Your TR Source
On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary acknowledges receipt of the invitation to the Citizens Peace Banquet from John Temple Graves, but Roosevelt has already sent a letter to Millard J. Bloomer on the subject would like Graves to read that letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-15
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Millard J. Bloomer for the letter and states he is entirely in sympathy with Bloomer’s view of a peace movement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-15
Millard J. Bloomer thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his letter declining the invitation to the Citizen’s Peace Banquet. Bloomer explains his own beliefs around world peace as well as his understanding of the purpose of the banquet. Bloomer appreciates Roosevelt’s caution and will be wary of any request to act contrary to his convictions
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-13
Senator Lodge thanks President Roosevelt for his sympathy during the final illness and approaching death of his sister-in-law, Louisa Minot Davis Luce. Lodge has just read Roosevelt’s letter and Elihu Root’s speech to the peace meeting, and he finds both “entirely admirable.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-16
Albert Shaw, editor of the magazine Review of Reviews, informs President Roosevelt that William T. Stead, editor of the English Review of Reviews, is visiting the United States as a guest of Andrew Carnegie in order to attend Carnegie’s peace conference. Shaw thinks that Roosevelt may wish to speak with Stead, and says that even though Stead is an advocate for peace, he does not lack in practical sense.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-06
Gifford Pinchot is advised to look at Theodore Roosevelt’s editorials in the Kansas City Star and Metropolitan Magazine about the League of Nations. Roosevelt was in favor of the League as an addition, rather than a substitute, for the prepared military strength of the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1919-01-21
On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks F. O. Liljefalt for inviting him to accept the office of chairman of the World Peace Congress in October 1913. While Roosevelt appreciates the honor of being connected with the movement, he cannot accept the request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-11
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Charles Noonan for his letter and the clipping and invites him to stop by The Outlook sometime. Roosevelt comments on movements for peace and the need for justice and righteousness as well as honesty and practicality.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-02
Theodore Roosevelt understands Captain Finke’s savage reaction to an anti-war envelope that came in the mail. Though Roosevelt is powerless in the matter, he explains that the envelopes are issued by Appeal to Reason, a publication by Eugene V. Debs that condemns war and fails to distinguish between war sentiments of American patriots and notorious aggressors. The publication has even been known to support infamous dynamiters and murderers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-11-12
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Arthur Deerin Call of the American Peace Society, decrying the activities of the American Peace Society as doing “the utmost mischief” to the nation. He directs Call to an upcoming article in Metropolitan Magazine, in which he advocates for military preparedness. He declines an opportunity for a public discussion, believing that their points of view are so different that nothing could be gained by such an event.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-07-07
Theodore Roosevelt asks Lyman Abbott to forward something to his sons, Lawrence and Ernest. Roosevelt also speaks about the question of creating a world league for peace and the ramifications that would have for the American people. Roosevelt is doubtful that such a league would succeed unless the American people realize that they must prepare for their own defense first.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-06-24
Theodore Roosevelt is a “genuine lover of peace” and does not believe war is necessary to “maintain the virile qualities.” However, he believes the professional pacifists have lost these qualities and are the “very worst enemies of real peace.” Lewis Einstein currently holds an interesting position at the American embassy in Istanbul and it must be a “sad spectacle” to view the failures of the Turkish revolution. Roosevelt had hoped that Turkey could transform and lead the Muslim community into the modern world. It appears they could not.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-05-29
Theodore Roosevelt is doubtful of E. A. Filene’s peace proposition and is opposed to recognizing that Americans of foreign birth have divided interests due to their affiliation with foreign countries. He does not want to encourage “group political action by nationality or creed.” Roosevelt argues that the only peace worth having is a righteous peace as “nonrighteous peace may be as evil as the most unrighteous war.” He faults President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan for not living up to the country’s international obligations and failing to follow a policy of military readiness. Roosevelt concludes by comparing Wilson and Bryan to Spain’s Prince, Manuel de Godoy, whose policies reduced his country to “complete impotency,” lost Spain’s American possessions, and led to a French invasion under Napoleon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-05
Theodore Roosevelt believes it is an inopportune time to attempt the creation of a “World League for Peace.” Before any world league is organized, the nations of the world need to meet and enforce current international obligations, which includes having free nations prepared for war. Roosevelt argues that military preparedness is the only way to maintain and enforce peace. He wishes that the United States had defended Belgium but also faults the British for infringing on neutrality. Roosevelt admires Viscount Bryce but regrets that Bryce’s influence will be used to argue in favor of a doctrine that no duty is owed if carrying out that duty “entails risk or hardship.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-30
Theodore Roosevelt advises against joining the peace organization and describes their platform of principles as “silly and base.” He compares the current peace advocates to the Copperheads of the American Civil War. Roosevelt views the peace movement as futile. Roosevelt is also distressed that the peace advocates make no mention of the wrongs committed against Belgium. He wants the United States to stop these wrongs. Roosevelt would like everyone to refuse to have anything to do with such a “foolish and noxious” movement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-09
Theodore Roosevelt responds to the idea of having a commission propose a peace treaty to warring powers. Roosevelt states that such a peace movement would make the commission look foolish; and, although he does not want to be quoted on the matter, Roosevelt explains why the treaty would be worthless and the movement would be no different than the current peace proposals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-03
Theodore Roosevelt is pleased with the letter and poem from Alfred Noyes. Roosevelt believes in peace but it must be “backed by physical force” in order to “appeal against the brutal, the disorderly, the homicidal.” He thinks Noyes’s verses will be helpful as too many “Peace people have degenerated into the ultra-pacifist type.” For example, none of the American peace organizations have denounced Germany for its actions in Belgium.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-28
Theodore Roosevelt denies advocating for war in order to develop the United States to its “full strength.” He believes a nation should be fit to defend its rights and ashamed to be unfit. Roosevelt will not speak out to help end the slaughter in Europe as it would be useless. Peace advocates are not doing any good and Roosevelt believes that useless speech is “always noxious.” He compares the situation to a mass meeting in response to an outbreak of crime in Oyster Bay, New York. A meeting is futile, but arming a constable and making the criminals understand that the police force will be expanded if necessary would be effective.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-14
Theodore Roosevelt responds to Francis B. Loomis’ letter. In that letter, Loomis advocates for a “great peace meeting” and says that the Japanese question may lead into war. Roosevelt believes that peace meetings within the last fifteen years have been “a little worse than useless.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-09
Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Cecil Spring Rice liked his article in The Outlook. If he had been president, Roosevelt would have called attention to the guarantee of Belgium’s neutrality and accepted the Hague treaties as imposing a serious obligation that must be enforced by the United States and other neutral nations. He would have backed up this statement with force and believes the American people would have followed him. However, as people tend to follow the president in a crisis, the majority are now with President Wilson. Roosevelt compares the situation to the negotiations to end the Russo-Japanese War, which required explicit assurances from both nations and months of negotiations, and the presidential election of 1864, where many who favored peace voted against Abraham Lincoln.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-10-03