Kaneko, Kentarō, 1853-1942

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt praises Secretary of State Root’s recent lectures at Yale University, calling them “lofty essays.” In an extended postscript, Roosevelt says he is enclosing a letter from Japanese Ambassador Kentarō Kaneko, saying he likes Kaneko, but also calls him a “fox.” Roosevelt says the Japanese have reason to be offended over the treatment of Japanese immigrants in San Francisco, and asks what other legal measures can be taken to protect them. On the other hand, Roosevelt says that these problems do not give Japan the excuse to be thinking of war with the United States. Roosevelt does not believe the Japanese will attack American positions in the Pacific or Alaska, but “there is enough uncertainty” for the United States to be on its guard for war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-26

Letter from Tokutaro Sakai to William Loeb

Tokutaro Sakai writes to William Loeb, thanking President Roosevelt on behalf of Baron Kentaro Kaneko for the invitation to stay with the president at Oyster Bay. Kaneko will take the train from Long Island City to Oyster Bay on Friday, as suggested by Loeb.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-03

Letter from George D. Ayers to James Jeffrey Roche

Mr. Wheaton is being approached by agents of Great Britain and Japan about his “war plan.” George D. Ayers would like President Roosevelt informed of the situation as only Roosevelt should know the secret in full.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-06

Message from Kogoro Takahira

Baron Kaneko will likely arrive in the middle of June.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

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

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 Elihu Root

President Roosevelt discusses with Secretary of State Root his anxiety over rising Japanese immigration into the United States. In a meeting with Shūzō Aoki and Admiral Gonnohyōe Yamamoto, Roosevelt insisted on the nation’s right to restrict the immigration of Japanese laborers, but he was not sure he convinced Yamamoto. The navy’s planned cruise around the world should have a pacific effect in the relationship with Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt sends Senator Lodge a pair of letters that he thinks Lodge and his wife, Anna Cabot Mills Lodge, may be amused by.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt tells Ambassador Reid that he sent British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand communications relating to the peace negotiations between Russia and Japan. He explains to Reid that he did not communicate with Reid because he was communicating freely with the British, French, and German ambassadors and legations directly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

President Roosevelt reflects on the terms of the peace between Russia and Japan. He believes that each country did the right thing in giving certain concessions to the other side to end the war. Roosevelt ponders the implications of peace for both Russia and Japan, believing Russia will have to move toward self-government, while Japan must deal with riots by its people. In despite of this, Roosevelt admires and respects Japan and sees her entrance into “the circle of great civilized powers” as a good thing overall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jutarō Komura

President Roosevelt just received the sword from Kentarō Kaneko, and he thanks Baron Komura for sending it to him. He congratulates Komura on all the work he has done to achieve peace and sends him a photograph.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Emperor Meiji of Japan

President Roosevelt sends Emperor Meiji of Japan the skin of a bear that he shot as a token of respect. He thanks Meiji for the courtesy he and his country have shown his daughter Alice Roosevelt and Secretary of War William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt sends Senator Lodge the complete texts of various cablegrams he sent and received in his efforts to broker peace between Russia and Japan. He includes cablegrams to and from George von Lengerke Meyer, Ambassador to Russia, to show his role in it, as well as congratulatory notes from Kaiser William II, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Emperor Meiji of Japan, and British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

President Roosevelt sends Cecil Spring Rice the text of two letters that he sent to Kentarō Kaneko, a member of the Japanese delegation in the peace talks to end the Russo-Japanese War. He urged Kaneko and Japan to accept a peace agreement, rather than simply continuing the war in hopes of getting a large sum of money from Russia in the form of an indemnity. Roosevelt believes that without his intervention, Russia and Japan could not have made peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Sir Cecil Spring Rice

President Roosevelt gives Cecil Spring Rice his assessment on the Russo-Japanese War. Roosevelt is not concerned with the emergence of Japan as a world power and does not think that Japan will become more aggressive. Roosevelt is concerned that Russia must be contained, but insists to Spring Rice that the U.S. has no intention of intervening in the war. In a postscript, Roosevelt discusses the differences between Japanese and American culture and diplomacy, and reflects on race and culture.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kogoro Takahira

President Roosevelt invites Baron Takahira and Baron Kaneko to lunch on June 6. He also requests additional copies of Takahira’s speech that he sent to William Loeb.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kogoro Takahira

President Roosevelt invites Kogoro Takahira and Kentaro Kaneko to lunch while they are both still in Washington, D. C. He would like to discuss the books they gave him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kogoro Takahira

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Takahira for the books and is looking forward to reading them. He was very glad to visit with Takahira and Baron Kentaro Kaneko.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-28

Letter from William L. Speiden to Theodore Roosevelt

William L. Speiden is a veteran of the United States Navy and shares many mutual friends with Theodore Roosevelt. He wonders if Roosevelt might help to expedite and support his application to congress. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-19

Letter from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of State Root feels President Roosevelt’s Provincetown speech is strong and presents Roosevelt’s view “with great force.” He offers some points of revision, in particular removing the reference to receivership. Root believes they can better discuss the Japanese situation in person than in letters. Overall, Root thinks the tendency leans towards a war occurring several years in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-08