Morocco

Presidential Snapshot (#27): Excerpt of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J.J. Jusserand

President Roosevelt informs Ambassador Jusserand that he is looking forward to his African safari and that he intends to collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution. Roosevelt also confides that he is pleased that he is on the side of ordered liberty by stepping away from the power of the presidency. Roosevelt also discusses some of the books he has been reading, and he comments on the status of Venezuela and Morocco.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1908-08-03

Next! A president who “does” things

Newspaper clipping of a cartoon showing Theodore Roosevelt reading a book, “The situation in Morocco,” while seated on an overturned coal pail containing a demon labeled “Coal Strike” and holding a banner reading “Peace if we have to fight for it”; behind him a wounded soldier with a broken sword labeled “War” and an injured football player labeled “Brutality in Football” sit on a wall.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-1909

Message from the Executive Director

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

The Distortion of History: “The Wind and the Lion”

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

Note from Hermann Speck von Sternburg

German Ambassador Sternburg says that “giving way beyond the Austrian proposals would gravely endanger the open door.” French banking interests are seeking a monopoly of Morocco’s resources.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-14

“Am I not small enough to be let alone?”

President Roosevelt points a gun at a “statehood bill” animal while a “Panama” alligator, a “R.R. rates” walrus, a “Philippine tariff” water buffalo, and a “Morocco” leopard look on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-21

The president’s vacation at Oyster Bay

In the first vignette, a man calls to President Roosevelt, who is about to play tennis. Caption: “O, Mr. President, you’re wanted on the long distance ‘phone. Emperor William wants to discuss that Morocco matter with you.” In the second vignette, a woman calls to Roosevelt, who is about to get on a horse. Caption: “O, Mr. President, they want you on the ‘phone. President Castro wants to talk over that Venezuela matter with you.” In the third, Roosevelt is about to get on a boat. Caption: “O, Mr. President, you’re wanted on the ‘phone. The czar wants to ask you something about the peace conference.” In the fourth, Roosevelt stands in a canoe. Caption: “O, Mr. President, can you come in immediately? The mikado wants to talk with you.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-18

Letter from Henry White to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador White thanks President Roosevelt for the honor of naming him his representative to the Algeciras Conference. He will update Roosevelt and Secretary of State Root by cipher when matters involving the conference develop. White describes his social events on Thanksgiving Day, including a Thanksgiving dinner where he hosted George Otto Trevelyan, who was very pleased to attend and spoke highly of Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-10

Memorandum regarding the banking question in Morocco

Germany is concerned that France wants to exclude Austria and the United States from the banking question at the Algeciras Conference. Italy is pressuring the United States to accept the French plan, but the U.S. delegates are adhering to the principle that all interested nations should participate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-01

Letter from Hermann Speck von Sternburg to Theodore Roosevelt

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

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

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

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George von Lengerke Meyer

President Roosevelt writes to George von Lengerke Meyer that he is not to leave his ambassador post unless he is reasonably certain that nothing of importance will happen. Roosevelt believes that during the last five years Meyer is the only ambassador that has had real work to do.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1906-07-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George von Lengerke Meyer

Theodore Roosevelt wants the U.S. to be friendly to the French and Germans. Roosevelt also sends a telegram he received from Emperor William. Germany failed to get what it had been working toward.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1906-04-30

Memorandum on the Morocco question

The writer explains Emperor William II’s concerns regarding the concentration of power between certain European countries. The writers states the conditions under which Germany would be willing to attend a conference to discuss the issues in Morocco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-31

Germany’s aim in foreign politics

Arnold White writes about the international situation in Europe, addressing first Russia’s desire for a warm water port, and then his impression of Germany’s goals with regards to Europe. Germany, White says, is the only nation with something to gain from a European war, and that the push for war is coming from the Jewish influence in Germany. With President Roosevelt’s election and friendship towards Germany, the United States has been removed as a potential deterrent toward German aggression. White ends with a prediction that if war happens, it will come through German aggression towards the Netherlands moving towards a collision with Great Britain, and he admonishes his reader that Germany must be watched.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04

Moroccan crisis again

A newspaper article discussing the suspension of negotiations between France and Germany over the Moroccan conference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-19

Memorandum from the German Embassy

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

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to French Ensor Chadwick

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

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. J. Jusserand

Theodore Roosevelt reminds French Ambassador Jusserand about a meeting they had with former German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg. Roosevelt says he wrote two copies of terms for France and Germany at the Algeciras Conference, and gave a copy to each of them. Roosevelt would like Jusserand to send Roosevelt a copy of what he wrote. He wishes Jusserand and his wife, Elise Richards Jusserand, would visit them, and says it was nice having George Bakhmeteff and his wife, Mary Beale Bakhemeff, over for lunch.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Franklin Bound Hall

Theodore Roosevelt comments on an editorial written by Kansas Governor Arthur Capper. He refutes Capper’s arguments against military readiness and recent American foreign policy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-28