Moroccan Crisis (1904-1906)

President Roosevelt confides to Senator Lodge that due to the poor health of former Secretary of State John Hay, Roosevelt had to act as his own Secretary of State. Roosevelt also confesses that he had doubts about Hay’s judgment on matters such as dealing with Kaiser William II of Germany. Roosevelt states that he is pleased that Elihu Root accepted his offer to replace Hay, and he provides insight on negotiations with France and Germany regarding the crisis in Morocco.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1905-07-11

William N. Tilchin argues that three principles that guided the foreign policy of Theodore Roosevelt–the global interests principle, the power principle, and the civilization principle–were also at the heart of the bipartisan foreign policy of the United States that prevailed in the Cold War. Tilchin gives examples of how each of these principles manifested themselves during Roosevelt’s presidency, citing Roosevelt’s mediation of the Russo-Japanese War, the growth of the U.S. Navy, and a warm relationship with Great Britain. Tilchin says that these principles were largely ignored by Roosevelt’s successors, but that they were rediscovered during World War II and sustained during the Cold War.

A photograph of Tilchin appears in the article, and the article is followed by a full-page photograph of Roosevelt standing next to, and with his right hand resting on a large globe.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

William N. Tilchin provides an overview of President Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy in which he identifies the three precepts which guided his diplomacy–engagement with the world, building and maintaining American naval power, and fostering the Anglo-American “special relationship”–along with the three phases of Roosevelt’s foreign policy. Tilchin examines episodes such as the Venezuelan and Moroccan crises to demonstrate how Roosevelt’s diplomacy led to the the peaceful conclusion of these episodes. Tilchin notes that Roosevelt’s precepts fell out of favor until the events of World War II led to their revival and their use by subsequent administrations, and he highlights figures such as Henry Kissinger and George P. Schultz who practiced “Rooseveltian” statesmanship.

A photograph of Tilchin, photographs of three United States Secretaries of State, an image of Roosevelt, and a political cartoon populate the essay. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

In a letter to Ambassador Reid, President Roosevelt describes his role in securing a peaceful solution to the Moroccan crisis by his personal diplomacy with the French and German ambassadors to the United States, J.J. Jusserand and Hermann Speck von Sternburg. Roosevelt contends that he urged the French to agree to a conference, and that they should allow the German emperor to save his self-esteem. Roosevelt asserts that he was on good terms with both ambassadors. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1906-04-28

William N. Tilchin organizes, explains, and defends the diplomacy of President Theodore Roosevelt. Tilchin lays out the three guiding principles of Roosevelt’s foreign policy: that the United States needs to engage with the global community; that power must be behind the nation’s diplomacy; and the United States should cultivate a close relationship with Great Britain. Tilchin also examines Roosevelt’s style of diplomacy with an emphasis on his personal direction and informality, and he describes the precepts of “big stick diplomacy.” Tilchin also divides Roosevelt’s foreign policy into three periods during his presidency, and he cites specific examples of Roosevelt’s management of various crises and events from the acquisition of the Panama Canal to the voyage of the Great White Fleet. Tilchin highlights Roosevelt’s careful and continual cultivation of a relationship with Great Britain, and he examines Roosevelt’s legacy by looking at the foreign policy undertaken by succeeding administrations in the twentieth century. 

Photographs of Roosevelt as assistant secretary of the navy, army officer, and president appear in the text as does a photograph of Secretary of State George P. Schultz.

William N. Tilchin examines the foreign policy of President Theodore Roosevelt. Tilchin asserts that Roosevelt was not interested in practicing coercive, economic diplomacy, and he identifies the nations that Roosevelt saw as friendly, such as Great Britain, and those he treated cautiously, Germany and Japan. Tilchin looks at how Roosevelt undertook his diplomacy, identifying five elements of “big stick diplomacy,” such as strengthening the United States Navy. Tilchin identifies discrete episodes or crises in Roosevelt’s presidency, and he describes how Roosevelt resolved them, including the mediation of the Russo-Japanese War, Germany’s attempt to bully Venezuela, and the revolt in Panama. He highlights Roosevelt’s dispatch of the Great White Fleet, his reluctance to invoke the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, and his diplomacy during Morocco’s dispute with Germany.

A photograph of Roosevelt with Emperor William II of Germany, and pictures of the Great White Fleet and Secretary of State Elihu Root supplement the text, as does a political cartoon of Roosevelt.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Stefan H. Rinke explores the relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and Hermann Speck von Sternburg, the German ambassador to the United States from 1903 to 1908. Rinke notes that the two became friends in the 1880s, and that they shared mutual interests in the outdoors, hunting, and the study of war. Rinke says that Roosevelt’s friendship for Sternburg led to the President’s lobbying the German government to have Sternburg appointed ambassador, but he believes that Sternburg could not significantly improve the relationship between Germany and the United States because Roosevelt was so partial to Great Britain and France.

