International relations--Treaties

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to E. A. Filene

Theodore Roosevelt is doubtful of E. A. Filene’s peace proposition and is opposed to recognizing that Americans of foreign birth have divided interests due to their affiliation with foreign countries. He does not want to encourage “group political action by nationality or creed.” Roosevelt argues that the only peace worth having is a righteous peace as “nonrighteous peace may be as evil as the most unrighteous war.” He faults President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan for not living up to the country’s international obligations and failing to follow a policy of military readiness. Roosevelt concludes by comparing Wilson and Bryan to Spain’s Prince, Manuel de Godoy, whose policies reduced his country to “complete impotency,” lost Spain’s American possessions, and led to a French invasion under Napoleon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-04-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. Y. Brinton

Theodore Roosevelt tells J. Y. Brinton that a declaration that the United States will not interfere with nor entangle itself in the political questions of any foreign state cannot be construed to prevent the United States from taking whatever action is deemed necessary under conventions it has “solemnly signed to prevent gross wrong doing between states.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-04-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop

Theodore Roosevelt is very interested in Joseph Bucklin Bishop’s recent letter and agrees that President Woodrow Wilson and Secretary William Jennings Bryan have “created such a revulsion of feeling” that they will lose to whomever the Republicans nominate. Roosevelt feels that “any man who will stand for national defense and national honor is to be preferred to the present combination,” even Elihu Root, who Roosevelt still faults for his actions at the Republican Convention of 1912.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Joel Stone

Senator Stone requested Theodore Roosevelt’s objections to the Colombian treaty report but Roosevelt was not given enough time to prepare anything new. He calls Stone’s attention to an article he wrote on the topic that was published in the February edition of Metropolitan Magazine and a speech delivered by Joseph Benson Foraker on December 17, 1903.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Grey

Theodore Roosevelt is sending Edward Grey a book he has written entitled America and World War. He agrees with the three objects for which Grey is fighting. Roosevelt is pleased to hear of Grey’s changing attitude towards the Hague conventions and international treaties. While president, Roosevelt was denounced for not entering into these treaties, but he refused to enter into any treaty that he did not believe the United States could keep. He wishes he could do more than “merely talk.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Edgar Borah

Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Senator Borah on his speech and discusses potential committee meetings concerning the Colombian Treaty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to E. D. Rummel

A full account of Theodore Roosevelt’s actions towards Colombia and the creation of the Panama Canal will appear in two weeks in Metropolitan Magazine. He does not understand Hannis Taylor’s attempts at misrepresenting his actions; he was transparent in the process. As president at the time, Roosevelt takes responsibility for gaining control of the canal zone and beginning construction of the Panama Canal. His actions were in accord with the nation’s treaty obligations, followed American policy precedents towards the region, were ratified by Congress, and were “indispensable to the honor and the interest of the United States.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt argues that Americans who view international relations from the standpoint of their “ancestral blood” are damaging the country’s “common American citizenship.” Roosevelt has used the case of Belgium to show what could happen to the United States after a German victory. However, he has other reasons, which he does not want to put on paper, to fear a showdown with a victorious Germany. The wrongs of the war were perpetrated by Germany against Belgium, and it is impossible not to think that wrongs could be committed against you if there is “sufficient interest to make it desirable.” There is no doubt that the German people believe in the righteousness of their cause and have responded accordingly. However, Southerners during the American Civil War felt the same. Roosevelt would like the United States to introduce universal military service and guarantee Germany against invasion and subjugation. Afterwards, the country could guarantee the borders of small states, such as Belgium.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philippe Bunau-Varilla

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates the information on the Panama Canal and will make the necessary corrections. He is confident that he understands Philippe Bunau-Varilla’s interest and role in the “great cause.” Roosevelt is pleased that Bunau-Varilla approves of his book on the European situation. He is horrified at entering into obligations and not living up to them in letter and spirit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Oscar S. Straus

