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President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Takahira for the figurines and looks forward to speaking with him in person.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-10
Japanese Ambassador Takahira sends a list of Japanese passengers to the United States to President Roosevelt, noting that there has been a considerable decrease due to strict surveillance of passport applications in Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-08
President Roosevelt summarizes two letters he has received from Oscar K. Davis for Elihu Root. The letters, from Times reporter William Bayard Hale, describe an interview Hale had with German Emperor William II. In the first letter, Hale describes the two-hour interview itself, in which William makes several incendiary statements regarding England, Russia, China, Japan, the United States, and the Catholic Church. In the second letter, Hale reports that after showing the interview to the German Foreign Office and American Ambassador David Jayne Hill, both decided it would be unwise and improper to quote the emperor. Roosevelt told Davis that he strongly discouraged making the interview public. In domestic news, Roosevelt is making a “quiet canvass” of feeling regarding the re-nomination of Charles Evans Hughes for governor of New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-08
President Roosevelt asks Acting Secretary of State Adee to communicate to Japanese Ambassador Kogoro Takahira profound sympathy to the accident on their battleship Kashima. The president remembers the concern that Japanese representatives have expressed to the United States when there have been similar accidents.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-18
President Roosevelt thanks Senator Lodge for mentioning the Fort Riley incident and says he will get a full report of it. Roosevelt also shares Lodge’s opinion regarding the Vancouver incident and states that what occurred in Vancouver, Canada, was much worse than what occurred in San Francisco, California. Roosevelt believes it will force the British to take the same attitude as American regarding the Pacific.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
President Roosevelt asks Albert Shaw to reproduce a cartoon from Puck. As Roosevelt has no plans to hold another position in public office, the upset on Wall Street will have no lasting effect on him, but he comments on the related press coverage. The New York Sun has tried to disparage the Great White Fleet, but Roosevelt is certain Shaw understands that the fleet’s journey is necessary. Roosevelt asks Shaw to lunch with Mark Twain and Frank Nelson Doubleday on Friday the 13th.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-03
President Roosevelt “heartily approve[s]” James Bronson Reynolds’s plan. While he regrets it, Roosevelt believes Japanese laborers and traders need to be kept out of the United States. He hopes Reynolds’s commission can do this “in the pleasantest possible fashion by mutual agreement” with Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-30
President Roosevelt is impressed with Commissioner General of Immigration Sargent’s report and requests he continues his observations. Roosevelt feels the transit of Japanese should stop immediately and asks Sargent if the arrangements for Chinese transit can be implemented.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
President Roosevelt thanks Bishop Harris for the editorial and his thoughts about the sentiment in Japan. He is disappointed that the Japanese press is “about on par with our own yellow press.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-26
President Roosevelt thoroughly commends Senator Lodge for his speech, which he sent a copy of to Secretary of War William H. Taft. Following up from previous correspondence, Roosevelt feels Lodge’s letter to E. T. Colburn is acceptable and informs Lodge that he took up the submarine boat issue with Secretary of the Navy Victor H. Metcalf. The New York newspapers disparage Roosevelt’s speech. He asks for Lodge’s insight on a memorandum about Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-23
President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of War Taft and has removed the reference to receivership from his speech. The “Philippine question” is the only point on which he remains uneasy. He details his thoughts and concerns about the United States’ continued relationship with the islands, including their strategic importance in the event of a conflict with Japan and the issue of granting autonomy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-21
President Roosevelt does not need to see diplomat Thomas J. O’Brien ahead of his appointment as ambassador to Japan. Frederik VII, King of Denmark, speaks well of O’Brien.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-19
President Roosevelt asks Frank Ross McCoy to relay his regards to Yosemite park rangers John D. Alger and Archibald C. Leonard, remembering “the two bully camps we had” on a recent camping trip. While Roosevelt sympathizes with McCoy about the bears, he views it as good that they found refuge in Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks. He agrees with McCoy regarding the Japanese.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-19
President Roosevelt is proud to hear Arthur William Merrifield is excelling in his position as United States marshal. Merrifield does not need to worry about the money until he is ready to pay it. Roosevelt agrees with Merrifield regarding Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-13
President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of War Taft regarding the tariff and employee negligence. Secretary of State Elihu Root has not said anything concerning Taft’s travels to Siberia or Japan, and Roosevelt suggests Taft make plans to go. He asks if Taft can meet on Tuesday with Root. Later, the president wants to meet separately with Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-08
President Roosevelt requests Secretary of State Root review the letters from Representative William S. Bennet regarding an immigration agreement with Greece. Such an agreement could aid in easing relations with Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-08
President Roosevelt finds the letters Senator Lodge forwarded from Representative William S. Bennet to be interesting. They could aid in easing relations with Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-08
President Roosevelt directs Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry to return the memorandum to the General Board of the Navy, saying he approves all of it except for the point about dividing the fleet. Naval history and the recent Russo-Japanese War illustrate the dangers of splitting forces to protect multiple strategic points. Roosevelt wants the Atlantic Fleet to remain a singular unit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-06
President Roosevelt is glad to hear from Bishop Harris. Roosevelt cannot contemplate war between the United States and Japan, especially since both countries strive to develop the Pacific. He will do what he can to ensure the United States treats Japan and its people fairly. However, large numbers of foreign wage workers create economic pressures.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-06
President Roosevelt was impressed with the account of a German military attaché in Japan that German Ambassador Sternburg recently sent him, especially in the assessment that racial tensions are driving relations in the Pacific. Roosevelt looks forward to seeing Sternburg and his wife this weekend.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-03