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Immigrants--Legal status, laws, etc.

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Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Harrison Gray Otis

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Harrison Gray Otis

President Roosevelt tells General Otis in confidence that he is attempting to negotiate an agreement with Japan that would mutually exclude laborers from immigrating. He would like to restrict immigrants from the “lowest standard of living” from Europe as well. However, he believe that the Japanese already here should be treated like every other citizen, and that “the cry against them is simply nonsense.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wilson

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wilson

President Roosevelt introduces Secretary of Agriculture Wilson to social reformer and immigration investigator Frances Kellor, who may present the note in person or send it to him. Kellor has provided the president with guidance in regard to immigration laws, and “thru her agents obtains special reports on conditions affecting various Departments of the Government.” Roosevelt asks Wilson to carefully consider Kellor’s advice regarding the current investigation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge has read Theodore Roosevelt’s article on arbitration under the Russian treaty and is troubled by the matter. The Russians have never “given up the doctrine of indefeasible allegiance,” thus excepting their subjects from part of the treaty. Lodge also believes that the Russians violate the treaty regarding American born Jews. Going to the Permanent Court of Arbitration could strengthen the American position but Russia would likely ignore any decision on their right to exclude immigrants. This would also raise awkward questions regarding the United States’ laws against Chinese immigration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-12

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from A. Lawrence Lowell to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from A. Lawrence Lowell to Theodore Roosevelt

Harvard University President A. Lawrence Lowell enjoyed his visit to the White House, but missed the opportunity to speak with President Roosevelt about immigration law. Though Lowell knows Roosevelt will be too busy during his trip to Massachusetts to visit, he asks if Roosevelt could address Harvard to help students see the connection between their studies and “the battle of life.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-16

Creator(s)

Lowell, A. Lawrence (Abbott Lawrence), 1856-1943

Memorandum from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Memorandum from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte relays to President Roosevelt the language of the immigration law enabling the President to prevent the Japanese government from issuing passports for immigrants to the continental United States who first travel through other countries or United States territories and the draft executive order. Bonaparte suggests changes to the order to make it conform with the immigration law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-14

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Lyman Abbott to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Lyman Abbott to Theodore Roosevelt

Lyman Abbott would support offering naturalization to Chinese and Japanese immigrants if the Japanese were not already a majority in Hawaii. Abbott feels that a law which would give the Japanese political control in a territory that is important to the United States for both military and commercial reasons would be “extremely perilous.” Abbott returns the letter from President David Starr Jordan of Stanford University and encloses an editorial on the “Japanese question.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-17

Creator(s)

Abbott, Lyman, 1835-1922

Remarks made by Frank P. Sargent at Honolulu, June 27, 1905

Remarks made by Frank P. Sargent at Honolulu, June 27, 1905

Commissioner Sargent delivers remarks at a dinner given by the Chinese-Consul General of Hawaii. Sargent praises the friendly relations that exist between the United States and China, yet acknowledges that the Chinese Exclusion Act prohibits “certain classes of its people” from emigrating to the United States. As the two countries work towards a new treaty, Sargent hopes that “nothing will be permitted to arise which will mar the good feeling which does and should prevail between the two countries.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-27

Creator(s)

Sargent, Frank P., 1854-1908

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt would like the Permanent Court of Arbitration to examine the Russian arbitration treaty. He believes that nations should be able to exclude undesirable immigrants, but Russia is being foolish by turning away Jewish-American travelers. Roosevelt does not believe that this compares to American laws against Chinese immigration, as the Jewish Americans are not seeking to permanently join the Russian population. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is “really better.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919