Theodore Roosevelt sees a gloomy future due to the war. Most of all, he believes Belgium needs to be given reparations and guaranteed protection from future invasion. He would rather see indefinite war then give up these goals. Roosevelt does not agree with Oscar S. Straus regarding Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan’s arbitration treaties and states that “sheer criminality” requires action and not investigations. He describes President Woodrow Wilson and Bryan as “the very most contemptible figures” that ever controlled American foreign affairs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Cecil Spring Rice liked his article in The Outlook. If he had been president, Roosevelt would have called attention to the guarantee of Belgium’s neutrality and accepted the Hague treaties as imposing a serious obligation that must be enforced by the United States and other neutral nations. He would have backed up this statement with force and believes the American people would have followed him. However, as people tend to follow the president in a crisis, the majority are now with President Wilson. Roosevelt compares the situation to the negotiations to end the Russo-Japanese War, which required explicit assurances from both nations and months of negotiations, and the presidential election of 1864, where many who favored peace voted against Abraham Lincoln.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-10-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

Theodore Roosevelt compliments Charles J. Bonaparte for the articles he has written on the Monroe Doctrine and the European war. However, Roosevelt believes that the United States should “act under the Hague Treaties in connection with Belgium.” The treaties were signed and must be acted upon. The Progressive Party was too advanced for the average man and attracted too many cranks. America’s two party system has become too entrenched to overcome. In 1912 the economy was the major issue; a workingman “was not interested in social and industrial justice.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Albert Apponyi

Theodore Roosevelt forwarded Albert Apponyi’s article to The Outlook but cannot guarantee its publication. He has felt out of sympathy with the pacifist movement and agrees with Apponyi that not all questions are suitable for arbitration or international inquiry. Roosevelt is “inexpressibly saddened” by the war in Europe and states that both sides have sincere convictions. He has no doubt that Belgium has been wronged, which must be addressed if “treaties are ever to amount to anything.” Roosevelt has many European friends and laments what is happening.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-09-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philip A. Stanton

President Roosevelt explains to Philip A. Stanton, Speaker of the California State Assembly, that the federal government’s policy regarding Japanese immigration has been successful and represents the interests of western Americans. Roosevelt warns Stanton that California’s recent “school bill” will undermine this progress, cause unneeded friction, and force the federal government to challenge the legislation in federal courts. If the government’s Japanese immigration policy needs changing in the future, Roosevelt assures that actions taken by the president and Congress, rather than the states, will be most effective.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt sends photographs of him jumping a horse to United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Reid. He directs Reid to present the photographs to King Edward VII if he would like them. Roosevelt comments on the newspaper clippings that Reid sent, noting he was surprised at how Englishmen responded to Robert Bond’s criticism of New Newfoundland’s status in the British Empire, given their response to the proposed discriminatory legislation against Japanese students in California. Lately, Roosevelt has been most interested by his “encounter with the ultra labor men and socialists over the Moyer-Haywood-Debs matter.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Norris Gillett

President Roosevelt congratulates Governor Norris on the prevention of discriminatory school segregation legislation against Japanese students. Roosevelt assures Norris that he will work to exclude Japanese laborers from immigration while maintaining a peaceful relationship with the Japanese government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of State Elihu Root if he agrees that they should begin organizing the treaty with Japan “at once!” He hopes that the legislation does not make Japan reconsider.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gonzalo de Quesada

Reaffirming his good feelings for Minister Gonzalo de Quesada and Cuba, President Roosevelt warns that Cuban independence is in jeopardy. He admonishes Cuban patriots come together to ensure liberty. As per treaty, the United States has the right to intervene “for the maintenance in Cuba of a government adequate for the protection of life, property and individual liberty.” Roosevelt is sending Secretary of War William H. Taft and Acting Secretary of State Robert Bacon as representatives to render aid.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt is delighted with the army’s preparations under Secretary of War Taft. He thanks Taft for sending Judge Advocate General George B. Davis’s opinion on the right to intervene in Cuba. However, if intervention is necessary, he would “not dream of asking the permission of Congress.” He regards the treaty as the law and he “shall execute it.” Roosevelt requests Taft give speeches in Colorado and Idaho.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank S. Gardner

President Roosevelt has received Frank S. Gardner’s letter, and appreciates the work that Gardner and his committee have done relating to Santo Domingo, as he feels it has had a very real effect. He believes the best course now is to wait until Secretary of State Elihu Root returns, and then have Gardner and E. S. A. de Lima come to Washington, D.C., to discuss the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-27