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Secretary of State Hay sends President Roosevelt a copy of the Treaty of Arbitration among American States that was created by the International Conference of American States in 1902 and recently ratified by the United States Senate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-08
President Roosevelt thanks L. S. Rowe, United States delegate to the Third International Conference of American States, for the interesting letter. Roosevelt believes, “this is really the first great Pan-American Congress,” and thinks that good will come from it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-04
President Roosevelt wishes the United States did not have the custom forbidding the President from going abroad, as he believes he could be of help at the Hague conference mediating between Kaiser William II of Germany and the authorities of France and England. Roosevelt tells Andrew Carnegie that he hopes to see progress from the peace conference, including a stop or a slowing of the current arms race. He comments, however, that without a real system of international police countries are not able to entirely demilitarize. Rosevelt has been disappointed by the lack of support from the American peace movement for the passage of arbitration treaties. The Pan-American Conference has gone well, and Roosevelt hopes the Senate will ratify the Santo Domingo treaty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-06
President Roosevelt informs U.S. Representative Cooper that he has asked Tulio Larrinaga, Commissioner from Puerto Rico, to speak with Cooper about the bill giving citizenship to the people of Puerto Rico. Roosevelt feels that it is indefinsible to not give them citizenship as “they are our fellow-citizens in fact and they ought to be so declared by law.” Roosevelt has recently appointed Larrinaga as delegate from the United States to the Pan American conference, explains his reasoning for doing so, and hopes for speedy action on the citizenship question so that Larrinaga can attend the conference as a full citizen.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-26
President Roosevelt tells Senator Foraker that he has appointed Tulio Larrinaga as one of the American delegates to the Pan American Congress, and urges Foraker to act on the Puerto Rican citizenship bill during this session of congress before the delegation departs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-26
Ambassador Griscom informs Secretary of State Root that Root’s visit was “of great material benefit to the political and commercial interests” that the United States has in Brazil and elsewhere in South America. For instance, a bill has been introduced to give preferential treatment to the United States with regard to tariffs, under which American goods would benefit from a 30-40% advantage over those of Germany, Italy, and France. Additionally, some state officials are pushing their employees to learn English and encouraging Brazilian students to seek American educational opportunities rather than those of Europe. To continue the positive feelings in Brazil, Griscom encourages a reciprocal tariff reduction for Brazil, a parcel-post convention between the two nations, improved speed to ship freight there, and better steamship communications.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-31
Robert Bacon encloses a translation from the Third Pan-American Conference expressing “gratification in view of” the mediation of the United States and Mexico concerning a recent war in Central America. Guatemala had been invaded by Honduras and El Salvador. President Roosevelt and Mexico’s President Diaz intervened and brought about a short-lived peace.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-24
Ambassador Griscom describes Secretary of State Elihu Root’s visit to Brazil, where he greatly impressed the people. Root’s visit was a “tremendous personal triumph.” Despite the presence of “suspicion and envy” throughout the community, South America was “shaken to its foundations” by Root’s address to the Pan-American Congress and the Brazilian press “came out in unanimous approval.” Griscom also notes that the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Baron Rio Branco, helped in the time leading up to Root’s visit by spreading “pro-American” sentiment in the press.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-16
Secretary of State Elihu Root has arrived in Brazil aboard the Charleston, ahead of the Pan American Conference. Root was well received and made a speech to a large crowd. He compared the histories of the United States and Brazil. The Charleston‘s coaling is taking longer than expected due to the weather but it will move on to Bahia before heading to Rio de Janeiro for the conference.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-28
Secretary of State Root writes to Ambassador White about upcoming international conferences, including a Hague conference, Red Cross convention, and an American conference at Rio. Root believes that the meeting at the Hague on such short notice is inexpedient and has a high probability of postponement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-06
Brazil and Mexico have agreed to go on with the Rio Conference and are to hold the South Americans in insisting upon a delay of The Hague.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-06
Joaquim Francisco de Assis Brasil, Secretary General of the 3rd International American Conference, transmits a resolution to Secretary of State Root thanking the United States for the actions it took to help successfully mediate a peace agreement between Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. He asks Root to transmit the resolution to President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-26
Secretary of War Taft congratulates President Roosevelt and “us all” (i.e. the United States) on the speech Secretary of State Elihu Root gave at the Pan-American Congress. Taft believes that Root’s visit to the South American capitals will be a great boon to international relations for the United States. He also thinks that if Root could be convinced to run for governor of New York he would be elected. It would be a difficult contest, but Root could unite the Republican Party behind him and even get the votes of some Democrats.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-05
Text of a treaty of arbitration for pecuniary claims signed by delegates from multiple American countries at the Second International Conference of American States. President Roosevelt submits the treaty to the Senate for advice, consent, and ratification. Roosevelt includes Secretary of State Hay’s comments on the treaty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-07