Imperialism

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt reflects to Ambassador Reid on the broader implications of the peace negotiated between Russia and Japan. The British Ambassador to France, Sir Francis Bertie, believes that the terms were too harsh on Japan and will make the United States and Roosevelt unpopular there. Roosevelt believes that Japan’s belief that if it continued the war, it could gain a large indemnity from Russia was incorrect, and nonetheless stresses the importance of the United States remaining ready for any international developments. In a postscript, he takes issue with British criticism of American conduct in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Brainard Taylor Moore

President Roosevelt informs incoming Governor of American Samoa Moore that he has received a letter from the district officials of Tutuila and Manua expressing gratitude for the “kind administration” they received under outgoing Governor Edmund B. Underwood. Roosevelt is gratified to hear of the continued advancements in education of the people of Samoa and will appoint governors who will advance the people there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George G. Cotton

President Roosevelt tells George G. Cotton that he believes that, as a descendant of John Cotton and William Bradford, Cotton “typifies the old Puritan spirit infinitely more than the professional anti-imperialists of Boston to-day.” Roosevelt appreciated Cotton’s kind words, and sympathizes with him about missing a moose hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene A. Philbin

President Roosevelt shares information with Eugene A. Philbin regarding comments made by Secretary of State John Hay about the Congo Free State. Roosevelt also appreciates the information Philbin gave him about Sullivan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Yates Satterlee

President Roosevelt recommends that the Right Reverend Yates not attend a particular service during the political campaign. Recently, Roosevelt’s minister preached a sermon on peace, and Democratic newspapers misconstrued the sermon as an attack on the President. Roosevelt believes that they would be likely to use the same tactic again. Roosevelt will confine himself to his own ordinary church services until after the election when “our opponents return to the ordinary customs of morality and decency.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

President Roosevelt will see E. D. Morel, but will not be able to do anything about the Congo when it is six weeks before a national election. Roosevelt has been rereading Thomas Babington Macaulay’s histories and is struck by the importance of moderation in bringing about progress. Roosevelt discusses his position on race relations and labor issues as being moderate compared to extremists on either side.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Gurney Cannon

President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Gurney Cannon, Chairman of the Notification Committee, to formally accept his nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and to approve the platform adopted by the Republican National Convention. In the letter, Roosevelt provides a comprehensive defense of his foreign and domestic policies and outlines what he believes are the major differences between the Republican and Democratic parties in the upcoming election. Roosevelt discusses, among other topics, his position on international relations, antitrust legislation, tariffs, the gold standard, pensions for Civil War veterans, the military, civil service, commerce, agriculture, taxation, and self-government in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Sir Cecil Spring Rice

President Roosevelt gives Cecil Spring Rice his assessment on the Russo-Japanese War. Roosevelt is not concerned with the emergence of Japan as a world power and does not think that Japan will become more aggressive. Roosevelt is concerned that Russia must be contained, but insists to Spring Rice that the U.S. has no intention of intervening in the war. In a postscript, Roosevelt discusses the differences between Japanese and American culture and diplomacy, and reflects on race and culture.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt notes that there seems to be uneasiness about addressing immigration, and asks Senator Lodge to send him a copy of the platform. Roosevelt also remarks that he misses Lodge and Nannie, and tells him about a letter he got from Edward Brandegee of Utica.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

President Roosevelt was sad to hear that Cecil Spring Rice will not receive a position in Washington, D. C. Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt have enjoyed the books sent by Spring Rice. Roosevelt reflects on the differences of Persian culture. He believes the Panama treaty will pass and the canal will begin construction. Roosevelt is confident the Panama Canal will be a benefit to mankind.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Codman Potter

President Roosevelt thanks Henry Codman Potter for clarifying the situation in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-02

Letter from William Alex. Sutherland to Theodore Roosevelt

William Alex. Sutherland thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his response regarding a manuscript titled The Daydreams of Asia, Europe, and America, and discusses the challenges of publishing in India. He expresses hope that the book may be of interest to American readers due to its political and cultural insights, particularly on India’s global role, Anglo-American heritage, and future world events.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-07

Letter from Henry Beach Needham to Frank Harper

Henry Beach Needham asks Frank Harper to thank Theodore Roosevelt for his invitation to visit when he gets to New York. He also sends an article that he wants Roosevelt to see. The article is a comparison of American and British imperialism in the Philippines and India, respectively.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-01

Letter from Harry Johnston to Theodore Roosevelt

Harry Johnston thanks President Roosevelt for facilitating a warm reception when he visited the Panama Canal construction site, where he met president-elect William H. Taft. Johnston then wrote a letter to Taft on his return to Colòn about the city’s appalling hotel and infrastructure. He now worries that this was inappropriate. If Taft is angry, he asks Roosevelt to “placate his wrath.” Johnston also wonders why Roosevelt is going hunting in Africa instead of somewhere in South America, Central America, or the Antilles. He shares his address in England, and hopes that United States Minister to Haiti H. W. Furniss will retain his position in the new administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-03

Letter from Harry Johnston to William H. Taft

Harry Johnston enjoyed meeting President-elect Taft and his wife, Helen Herron Taft, during their Panama Canal inspection. Johnson is optimistic about Taft’s plan for a dam at Gatun, but advises that the city of Colón poses another significant threat to the Canal. He offers suggestions for improving Colón’s dated and unsafe infrastructure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-02

Letter from William Woodville Rockhill to Theodore Roosevelt

William Woodville Rockhill recounts what occurred between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government while the Dalai Lama was staying in Peking. Rockhill met with the Dalai Lama and offered advice to Agvan Dorjiev about whether or not the Dalai Lama should return to Lhasa and accept the removal of his temporal power. Rockhill believes that many of the reforms that China wishes to make would improve conditions in Tibet, while still allowing the Dalai Lama to maintain control over the Yellow Church.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-08

Memorandum from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

In light of the most recent report by Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf, Secretary of State Root recommends that no further action be taken by Congress in regard to setting up a system of government for American Samoa. The natives there already have a “just conception” of the type of government that best suits them and interference from Congress would make a mess of it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-02

Letter from Otto Gresham to Theodore Roosevelt

Otto Gresham recounts for President Roosevelt his conversation with Seizaburo Shimizu, the Japanese consul in Chicago. Shimizu was concerned that the major papers in Chicago, especially the Tribune, might “lash the community into anger” against Japan because Eleanor Medill Patterson, daughter of a Tribune editor, had married a Russian nobleman. Gresham assured Shimizu that most Americans look poorly on foreign noblemen who marry American women and do not view such marriages as grounds for alliance. Gresham also mentions that Lord Curzon said the Japanese would try to take the Philippines from the United States. Shimizu, on the contrary, was shocked to hear this because he believes Japan wants the United States to keep the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-26

Letter from John A. Herman to Theodore Roosevelt

John A. Herman, an applicant for a judicial or diplomatic position, introduces himself to President Roosevelt. Herman particularly believes his Spanish language skills makes him a good fit for a diplomatic position in a Spanish-speaking colony.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-30

Letter from Albert Halstead to William Loeb

Consul Halstead forwards a London Times article to William Loeb about German Emperor William II and his plans for the German empire. He notes that while the article states the plans exclude expansion in Europe, it makes no mention of possible colonial interests in the Western Hemisphere. Halstead adds that he feels like an outsider to all the exciting and interesting political activity currently occurring in Washington, D.C.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-04