Peace

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Kennan

In response to an article in which George Kennan got facts about the peace between Russia and Japan wrong, President Roosevelt sends him information about the decision-making that led to the final peace deal. Roosevelt sends this for Kennan private information, because he believes that Kennan as a journalist is taken too seriously to misunderstand and misrepresent the facts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of State Root that no documents connected in any way with the peace negotiations between Russia and Japan should be published without his direct authority.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Bartholdt

President Roosevelt asks Representative Bartholdt for a draft of what he should say about the Hague Conference in his message. He also expresses his “pretty moderate” views on what should be done about the navy. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Henry John North

President Roosevelt is sorry to hear that Fredericka North not been well, and that Lord North has “met with such a distressing accident.” He is glad that North is now able to “follow the hounds” and hopes that Lady North will be well again soon. Apart from hunting trips this spring, Roosevelt says he has not been able to get much vigorous outdoor exercise over the past few years.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt tells Ambassador Reid that he sent British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand communications relating to the peace negotiations between Russia and Japan. He explains to Reid that he did not communicate with Reid because he was communicating freely with the British, French, and German ambassadors and legations directly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

President Roosevelt amusedly tells Secretary of State Root about a visit from Russian diplomat Baron Roman Romanovich Rosen, where Rosen stated that Tsar Nicholas II would like to take the lead and get credit for initiating another international peace conference at The Hague. Roosevelt tells Root that he is all too happy to allow Nicholas to lead the effort, as he is concerned that after his activities in recent months, people will start to believe he cares more about altruistic international affairs than domestic ones.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis B. Loomis

President Roosevelt tells First Assistant Secretary of State Loomis about a visit from Russian diplomat Baron Rosen, where Rosen stated that Tsar Nicholas II would like to take the lead and get credit for initiating another international peace conference at The Hague. Roosevelt tells Loomis that he is all too happy to allow Nicholas to lead the effort, as he is concerned that after his activities in recent months, people will start to view him as a “professional peace maker.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Amy C. Townsend

President Roosevelt thanks Amy C. Townsend for going to the trouble of getting an extract from the Vicar of Newport’s sermon. Roosevelt is pleased to know that King Edward VII was among the listeners.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Carl Schurz

President Roosevelt tells Carl Schurz that Czar Nicholas II wants to appear to take the initiative for calling the second peace conference at The Hague and would like Roosevelt to allow him to do it. Roosevelt is amused at this turn of events, but happy to allow him to do so, as he wants the conference to be called but does not want the reputation of “professional peacemaker.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Sturgis Bigelow

President Roosevelt answers William Sturgis Bigelow’s questions about details of the peace brokered between Russia and Japan. In particular, Roosevelt discusses the feasibility of Japan’s asking and fighting for an indemnity, and whether or not they could have taken East Siberia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elbert F. Baldwin

President Roosevelt tells Elbert F. Baldwin that he will try to find the best man possible to replace Lloyd Carpenter Griscom, Ambassador to Japan. Roosevelt believes that the editorial in The Outlook this week accurately conveyed his feelings toward peace and war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kentarō Kaneko

President Roosevelt sends Kentarō Kaneko a photograph of himself to show Emperor Meiji of Japan. Roosevelt also expresses his appreciation for Kaneko’s services during the peace negotiations and maintaining contact between Japan and the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John St. Loe Strachey

President Roosevelt reflects on the terms of the peace between Russia and Japan. He believes that each country did the right thing in giving certain concessions to the other side to end the war. Roosevelt ponders the implications of peace for both Russia and Japan, believing Russia will have to move toward self-government, while Japan must deal with riots by its people. In despite of this, Roosevelt admires and respects Japan and sees her entrance into “the circle of great civilized powers” as a good thing overall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to A. T. Mahan

President Roosevelt agrees with A. T. Mahan about the danger the “extreme peace men” believing they pose the same risk to themselves and civilization as “demagogues of war.” 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Otto Trevelyan

President Roosevelt reflects on the peace between Japan and Russia, especially discussing the Russian diplomat Sergei Witte and the future of Russia. He believes that Russia needs to take steps towards liberty and self-government. Roosevelt also tells George Otto Trevelyan about several books he has been reading and thanks him for his letter about the late Secretary of State John Hay. Roosevelt wishes that Trevelyan could come stay at the White House, and hopes that when his term as president is done, he can travel around the world as a private citizen, without having to attend official functions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-12

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Lloyd Carpenter Griscom

President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Griscom to relay a message of appreciation to Meiji, Emperor of Japan. Roosevelt especially would like to thank Meiji for his message thanking him for his role in negotiating peace between Japan and Russia. Roosevelt believes that in agreeing to peace terms, Japan has done something very honorable and that it will have a long-lasting impact on the “welfare and tranquility” of the Far East.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to F. V. Greene

President Roosevelt hopes F. V. Greene’s wife will enjoy her brief trip to Europe and wishes Walter W. Warwick will travel to Manila soon. Roosevelt discusses his efforts in bringing about the peace conference to end the Russo-Japanese War and says that although it is a great success and he is being broadly praised, he is sure that by next year, new issues will have arisen, and he will be attacked in the press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia

President Roosevelt tells Czar Nicholas II of Russia that he is “delighted” that peace has been made between Russia and Japan. He is sending the Czar copies of the letters he sent to Japan during the negotiations. Roosevelt wishes the best for the Czar and all Russians.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Brinton McClellan Harvey

President Roosevelt cannot attend the dinner, but thanks George Brinton McClellan Harvey for the invitation. Roosevelt believes that it is injurious for the Japanese to behave as if they got the worst of the peace negotiations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Emperor Meiji of Japan

President Roosevelt strongly praises the conduct of Emperor Meiji of Japan, both during the war with Russia and in deciding to enter peace negotiations. Roosevelt also praises the people of Japan, who, along with Meiji, possess “high valor and foresight” and “lofty wisdom.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-06