Photographs of Sternburg and Rinke appear in the article as do two text boxes. One has a listing of the officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and the other notes that this issue of the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal is dedicated to Captain Charles S. Abott and the men of the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Executive Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) John A. Gable reviews the different publications of the Association that have preceded the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. He critiques the movie The Wind and the Lion and argues that it “is a work of fantasy.” He closes with a review of the contents of the last two issues of the TRA Journal and reminds readers that the TRA needs an infusion of new members and dues to continue its work.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1975

Edmund Morris critically reviews the 1975 film The Wind and the Lion. He argues that the film presents a “phony history” of the 1904 Morocco crisis in which American citizen Ion Hanford Pedicaris was kidnapped and held for ransom. The dispute was settled peacefully and not with an invasion of Morocco as depicted in the film.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1975

Ambassador Sternburg adds to the statements he made to President Roosevelt yesterday: German Emperor William II believes both the United States and Germany should separately inform the Sultan of Morocco they would like a meeting of the interested parties in the current crisis over the status of Morocco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-07

President Roosevelt writes to Ambassador Reid about ongoing negotiations between France and Germany about Morocco. Beginning with background information about the situation, with Germany wishing to call a conference to reform the government of Morocco—in opposition to France—Roosevelt then includes the text of numerous letters and telegrams in English and French from various parties related to this issue. Roosevelt says he will send copies of this letter to Henry White and George von Lengerke Meyer, and will show it to Secretary of State Elihu Root, as well, but no one else, as it is to be strictly confidential. He closes with some personal remarks to Reid, responding to a previous letter from him, and thanking him for presenting Milla Shonts and her daughters. The envelope appended at the end suggests that this is the copy of the letter which was sent to Meyer.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1906-04-28

The German Embassy writes a memorandum regarding a situation in Morocco. They mention European control of Morocco’s armed forces, open door policy, and distributing mandates among minor powers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-23

Discussion of the plans for the Tangiers Conference, with mention of the German Legation, French government, Madrid Convention and the Moorish Government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905

Theodore Roosevelt strongly disagrees with Admiral Chadwick’s opinion that the United States should be supporting Germany because of wrongs done to the country by the English and Dutch centuries ago. It is a “foolish doctrine” to do wrong in the present because of centuries-old events. Roosevelt defends his policies towards Morocco during his presidency. He states that any comparison between the Moroccan situation and Belgium is “unspeakably silly” as Belgium was able to keep internal order and did not antagonize Germany.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-12-31

This memorandum draft tells Ambassador Reid to have Henry Charles Keith Petty-FitzMaurice Lansdowne show him the dispatch received from British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand about Russia. Additionally, President Roosevelt has informed German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg he does not believe the United States could join a conference about Morocco, unless France acquiesced. Roosevelt also spoke with J. J. Jusserand, but does not want any publicity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-06

British Foreign Secretary Grey informs President Roosevelt that Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand will be replaced, and while he understands Roosevelt’s desire to have Arthur Lee in his place, that is politically impossible. Temporarily, Esmé Howard will be sent to Washington as Councillor to the Embassy. Grey appreciated Roosevelt’s explanation of his telegram to German Emperor William after the Portsmouth Peace. Grey explains that his foreign policy is not anti-German, but to be independent he feels it necessary to strengthen the entente with France and come to an agreement with Russia. Grey believes that his generation has had enough of war, and the British people feel a special bond with the United States. Grey hopes the dispute between Canada and the United States over Newfoundland will soon be settled. He also adds that many in Great Britain are upset over reports of slavery and plunder in the Belgian Congo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-04

Ambassador Reid reports to President Roosevelt about affairs in Europe. Reid’s impression is that neither Great Britain nor Germany want tensions to escalate to a war, and he is still trying to get more details about their negotiations. Reid informs Roosevelt that the King seems to be in ill health. He is also worried that Roosevelt’s friend, Silas McBee, is stirring up trouble by seeming to interfere in debates about the Education Bill. Reid referred the Grocers’ Federation to Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson and Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor Howard Metcalf so that they might receive more information about complying with America’s meat inspection laws, and he enclosed a copy of a speech he gave at Cambridge on the American Revolution. Reid concludes by saying that he hopes the British government will help the United States settle disputes with Canada.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-16

Ambassador White informs President Roosevelt about American relations with the Vatican, including a controversial dinner White had with four cardinals in honor of Archbishop John Ireland. He says that some in the Vatican, including Pope Pius X, approved of the meeting, while others did not, given that the United States and the Vatican did not officially have relations at that time. White makes a number of other short remarks on various diplomats and the relationship between the Italian Government and the Vatican. White tells Roosevelt that Cardinal Merry del Val and the Pope both appreciated the signed photographs Roosevelt sent them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-27

The memo is about the positions of France and Germany regarding the conference in Madrid to reform Morocco. It concludes that France does not have the right to demand details of the reformation from Germany before agreeing to attend the conference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-26

Germany will be represented at the Morocco Conference by an ambassador and an expert. France will also promote Paul Revoil to being an ambassador.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-22