Japan

President Roosevelt reflects on the combatants and potential outcome of the Russo-Japanese War. He likes the Russians but they have shown “stupendous mendacity” regarding Manchuria and cannot take their proper place until they “gain a measure of civil liberty and self government.” Roosevelt has a higher opinion of the Japanese and is impressed with their rise in becoming a “great civilized nation.” The Japanese have told Roosevelt that their goal is to remove Russia from Manchuria and to turn the territory over to China. However, Roosevelt is also wary of continued Japanese aggression and sees the potential for this aggression to clash with American interests.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-13

In the unlikely event of war with Mexico, Theodore Roosevelt requests permission to raise a division of cavalry similar to the Rough Riders of the Spanish-American War. He summarizes his plan for creating the unit and argues in favor of its potential effectiveness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-14

President Roosevelt shares a copy of a letter he is sending to Japanese Ambassador Kogoro Takahira with Russian Ambassador Cassini, but will wait to send it in case Cassini has any suggestions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-15

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary extends his “heartiest wishes” to Hamilton Wright Mabie and his wife before their trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-10-24

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Carter H. Fitz-Hugh for sharing the editorial. He comments on arbitration treaties. Roosevelt believes the current relations between England and the United States make war unlikely. However, the current actions of other countries, such as Italy, in foreign regions show that treaties are worthless if they are not backed by force. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-31

Theodore Roosevelt is surprised by Ambassador James Bryce’s questions to William S. Cowles about fortifying the Panama Canal, which he compares to the Strait of Gibraltar. It is not a current enemy they are fortifying against but a future one, such as Germany or Japan. Roosevelt argues that fleets are not a substitute for fortifications. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is “very much shattered” but is “slowly improving.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

Theodore Roosevelt is sorry that Uchida Kōsai will be leaving his position as Japanese foreign minister. Roosevelt has appreciated working with Kōsai and hopes their two countries will continue to nurture their close relationship. Roosevelt wishes Kōsai well with his new position as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-22

Frederic J. Paxon asks Theodore Roosevelt for his views on John E. White’s statements regarding arbitration and the interpretation of Roosevelt’s position on international treaties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-14

Theodore Roosevelt appreciated Captain Mahan’s letter, and enjoyed reading his piece on the Panama Canal in The Century. Roosevelt comments on how he views the international situation, saying that he believes that the United States and Great Britain can negotiate and cooperate well, but that he feels differently towards Germany and Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-08

Theodore Roosevelt is concerned about the arbitration treaty. He views it either as a lie, because the American people will not allow it to be observed, or as a path to “national impotence and degradation.” Roosevelt is concerned about the potential arbitration of some issues if requested by foreign powers, such as unlimited Japanese immigration or Germany’s right to purchase the Danish West Indies. He does not believe that Senator Lodge should support the treaty without several revisions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-12

Theodore Roosevelt receives many letters from K. Chiba’s countrymen in Japan, but unfortunately he is unable to send a special reply to each one. However, Roosevelt suggests that Chiba consult a copy of his book, The Strenuous Life, which has been translated into Japanese, for information about his “philosophy of life.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-05

Theodore Roosevelt expresses his pleasure at hearing from Ambassador Kogoro and his happiness about the effects of the treaty. Roosevelt believes the positive outcome of the treaty is likely to last as long as the Japanese government prevents a large-scale emigration of working-class Japanese to the United States. Working-class Americans, Roosevelt believes, would object to this just as working-class Japanese would object to a similar emigration of working-class Americans to their country. Roosevelt hopes that the United States and Japan will continue to cooperate in the future, believing such cooperation is of the “utmost consequence” to the whole world.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-21

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor of California Johnson for his letter and the copies of the correspondence, which he wants to discuss. He does not understand the form in which President William H. Taft telegraphed the proposed Alien Land Act to Johnson and believes him wise not to publish it. Roosevelt understands that Americans are not permitted to own land in Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-25

Theodore Roosevelt does not believe the “war talk” with Mexico will lead to anything serious and hopes there will be no need to intervene. However, if a big power, such as Japan, backed Mexico and serious war resulted, Roosevelt requests President Taft’s permission to raise a division similar to the Rough Riders. He discusses how it would be organized and who he would choose as officers. Elected officers cause inefficiency, as evidenced by the two other Rough Rider regiments. Roosevelt does not intend to boast; instead, he reminds Taft of his regiment’s effectiveness during the Spanish-American War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-14

Theodore Roosevelt will see F. V. Greene when he returns. He admires Greene’s enclosures but has two suggestions, which he discusses at length. First, Greene only needs to state that King of Prussia Frederick II’s approbation of George Washington seems to be a myth, as he never showed interest in Washington or the American Struggle. Roosevelt comments on Helmuth Moltke’s opinion of the Civil War and how France could have implemented similar cavalry tactics. His second suggestion is that it is incorrect to say that America’s action in the peace settlement of the Russo-Japanese War did not produce the current hostile relationships with Russia and Japan. He discusses the other factors involved.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-07

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Baron Kaneko for the letter and will always remember the Japanese proverb Kaneko quotes. He hopes he is “enough in sympathy with the Japanese spirit” to care for the cause’s success more than any of his personal accomplishments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-14

Theodore Roosevelt received Mary Patterson Elkinton Nitobé’s letter and magazine article featuring the tale of Lieutenant Sakuma. He agrees there should be a book about the heroism of Japanese soldiers for Japanese school children, and adds that American school children and the world would benefit from these lessons.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-10

Theodore Roosevelt was very glad to hear what President Taft said about Panama, and comments that he “always felt that the one thing for which [he] deserved the most credit in [his] entire administration was [his] action in seizing the psychological moment to get complete control of Panama.” He is not sure if he can be of use in regard to Japan, but would be pleased to speak with Secretary of State Philander C. Knox.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-06

Theodore Roosevelt has read President Taft’s message, and has nothing to say but words of agreement and commendation. Roosevelt comments that the only international trouble that he sees as a possibility would be conflict with Japan, but feels that this is unlikely. He comments, however, that the Japanese are sensitive towards “their vital interests […] as to the Pacific slope,” and feels their immigration should not be allowed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-08

Theodore Roosevelt was delighted to read his son Ted’s letter describing the political situation in California, and was especially glad that he and his wife Eleanor Butler Roosevelt have not been unduly swayed by “nine-tenths of the social leaders,” who he feels are gradually moving away from what he believes is right.  He wholeheartedly approves of the way that Ted has sought to avoid the spotlight and publicity, and Roosevelt is especially proud of his son and daughter-in-law’s actions in “bearing out [his] preaching by their practice.” Roosevelt inserts, in the private letter to his son, a portion which he says Ted can share with several people in which he comments on how he would like to support Hiram Johnson for governor of California, but explains why this is impossible for him to do directly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-08-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919