Midway Islands

John Callan O’Laughlin passes on a memorandum to President Roosevelt that may assist in the meeting with Japanese Ambassador Kogoro Takahira. In a recent conversation, Takahira asked if Roosevelt had considered an exchange of notes regarding the inclusion of the Pacific in the proposition, similar to the Franco-Japanese agreement. Japan would respect American territorial rights in Hawaii and the Philippines in exchange. O’Laughlin quotes notes delivered from previous Secretary of State John Hay to the Powers and lists the advantages of the assurances the United states would receive from Japan in exchange for the inclusion of the Pacific, as well as the potential objections.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-25

Creator(s)

O'Laughlin, John Callan, 1873-1949

Former Territorial Governor of Hawaii Carter reports to President Roosevelt that Walter Francis Frear’s inauguration as new governor went well. Carter writes Roosevelt personally about the application of the coastwise laws as it affects Hawaii differently than the United States mainland.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-16

Creator(s)

Carter, George Robert, 1866-1933

Retired Rear Admiral Manney outlines the reasons he believes sending the Great White Fleet to the Pacific Ocean is unwise given the tensions between the United States and Japan. Because Japan is not a wealthy nation, Manney believes it will not attack and occupy targets that would be expensive to win and maintain, and that therefore neither the Philippines nor Hawaii are in danger of attack. Rather, Manney describes in detail how the Japanese could gain control of bases from which to attack both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the United States, how such attacks would affect the U.S., and how long it would take the fleet to return to the Atlantic as a consequence. Because much more damage can be done to the United States on the Atlantic coast rather than the Pacific, it makes more sense to keep the fleet in the Atlantic, in case of war with Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-19

Creator(s)

Manney, H. N. (Henry Newman), 1844-1915

Midway Island inhabitants greet President Roosevelt on the completion of the Pacific Cable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-05

Creator(s)

Inhabitants of Midway Island