Imperialism

Letter from Edward Grey to Theodore Roosevelt

British Foreign Secretary Grey informs President Roosevelt that Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand will be replaced, and while he understands Roosevelt’s desire to have Arthur Lee in his place, that is politically impossible. Temporarily, Esmé Howard will be sent to Washington as Councillor to the Embassy. Grey appreciated Roosevelt’s explanation of his telegram to German Emperor William after the Portsmouth Peace. Grey explains that his foreign policy is not anti-German, but to be independent he feels it necessary to strengthen the entente with France and come to an agreement with Russia. Grey believes that his generation has had enough of war, and the British people feel a special bond with the United States. Grey hopes the dispute between Canada and the United States over Newfoundland will soon be settled. He also adds that many in Great Britain are upset over reports of slavery and plunder in the Belgian Congo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-04

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore P. Shonts

Secretary of War Taft sends Isthmian Canal Commission Chairman Shonts his recommendations for Shonts’s board resulting from a conversation between him, Elihu Root, and President Roosevelt. Taft does not think Jackson Smith should be included since he is not an engineer and the board has to include an Army and a Navy engineer. John Ripley Freeman is a good choice since he works well with John F. Stevens. Taft ends his letter by listing potential names for the board.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-31

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Updating from Cuba, Secretary of War Taft reports that the yellow fever situation is not cause for alarm. Disarmament and surrenders are taking place all over the island, with expected difficulties in the process. Many of the insurgents have just gone home and the prospect of peace is strong.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-05

Cipher Cable from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft writes about the progress of rebel disarmament as the American occupation of Cuba begins. He reports on the condition of the weapons and horses received and difficulties in transfer because of misunderstandings due to language. He faults himself for not providing closer supervision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-07

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

In a confidential telegram to President Roosevelt, Secretary of War Taft expresses his concern that General Frederick Funston is not the right commander for the job in Cuba. The Cuban rebels do not respond to Funston. They need a more diplomatic leader like General James Franklin Bell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-03

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft informs President Roosevelt in an encrypted telegram that President Tomás Estrada Palma of Cuba will not compromise with his political opponents to remain in office because his honor will not allow him to do so. Taft believes that Estrada Palma wants armed intervention by the United States. Taft also writes that he is concerned about who will replace Estrada Palma since Taft does not find Vice President Domingo Méndez Capote to inspire confidence in his ability to lead the country. Taft still holds out hope that the rebels will lay down their arms, but argues for more ships and troops.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-25

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft cables President Roosevelt the latest changes in Cuba. Alfredo Zayas y Alfonso is trying to broker an agreement with the Cuban Moderate Party while Tomás Estrada Palma has given his resignation to Congress and has written to ask that the United States take over governing. Now they must wait to see if Congress goes along with the agreement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-27

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft informs President Roosevelt that an agreement over what to do about the Cuban insurrection has been sent to the Revolutionary committee and has been signed. Tomás Estrada Palma is pleased with the United States’ proclamation as he believed no other solution was possible. However, total disarmament of the rebels without trouble occurring is unlikely.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-29

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt on the recent elections in Cuba which failed. Taft received a letter from Tomás Estrada Palma that he has already sent ahead to Roosevelt and he plans to announce the establishment of a United States military-led government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-29

Telegram from Jacob Sleeper to William Loeb

Chargé d’affaires in Cuba Sleeper tells Secretary to the President Loeb that troops have disembarked from the USS Marietta in Cienfuegos, Cuba, despite no orders to do so. Sleeper attempted to send them a telegram asking them to reembark but the telegraph wires had been cut and so he was unable to send it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-14

Telegram from Jacob Sleeper to William Loeb

The American consul at Cienfuegos, Cuba, asked Chargé d’affaires in Cuba Sleeper whether troops from the recently-arrived USS Marietta, commanded by William F. Fullam, should land to protect the sugar plantations there. Sleeper told them to wait for instructions from Washington.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-15

Letter from Jacob Sleeper to Elihu Root

Chargé d’affaires in Cuba Sleeper informs Secretary of State Root that he ordered the soldiers from the USS Denver, who had disembarked in Cuba, to reembark for fear of rioting among the Cuban people. He also reports that President Tomás Estrada Palma was unable to promise the protection of Americans and American property in Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-15

Telegram from Jacob Sleeper to Elihu Root

Chargé d’affaires in Cuba Sleeper informs Secretary of State Root that hostilities have ceased in Cuba in the hopes of reaching an agreement between the rebels and the Cuban government prior to the arrival of Secretary of War William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-17

Telegram from Jacob Sleeper to William Loeb

Chargé d’affaires in Cuba Sleeper informs Secretary to the President Loeb that President Estrada Palma of Cuba refuses to end the fighting in that country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-11

Telegram from Nelson P. Webster to William Loeb

Nelson P. Webster forwards to William Loeb a telegram received by Secretary of State Elihu Root from Jacob Sleeper, chargé d’affaires in Cuba. Sleeper relays that he told Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma to ensure the protection of American citizens in Cuba and he received only an evasive answer. Sleeper also writes that the USS Denver has arrived in Havana.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-12

Telegram from Frank Maximillian Steinhart to William Loeb

Consul General Steinhart sends Secretary of State Root a draft of a cable to send to chargé d’affaires Jacob Sleeper in Cuba so that he can send it to Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma and release it to the press. The cable threatens United States intervention if the Cuban government cannot quell the revolt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-12

Telegram from Nelson P. Webster to William Loeb

Nelson P. Webster relays to Secretary to the President Loeb that Consul General Steinhart wired from Cuba that the rebellion there is spreading in the provinces of Havana, Santa Clara, and Pinar del Rio. President Estrada Palma has requested American military intervention, and warns that any delay “may produce a massacre of citizens in Havana.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-12

Telegram from Jacob Sleeper to William Loeb

Chargé d’affaires in Cuba Sleeper relays a message from the General Manager of the Western Railway to Secretary to the President Loeb that the Cuban rebels destroyed culverts, cut telegraph wires, and stopped several trains. The manager argues that since the Cuban government cannot protect their trains, they should stop train service west of San Cristóbal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-08

Telegram from Jacob Sleeper to William Loeb

Chargé d’affaires in Cuba Sleeper informs Secretary to the President Loeb that the revolutionary movement has started in Manzanillo, Cuba, and they have two thousand men armed to fight.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-09

Telegram from Jacob Sleeper to Elihu Root

Chargé d’affairs Sleeper informs Secretary of State Root about insurgency activities in Cuba. An emissary has left Havana to attempt to induce Faustino Guerra to cease hostilities and begin peace negotiations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-07