Monroe doctrine

William Alex. Sutherland thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his response regarding a manuscript titled The Daydreams of Asia, Europe, and America, and discusses the challenges of publishing in India. He expresses hope that the book may be of interest to American readers due to its political and cultural insights, particularly on India’s global role, Anglo-American heritage, and future world events.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-07

Admiral Mahan comments on the articles of the Treaty of General Arbitration with Great Britain.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-11

Senator Lodge enjoyed seeing Theodore Roosevelt, despite the naturalists, but cannot visit again until the fall. He is continuing to work on the language and amendments to the arbitration treaties. Lodge sees dangers in allowing arbitration on some issues, such as the Monroe Doctrine. He does not see the treaty passing in its current form and is working with Senator Root on a report explaining the treaty and amendments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-12

Samuel V. Leech believes Theodore Roosevelt’s previous statements about the Monroe Doctrine are correct, and that President William H. Taft’s inclination towards international arbitration would be taken advantage of by European powers. Leech especially feels that international arbitration would upset American citizens if it allowed more Japanese and Chinese immigrants to settle on the Pacific coast, where he lives now. He recommends Roosevelt have a copy of The Encyclopedic Dictionary of American History, as it provides a good summary of the Monroe Doctrine, among other topics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-05

Senator Rayner recently referred to a treatise by Theodore Roosevelt on the Monroe Doctrine but was vague about any publication details. Erastus Brainerd asks Roosevelt whether he has written any such treatise.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-02

Creator(s)

Brainerd, Erastus, 1855-1922

Howard H. Ridgaway and his students ask Theodore Roosevelt what the United States has done to promote universal peace and if the Monroe Doctrine has been an obstacle.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-22

William H. Walker believes that “our ‘Monroe Doctrine’ is as big as our NAVY; and, no bigger.” He hopes that, as California makes up a large part of the coastline of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt will emphasize this point in his speeches while he travels through the state. If their mutual friend Edwin T. Earl, and the newspaper he publishes, were convinced of the idea, it would carry great weight with the public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-20

Senator Lodge discusses a number of topics regarding the late Secretary of State John Hay. Lodge bemoans the editing of a publication of Hay’s letters, claiming that Hay was “one of the best if not the best letter writer of his time,” but the publication does not do him justice. He reminisces on the many men of letters he has known in his life, and believes that Hay was the most “brilliant, humorous, sympathetic, [and] witty” among them. Lodge holds more criticism for Hay in his role as a secretary of state, discussing how Hay bungled multiple treaties, took credit for accomplishments that were not his own, and formed poor relations with the Senate. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-14

Ambassador White recently travelled to the South of France to see the Great White Fleet, and he was highly impressed by both the vessels and the behavior of their crews. The day before the fleet departed he hosted a celebratory lunch for its commanding officers, French dignitaries, American diplomats, and American locals. White just attended a meeting in the Sorbonne amphitheater where Roosevelt will give his eagerly anticipated lecture next year, and he describes the space. On February 22 he will host representatives from the other “American countries” at a lunch honoring both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays. White hopes to encourage the celebration of this holiday in Latin American countries that Lincoln protected from European “annexation” with his adherence to the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Leonard Wood updates President Roosevelt on the geopolitical situation in the Philippines, largely in regard to Japan. In the Philippines, there is a marked concern that Japan is preparing for war. They have scouts on the island and are trying to drum up pro-Japan sentiment. The British, who are allied with Japan, are becoming increasingly uneasy. Wood believes it is imperative that the American fleet stay entirely in Manila until more defenses can be set up. He details the defenses and supplies that should be brought in. Controlling Japan now means securing white influence in Asia and the surrounding waters. Wood also discusses the training, promotion, and management of troops.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-30

John William Burgess, a professor at Columbia University, writes to President Roosevelt defending a recent speech that the U.S. press indicated has annoyed Roosevelt greatly. Burgess assures Roosevelt that the Germans have correctly interpreted his use of the word “veraltet,” and do not take Burgess’ speech as a shift in the position of the U.S. on the questions he raised related to the Monroe doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-08

Attorney William H. Fleming appreciates President Theodore Roosevelt’s suggestion that the appointment of a commission would be most palatable if it comes from “some high class southern senator or congressman.” Fleming suggests Senator Alexander Stephens Clay, Congressman Clark Howell, or Congressman William Gordon Brantley for the task. Fleming commends Roosevelt’s caution in the matter and agrees to discuss it with him before the meeting of Congress. Fleming encloses an editorial he wrote about race hatred in Georgia that rebuts the claims of Hoke Smith and Congressman Thomas William Hardwick and discusses the disenfranchisement situation in Alabama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-09

Henry White received President Roosevelt’s letter but has waited until reaching Rome to answer it. White’s views on disarmament were sent in a confidential letter through the British Embassy’s dispatch bag. He has omitted any reference to Roosevelt’s observations about the German emperor although he has borrowed some of Roosevelt’s phraseology. White writes that Roosevelt’s action in Cuba was met with “universal admiration.” White saw the Chilean minister yesterday who said that Elihu Root’s visit there brought great comfort and was epoch making. Other topics in the letter include the German and Jesuit influence in the Vatican and the reputation of the emperor as an influencer, and White’s visit with the King of Italy and their discussion of new literacy-based immigration laws.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-20

An English translation of a speech given by President Roosevelt to the Argentine minister, expressing his admiration for the country and his belief in its bright prospects for leadership in South America. Includes the minister’s response, with a request to be able to share the President’s remarks with his government. A copy of the document in the original language is included.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905

Rowland Gibson Hazard invites President Roosevelt to visit Rhode Island to educate the people as he did at Chautauqua.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-22

William G. Tiffany writes to express his firm belief that the United States should help Santo Domingo, despite the fact that the Senate is not inclined to do so. Tiffany criticizes the “diplomatic capacity” of Senator Clark and praises Major Robertson. He also claims that if the Senate does not respond to Santo Domingo appropriately it will open an opportunity to Europe that the United States has been seeking to prevent since its beginning.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-13

William Andrews Clark expresses displeasure with the Santo Domingo treaty and the interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine. Clark also writes that he believes the United States is setting itself up as a collection agency for the debt of South American countries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-12

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a copy of a speech Taft gave in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He notes that Moorfield Storey published a long letter in the Boston Herald the previous day, and in his spoken remarks, Taft addressed Storey’s “lies.” Richard Olney also opposed Taft in a speech given later the same day. In light of earlier statements Olney made regarding America’s duty in maintaining the Monroe Doctrine, his current position seems inconsistent. Taft also comments that if Grover Cleveland is nominated for president by the Democratic party, the Republicans might lose New York, but their position would be stronger in every other state they were counting on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-03

Elihu Root writes to President Roosevelt about a Times article regarding the Monroe Doctrine and Secretary of State John Hay’s comment on it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-09

President Roosevelt has stated that he will continue the policies of William McKinley but his personality will likely lend itself to an active foreign policy. The general public’s impressions of Roosevelt are discussed as are international politics. McKinley’s final speech is quoted with his expectations for American prosperity and international trade. This is contrasted with Roosevelt’s “Americanism” and predictions that he will “out Monroe Monroe” in the interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10