Peace

President Roosevelt agrees with German Emperor William II that it is unwise for peace negotiations between Japan and Russia to take place in a congress of nations. Japanese Ambassador Kogoro Takahira and British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand agree with this assessment. Roosevelt spoke with Russian Ambassador Arthur Paul Nicholas Cassini and explained to him that it is “eminently to Russia’s interest to make peace,” and that delay would only increase the “onerousness of the terms” for Russia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-31

Before he leaves for six weeks of travel, President Roosevelt updates Secretary of State Hay on a number of foreign relations issues. In particular, he discusses his efforts to begin peace talks between Russia and Japan, and the worries of the German emperor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-02

President Roosevelt agrees with John Callan O’Laughlin that Russian Admiral Zinoviĭ Petrovich Rozhestvenskiĭ deserves praise for his naval feats. Roosevelt believes that at present nothing can be done to bring about peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-14

President Roosevelt recommends that the Right Reverend Yates not attend a particular service during the political campaign. Recently, Roosevelt’s minister preached a sermon on peace, and Democratic newspapers misconstrued the sermon as an attack on the President. Roosevelt believes that they would be likely to use the same tactic again. Roosevelt will confine himself to his own ordinary church services until after the election when “our opponents return to the ordinary customs of morality and decency.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-16

President Roosevelt directed Alvey A. Adee to instruct the Navy that they must not interfere in any fighting between the Russians and Japanese in the neutral Chinese port. Roosevelt agrees that the best solution would be for China to say they cannot keep the peace and let the Russians and Japanese fight.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-24

President Roosevelt congratulates George Gray and the International Arbitration Conference and expresses his hopes for success and peace among the nations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-03

President Roosevelt supports the Hague Court and hopes its international support will grow. Roosevelt would like to offer a good word or deed for the people of Turkey and states that there is good and evil in all nations and creeds. Roosevelt would like to be reelected and he tries to act in accordance with what is right, but also what is practical.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-01

Governor Roosevelt very much liked Frederick Courteney Selous’s book, though he was saddened to read of the loss of elk and deer in the forests. Roosevelt hopes that peace comes to South Africa soon and the races can amalgamate as they have in the United States. Although Roosevelt finds the office of Vice President to be “distasteful,” he was glad to have done his part against a “dangerous and unAmerican party movement.” Roosevelt hopes to hunt somewhere in the Southwest prior to the inauguration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1900-11-23

Vice President Roosevelt describes his recent hunting trip to Colorado. Roosevelt is saddened that the Boer War is still ongoing and wishes Frederick Courteney Selous had been administrator of all South Africa because Roosevelt feels that Selous could bring about peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-03-08

List of American members of the League of International Conciliation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907

Clint W. Hager is preparing for a local debate on increasing the army and navy and its effect on universal peace. He asks Theodore Roosevelt to send some of his speeches relevant to the topic, where he can get statistics, and the names of prominent men who can help.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-11

On behalf of the American Peace and Arbitration League, J. O. Johnston requests the clergy of the diocese to observe the Sunday before Thanksgiving as Peace Sunday.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-11

Thomas G. F. Dolby asks Theodore Roosevelt for help finding a publisher “that will aid in the cause of Peace between the United States & Great Britain.” Dolby additionally suggests that Roosevelt publish an enclosed piece in the Outlook, and offers to send him a picture described by a typed note attached to the letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-28

Benton Anderson Williams commends Theodore Roosevelt for his Memorial Day address at General Grant’s tomb, remarking that he was glad to see Roosevelt arguing in favor of peace in plain terms. He expounds that, while war may have been necessary to “conquer the old order of things and prepare the way for new and better conditions,” the world is far from having solved all of its problems and must one day turn to peace as a solution.
 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-31

Joseph Elkinton admonishes Theodore Roosevelt for the anti-peace sentiments professed in his latest editorial in The Outlook, contrasting his remarks with those made by President Taft. He reflects on Quaker doctrine and the experiences of his grandfather, who founded Tunesassa Friends Boarding School against the adversity of the British.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-01

Ralph M. Easely responds to Theodore Roosevelt’s recent article, “The Standard Oil Decision – And After.” finding it relevant and true even if it had been written prior to the decision on the American Tobacco Company case. He remarks that, should the United States compete with foreign countries, “it cannot be hobbled by restrictions like those imposed by the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.” Easely encloses a leaflet issued by the National Civic Federation and has marked paragraphs relevant to his discussion of trust regulation, though he remarks that Seth Low has not yet named the sub-committee it refers to. Easely closes by congratulating Roosevelt on his recent “whack” on those who fight for peace at any price, comparing Roosevelt’s views of international peace and his own on “industrial peace.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-02

William C. Gill commends Theodore Roosevelt for his Memorial Day address at General Ulysses S. Grant’s tomb. He remarks on the ways in which various figures in American history have striven for peace, though that “theories are nicely and happily worked out in Dreamland but how different in practice in near-Utopias.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-31

John Appleton Stewart describes the purpose and work of the Peace Celebration Committee, of which Theodore Roosevelt has been given the title of Honorary Chairman. Stewart informs Roosevelt of both current and prospective members of the committee. Stewart tells Roosevelt that the object of the committee is to “create better feeling among the peoples of the world” in order to settle “international disputes.” 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-10

Mrs. J. M. Whitney sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of what she’s composed on the topic of world peace. She also sends a copy of Ghost, which was part of the revelation she had in 1880. She addresses the letter to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt as well since she does not wish to communicate with any man without the knowledge of his wife.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-06

Creator(s)

Whitney, J. M., Mrs.

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