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Acting Secretary of State Peirce informs President Roosevelt that the Swedish government would like the United States to delay recognition of the newly formed government of Norway until Sweden could present its views on the matter. Peirce informed the government representative that the United States had not received any news of Norway’s independence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-01
General Carter congratulates President Roosevelt on his election victory and believes it will have a good effect in the Philippines. Carter informs Roosevelt that independence has become a common topic, especially due to Secretary of War William H. Taft’s policy of “The Philippines for the Filipinos.” Carter concludes by discussing industrial depression and fear of robbers in the islands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-10
Charles Fletcher Lummis praises President Roosevelt for maintaining the Cuban treaty and protecting giant redwoods. However, he believes that the United States was wrong in its rapid recognition of the Republic of Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12
Until the outbreak of war, Albert Apponyi’s correspondence with Theodore Roosevelt was anti-Austrian and Apponyi considered Roosevelt “lukewarm for liberty” because he wanted Hungary to stay within the Austrian Empire. Roosevelt does not agree that the war is against Russia, as Germany stated that the war is primarily against Great Britain and Russia attempted to have the Austria-Serbia conflict placed before the Hague court. He also disagrees about Belgium and does not believe that Britain would have gone to war if Belgian neutrality had been observed. Roosevelt has friends throughout Europe and is working to prepare the United States so they will not suffer a disaster similar to the Belgians or Poles.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-05
Theodore Roosevelt writes Wilfred Denison to say that, while he sympathizes with Denison’s position, Roosevelt sees no other way forward than to offer the Filipinos independence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-07
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Manuel Luis Quezon that in view of the attitude of the current Administration and of the American people, the United States should grant the Philippines “absolute independence without any responsibility on the part of the United States in guaranteeing such independence.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-04
President Roosevelt thanks Mayor Gonzáles-Saravia Salazar and the municipal body of Guatemala City for the medal commemorative of the 1821 Independence of the Republic of Guatemala.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-20
President Roosevelt is interested in what Delos F. Wilcox says about Hadley’s article, which he had not seen. He agrees with Wilcox when he wrote in his article that universal suffrage is safe, and that Filipinos could be given independence if their constitution “followed the flag.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-02
President Roosevelt has seen the petition for the United States to give political independence to the Philippines, which Charles William Eliot has signed. Roosevelt writes that the Republican convention will not consider it, and if the Democrats do, they prove hypocritical. Roosevelt believes granting independence to the Philippines is the easy way out, while the right thing to do is to remain involved in the Philippines for the betterment of its people. Roosevelt cites other examples, such as Egypt and Cuba, and refers to Arthur Twining Hadley’s Freedom and Responsibility. Roosevelt asks if Eliot would see Secretary of War William H. Taft about the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-04
President Roosevelt writes to John Ireland asking if he could speak with Judge John Thomas McDonough, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, cautioning him to use discretion. President Roosevelt discusses the issue of Bishop Thomas Hendrick asking for action to be taken against the Aglipanyans (or the Iglesia Filipina Independiente Church). President Roosevelt points out if the Philippines become an independent nation, all church grounds would become the property of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, and as it stands the prelates are in favor of independence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-18
Brigadier General Smith delivers a speech upon taking office as the Governor-General of the Philippines. He praises the work of his predecessors Henry C. Ide, Luke E. Wright, and William H. Taft. He blames the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) on the Filipinos misunderstanding the motives of the United States’ policy to govern the Philippines while preparing the Filipinos for self-government rather than granting them independence immediately. Smith credits the United States for its restraint towards enemy combatants and in building in the Philippines municipal, judicial, educational, and taxation infrastructure while promoting a slate of liberal civil rights. He believes that to restore prosperity following the destructive war they will need to encourage new markets, American investment, the construction of railroads, and better training for the Philippines Constabulary. He particularly believes in broad education in the English language and in the trades. He recommends postponing the question of independence and addressing instead practical matters. He notes the importance of separating state functions from those of the Catholic church.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-20
President Roosevelt compares the secession of Panama with various independence movements including the American Revolution and the American Civil War. Roosevelt also discusses various newspapers and their support of either Panama or Colombia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-22
President Roosevelt rejects the argument that Panama declaring independence from Colombia is a similar situation to the secession of Southern states before the American Civil War. Roosevelt believes that Colombia acted in bad faith during the treaty negotiations and ratification. As such, the United States owes nothing to Colombia “in law or in morals.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-30
President Roosevelt would like to show Jacob Schurman the draft of his message to Congress which shows that Roosevelt and Secretary Hay were ignorant of imminent revolution in Colombia. However, the possibility of a revolution had been discussed for months. Roosevelt hopes Schurman will be at the diplomatic reception in January.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-12
President Roosevelt denies inciting a revolution or any form of conspiracy on the Isthmus. The people of the Isthmus favor the canal and separation from Colombia and Colombia’s bad faith on the signing of the treaty was their death warrant.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-06
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from the Minister to Colombia that shows there was no chance of securing rights to a canal by treaty. The other option was Nicaragua which many engineers strongly advocated against. Roosevelt is against supporting a secessionist movement in Panama but admits that he would be delighted if Panama was an independent state. He will not speak publicly on the matter for that would be taken as instigation for a revolt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-10
President Roosevelt is reluctant to make his views on the canal public for fear of inciting a revolt in Panama. He is not opposed to waiting a few years for the canal and does not know what Congress plans to do.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-10
Eleanor B. Caldwell has lived in the Philippines for many years, and has written a satirical play about the Filipino’s “ill capacity for self-government.” She wishes to dedicate it to Theodore Roosevelt, and therefore sends him a copy. Caldwell also hopes that after reading the play Roosevelt might be able to send it to Charles Scribner’s Sons, as she hopes to have it published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-28
Herbert G. Squiers expresses deep concern about the liberal faction attempting to elect their own president in Cuba.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-25
Civil Governor Wright of the Philippines writes to Secretary of War Taft telling him about a number of matters concerning the Philippines. Wright has recently been working to resolve the matter of the friar land contracts, which has been complicated by a number of factors. He additionally comments on the vacancies in the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and more broadly about Filipino government officials in general. Wright finally tells Taft about recent banquets welcoming honorary commissioners to the Philippines, and some of the speeches and issues they caused.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-14