Your TR Source
President Roosevelt points Russian Emperor Nicholas II to a “Russian Jew” bent over by a large burden labeled “oppression” with a number of weights attached to it. Several others follow and leave a burning village. Caption: Roosevelt (to the czar)—”Now that you have peace without, why not remove his burden and have peace within your borders?”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-30
Jacob H. Schiff believes that the Kishinev petition, written after the recent massacre of Jewish citizens in Russia, was a mistake and that the proposed conference between Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States is unjust. There is no “Jewish problem” for the United States and Russia must find a solution from within. Schiff wants the American ambassador to Russia to represent “true American spirit.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-06
After investigating the situation of Russian Jews, Arnold White suggests a conference between Russia, Great Britain, and the United States to discuss Russia’s “Jewish question.” White’s proposed solution is that Russia will provide territory and the western powers will provide the necessary capital for expanded Jewish settlements.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-28
Edward E. Norton suggests that George H. Lyman advocate for the inclusion of Godfrey Morse at a meeting with President Roosevelt. The meeting will discuss the B’nai B’rith petition to Emperor Nicholas II regarding the Kishinev Massacre.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-09
The Russian foreign office has refused to accept a petition on behalf of Russian Jews forwarded by President Roosevelt. The foreign office considers it a domestic matter and compared the situation to the United States accepting an anti-lynching petition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-03
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary has sent a copy of an extract from one of Roosevelt’s speeches referring to the Kishinev Massacre of Russian Jews so that Oscar K. Davis may provide answers for “such questions as this one.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-03-26
President Roosevelt was informed by Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis that Count Arthur Paul Nicholas Cassini did not officially state that the Russian Government would not receive the petition, although he did express that the Russian Government was opposed to the idea of the petition. This refers to the Kishinev petition that protested the slaughter of Russian Jews in Kishinev.
1903-07-15
By request of Oscar K. Davis, Frank Harper encloses a copy of the speech Theodore Roosevelt made on the Kishinev Massacre of Russian Jews.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-03-26
President Roosevelt has read in a Jewish American newspaper that Secretary of War Taft plans to speak with Emperor Nicholas II about the treatment of Russian Jews. Secretary of State Elihu Root does not think this is a wise move, particularly since Russian Foreign Minister Count Aleksandr Petrovich Izvolsky has already formally refused any communications on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-21
President Roosevelt is struggling to convince other senators to take a broad-minded view of the Newfoundland reciprocity treaty. Roosevelt will not do anything about the Russian Jews at the moment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-24
President Roosevelt believes that good has been done by his expression of sympathy with the Jews of Russia. A petition from “respectable citizens” may be sent to Emperor Nicholas II if he agrees to receive it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-14
President Roosevelt asks Acting Secretary of State Loomis to review the government’s response to Russia regarding their “impertinent communication to the press” after the Russian pogroms.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-01
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of State Hay if it would do any good for him to say something on behalf of Russian Jews. Roosevelt has his doubts and compares his intervention to “the Czar expressing his horror of our lynching negroes [sic].”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-05-25
Emile Klein implores Theodore Roosevelt to take up the cause of German Americans. The administration of President William H. Taft is trying to have the Russian treaty abrogated on behalf of the Russian Jews and Klein believes he should focus on a German treaty instead. There is need for a new treaty in place of the Bancroft Treaty because German Americans are being jailed for ignoring conscription, even after living out of Germany for many years.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-25
Herman Bernstein writes to Theodore Roosevelt after having read Roosevelt’s article “Peace of Righteousness.” Bernstein recalls having an agreeable meeting with Roosevelt, during which Roosevelt informed Bernstein he cannot, as a former President, write publicly on foreign matters. Bernstein urges him to reconsider.
Bernstein states that he understands foreign nations have no international legal standing to interfere with “Jewish massacres”, and that foreign nations cannot criticize the lack of reforms that had been codified in the Manifesto of October 17, 1905. However, Bernstein claims that Russia violated the Russo-America treaty of 1832 due to their treatment of Jewish Americans and states that by allowing in to continue, “Uncle Sam… should permit his ‘face to be slapped’ ” – quoting Roosevelt’s own words.
Emil Nathan recalls his former leader Leo N. Levi’s visit to Theodore Roosevelt to present the Kishineff Petition on behalf of Russian Jews. He shares plans for a memorial in Levi’s honor and acknowledges Roosevelt’s past support, noting that the letter is not a request for funds.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-08
George von Lengerke Meyer recounts a series of telegrams sent back and forth regarding his requesting permission to take an after-cure in the mountains to help with his illness. If needed, he will return immediately; otherwise he will remain in Russia until Roosevelt calls on him. Meyer likens Russian’s prejudices against Jews to that of Benjamin R. Tillman’s views on the rights of African Americans. He thinks the next Duma will be radical and that the current quiet in Russia might not last.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-21
Oscar S. Straus reminds President Roosevelt of his intention to speak with Russian Ambassador Rosen about threats of an Easter massacre in Russia. Straus passes on information that Samuel Montagu received from Cecil Spring Rice, stating that conditions in Russia are “most threatening” in regards to the possible pogrom.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-09
Isaac Seligman reports on a productive conference with Sergei Vitte, wherein they discussed the mistreatment of Jews in Russia. The conference demanded immediate freedom from persecution for Russian Jews, and Vitte will discuss this with the government assembly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-17
Simon Wolf would like to meet secretly with President Theodore Roosevelt to talk about Russian Jews.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-25