topics based on whatever the current social cause is. If he had absolute power, and the United States were “prepared to embark on a long career of disinterested violence on behalf of all sufferers outside its limits,” then Roosevelt would gladly intervene, but as it stands he does not have any authority to intervene in any of the cases presented to him. Moreover, as the United States would not actually go to war in any of the cases, Roosevelt feels that the government should not “put itself into the ridiculous position of making a fuss which it does not intend to back up.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-02
President Roosevelt writes to Oscar S. Straus about the international situation, and while Russia has promised to take steps to prevent trouble being done to its Jewish population, Roosevelt also comments on the impossibility of interfering in other countries, such as the Congo Free State or Turkey. Issuing petitions can sometimes be harmful unless the United States is able to back up the petitions with military force, which it is unlikely to do. Roosevelt knows he does not have to convince Straus of this, but some of Straus’s friends “need to have these considerations ever clearly before their eyes.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-10
President Roosevelt and a bear labeled “Russia” look at one another. Roosevelt holds a “protest agains the Kishineff massacres” while the bear holds up a “protest against lynching in the United States.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-18
President Roosevelt trails a number of weapons behind him and stands holding only a roll of paper labeled “protest” as he faces a large bear labeled “Russia” mauling a woman—”Kishineff.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-03
Secretary of State John Hay and President Roosevelt argue with one another over a scroll of paper labeled “Kishinev Massacre protest.” A bear labeled “Russia” stands in the doorway. Caption: The bear—”Why not refer your little difficulty, gentlemen, to my court of arbitration at The Hague?”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-05