Morocco

The writer of this editorial accuses Germany of trying to turn public opinion against England all over the world, but especially in the United States. To illustrate, he includes an article published in a leading Chicago newspaper in which Prof. Theodore Schiemann of Berlin praises President Roosevelt for using his personal influence to dissuade England from inciting France to go to war with Germany over the “Moroccan question.” Schiemann goes on to make a number of inflammatory accusations against England.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-18

Under instructions from the German government, Baron von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen requests a confirmation from the U.S. government concerning the suggestion that a Moroccan conference be held in Tangiers, Morocco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-14

Ambassador Reid tells President Roosevelt that he was recently instructed to give Lord Lansdowne a copy of a letter to the Germans summarizing American objections to the proposed agreement for customs receipts of Venezuela that would benefit German and British bondholders. Reid praises Roosevelt’s use of the word “amorphous” to describe the present condition of Russia, and notes that a rumor has been circulating that Roosevelt thinks the British government is willing to let the Russo-Japanese war go on until Russia exhausts herself – a rumor Reid says he disabused the British diplomats of. Reid further discusses the perception of American involvement in the Morocco conference among foreign officials, and congratulates Roosevelt on the appointment of Elihu Root to the position of Secretary of State.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-14

Assistant Secretary of State Adee informs Baron von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen that his confidential note for the President regarding Morocco has not yet been received and therefore a visit to Washington is not yet warranted. Adee reassures the Baron that the note will be forwarded to the President upon receipt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-15

J. J. Jusserand lets President Roosevelt know that he must take his holiday “now or never” and will be leaving Washington on Wednesday. Jusserand is comforted by the news of Morocco and has received letters from Paris showing that Roosevelt’s influence in the matter was appreciated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-11

Ambassador Sternburg writes President Roosevelt about the terms of the Madrid conference regulating the rights of foreigners in Morocco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-01

French Ambassador Jusserand informs Foreign Minister Delcassé, also of France, of a conversation between President Theodore Roosevelt and Hermann Speck von Sternburg, Germany’s ambassador to the United States. On behalf of Emperor Wilhelm II, Sternburg approached Roosevelt about a conference on Morocco. Roosevelt shared the conversation in confidence and asked for Jusserand’s input prior to responding. Jusserand assured Roosevelt that France would decline such a proposal and that all of the major powers would do the same. Roosevelt responded that given France’s views on the matter, the United States would also abstain if such a meeting was formally proposed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-03

United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Reid informs Secretary of State Hay that Lord Lansdowne does not have much indication as to the attitudes of Russia or Japan during the Portsmouth Peace Conference. Lansdowne, Reid says, discussed whether it would be more to Japan’s advantage to seize territory or demand a cash indemnity, as they could restart the war over land but not money. Reid also reports that Lansdowne discussed the situation in Morocco, worried that the joint actions of world powers there would embarrass France, and asked what Roosevelt’s views on Morocco were.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-05

Mulai Ali and his brother are very grateful for the rifles President Roosevelt has given them. They were pleased to be able to aid the United States Government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-21

Mr. Balfour would like France to grant Germany a sphere of interest in Morocco. Probably through the influence of Britain, Germany has been given to understand by France that the matter will be settled in the manner discussed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-29

The French Minister president had advised that Germany and France should come to an understanding about Morocco and the German government has sent word that they cannot make any statements until they have heard from their Minister in Morocco. While this was accepted by the French Minister, there has been some conflicting and contradictory action taken by Theophile Delcasse. Delcasse appears to be taking his cue from the British government who will drop their opposition to a Morrocan Conference if President Roosevelt informs them he is in favor. It is suspected in some circles that Delcasse is attempting to engineer a quadruple alliance between Great Britain, France, Russia and Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-13

Hermann Speck von Sternburg thanks President Roosevelt for speaking to Secretary of War Taft regarding the Moroccan crisis. Speck von Sternburg asks Roosevelt to pressure England to side with Germany in the conflict. Speck von Sternburg hears that England and France have different interpretations of their agreement regarding Morocco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-25

Secretary of War Taft writes to President Roosevelt about the events that will later be called the Moroccan Crisis (1904-1906), which worsened German relations with France and England. At the request of Roosevelt, Taft met separately with the German and British Ambassadors to try to deescalate tensions so that a misunderstanding would not lead to increased hostility. Taft writes also of the Loomis-Bowen affair and of a Japanese minister who spoke of negotiating a peace for the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-26

Ambassador Sternburg informs President Roosevelt that German Emperor William II will send an expert for the new Isthmian Canal Commission. Sternburg also encloses a clipping that provides an update about the “Morocco affair,” which suggests that the Kaiser is bluffing about his concerns in Morocco to cover his plan to absorb the Netherlands. Finally, Sternburg expresses surprise at the success of Russian Admiral Zinoviĭ Petrovich Rozhestvenskiĭ in reaching Singapore.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-09

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-13

Creator(s)

Sternburg, Hermann Speck von, Freiherr, 1852-1908

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Samuel R. Gummere, the U.S. Minister to Morocco, assures President Roosevelt that his instructions have been received and will be carried out. He advised the Germans that he wanted to keep in touch with them, and is trying to avoid conflict with the French, although his relationship with the Germans may cause friction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-14

Assistant Secretary of State Loomis forwards a telegram from Minister to Morocco Samuel R. Gummere to President Roosevelt. Gummere reports on German Minister Bülow Bernhard’s support of Sultan of Morocco Mulai Abd al-Aziz IV’s resistance to French encroachments and the German government’s intention to aid in paying the French loans. The German Minister hopes the American government will cooperate with such a loan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-17

Editorial from the “Gaulois” related in the “Journal de St. Petersbourg.” The argument is that England, in Morocco, would profit from a Franco-German war as a means to get rid of German competition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-24

President Roosevelt’s instructions to the Minister to Morocco have been received, and he has been duly instructed of them by cable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-05

Ambassador Sternburg makes President Roosevelt aware of German Emperor William II’s position several international matters. In particular, the emperor has concerns about the peace being brokered in the Russo-Japanese War, and about the agreement between France and England regarding Morocco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-05