Japan

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis J. Heney

Theodore Roosevelt finds it incredible that Californians can support President Wilson’s peace policy and unpreparedness for war while their actions against the Japanese are the most likely danger for war. Roosevelt is indignant at Wilson and Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan but did not attack them during the campaign at the request of other Progressives. He regrets not being able to visit California to campaign for Francis J. Heney and Governor Johnson.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

Theodore Roosevelt agrees with William Dudley Foulke’s letter except that he believes Governor Johnson would be a “first-class President.” Roosevelt agrees that it is too early to discuss nominations or even an individual’s availability. He would consider acting with the “scoundrels” that control the Republican Party but only because the Wilson administration is handling foreign affairs and military preparedness so poorly. Roosevelt is uncomfortable with Albert J. Beveridge’s attitude towards Germany as it seems to be influenced by the idea that German Americans will have a longer memory regarding what side a politician supports. He believes that German victory or a German-Japanese alliance would lead to conflict with the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry White

Theodore Roosevelt will write to Governor Johnson again regarding proposed legislation that has an interest for the Japanese. Roosevelt criticizes President Wilson and his administration’s management of international affairs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-30

Essay on the necessity of understanding between the United States and Japan

Theodore Roosevelt writes about the importance of a good understanding between the United States and Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George E. Miller

Theodore Roosevelt would be happy to meet with Dr. Bartelmi so long as he understands that Roosevelt has strong feelings about Germany’s action toward Belgium. Roosevelt is concerned that Germany and Japan might be victorious and form an alliance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop

Theodore Roosevelt will be able to lunch with Joseph Bucklin Bishop at some point this winter. He appreciates Bishop’s support for his statements on the Philippines. The United States is not doing its duty in the Philippines and the islands are not being effectively defended. Roosevelt describes President Wilson as “shrewd and clever” but also a self-seeker and timid. Nothing of “permanent good” will be done under his leadership.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hiram Johnson

Japan is making preparations to take part in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California, and is prepared to spend large sums to be well represented. It is important to have a Japanese presence, as European participation will be low due to the war. The Japanese do not want any anti-Japanese legislation passed by the California legislature and it would be exceedingly awkward if there was hostile legislation attempted or passed during the exposition. Theodore Roosevelt hopes Governor Johnson can “stave off any action.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kentarō Kaneko

Theodore Roosevelt tells Baron Kaneko that Japan, through its actions during the war, has become the real power of East Asia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis B. Loomis

Theodore Roosevelt responds to Francis B. Loomis’ letter. In that letter, Loomis advocates for a “great peace meeting” and says that the Japanese question may lead into war. Roosevelt believes that peace meetings within the last fifteen years have been “a little worse than useless.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hiram Johnson

Theodore Roosevelt will not be attending the Progressive Party conference in Chicago, Illinois. Governor Johnson’s election is the one great Progressive success and Roosevelt hopes Johnson will attend the conference to outline the future course of the party and help quell public quarrels. Roosevelt is concerned about Japanese discrimination in California and the drastic legislation that may be introduced. He suggests that the legislation is being supported by Germans in an effort to sour relations between the United States and Japan. Roosevelt suggests ignoring the “Japanese question” until the conclusion of the European war. He wants to treat the Japanese with courtesy but on the understanding that Americans will not immigrate en mass to Japan and the Japanese will not immigrate en mass to the United States. Roosevelt is distressed at the foreign policy of President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan. He wants a coherent foreign policy that takes “efficient steps to strengthen us.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kentarō Kaneko

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Baron Kaneko for his letter and the telegram he sent from the America’s Friends’ Association. Roosevelt compares Bulgaria’s military spirit to Japan’s and hopes that after the war they will be comparable to Japan in other ways.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-20

Letter from Edward N. Brown to Theodore Roosevelt

Edward N. Brown is currently working as a Forest Ranger, but has heard that Theodore Roosevelt might be arranging a division of Rough Riders, and is interested in joining. He tells Roosevelt some of his history and credentials he has gained by working in the West, and feels that he would be a good fit. Even if Roosevelt cannot accept his application, he would appreciate a letter so that he can show his fellow rangers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Sperry

President Roosevelt writes a letter of praise for Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry, noting his various achievements during the course of Roosevelt’s administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt discusses with his son Ted the precarious situation of Japanese immigration in the West. Roosevelt hopes that the Japanese government will help to prevent mass immigration of Japanese to the United States, as he thinks this would bring about “the gravest kind of race trouble” that will force the American government to pass exclusion laws.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-13

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 Kunimichi Kitagaki

President Roosevelt and his wife Edith were very pleased by Japanese official Kunimichi Kitagaki’s letter. They were “genuinely fond” of his son Asahi Kitagaki, and it was a pleasure to have him at the White House.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Benjamin Ide Wheeler

President Roosevelt tells Benjamin Ide Wheeler, president of the University of California, that the Japanese letter is too good not to be published. Roosevelt is concerned about “California’s totally unexpected outburst over the Japanese,” and is doing his best to prevent any more damage from it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Chester H. Rowell

President Roosevelt has been interested in Chester H. Rowell’s article on “Orientophobia.” He wishes to see Rowell before he leaves the White House. Roosevelt’s message to Speaker Philip A. Stanton was “just as much a message to Japan as it was to California.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Kent

President Roosevelt agrees with William Kent, and outlines the foreign policy stance he believes the United States should follow in its relationship with Japan. Roosevelt has come to see the matter of Japanese workers immigrating to the United States as “a race question.” He believes that Japanese citizens should not be permitted to settle permanently in America. However, Roosevelt does not want to provoke a war by offending the “sensitive” Japanese government and population. Current legislation in California and Nevada banning Japanese children from public schools frustrates him, because it is offensive to Japan and does not prevent immigration. Roosevelt wants to forbid Japanese immigration while treating the Japanese government politely and continuing to build up the American navy. He seconds Kent’s view that Japanese laborers should not work on Hawaiian sugar plantations. Roosevelt would prefer to send laborers from Spain, Portugal, or Italy, who could become naturalized United States citizens.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt tells his son, Theodore Roosevelt, about Ethel Roosevelt’s dance last Friday. Roosevelt is currently struggling to manage the conflict between California and Japan, and is not entirely optimistic that he will succeed. One California senator, Frank P. Flint, has been very helpful. The other, Senator George C. Perkins, is a “feebly malicious angleworm.” Roosevelt sends Ted a copy of his upcoming speech on Abraham Lincoln.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-06