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President Roosevelt forwards Secretary of State Root the text of a letter from Secretary of War William H. Taft concerning the treaty with Columbia regarding Panama. Roosevelt hopes Root can persuade Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Enrique Cortes to change his view.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-16
William Nelson Cromwell briefs President Roosevelt on the state of foreign relations between the United States and Colombia, especially Cromwell’s recent communications with General Rafael Reyes. Cromwell remarks that relations remain hostile, but may be improving.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-21
President Roosevelt agrees that nothing can be done without Panama’s consent. However, he suggests that Secretary of State Hay contact Rafael Reyes to see if he has a practical proposal which can be taken into consideration with the people of Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-22
Diplomat Thomas Cleland Dawson informs Secretary of State Root that Panamanian authorities still occupy Jurado, Choco, Colombia, and are advancing south. The Governor of Choco wants to use force. The Colombian government thinks action by Panamanian authorities is intended to disrupt and prevent the carrying out of protocol. President of Colombia Rafael Reyes continues diplomacy until Dawson and the dispatches by Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enrique Cortes, reach Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-15
Secretary of War Taft informs President Roosevelt he is certain that if Secretary of State Elihu Root can persuade Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Enrique Cortes to omit the issue of boundaries from the treaty, then Cortes and President Rafael Reyes of Columbia will consent, leading to a favorable outcome for Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-15
Secretary of State Root notifies President Roosevelt that he is closing his visit to Peru, which completes his South American tour. Tomorrow he will head for Panama, and then to Cartagena for a business interview with President Rafael Reyes. Root also informs Roosevelt that he is too tired to do the San Francisco trip after two months of almost continuous speech making. Root may also be able to help with the situation in Cuba, if he is at home.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-15
Wayne MacVeagh shares his opinion with President Roosevelt that with an election coming up, it would be in both countries’ best interest to wait until after the election to address their differences.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-25
Secretary of State Root tells President Roosevelt about his successful visit to Brazil. Root is confident that there will be “kindly feelings, left in place of the wide spread distrust which seems to characterize South American opinion regarding the purpose and attitude of the United States.” Root encloses a copy of the speech he gave at the Pan American Conference, and an article especially for the benefit of Edith Roosevelt. Root also talked with Colombian Representatives and arranged for a meeting with General Rafael Reyes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-02
John Barrett writes to President Roosevelt before his historic diplomatic trip with Elihu Root through Ecuador, Panama, and Colombia. Barrett is working with President Reyes and other leaders to create a peace treaty between Colombia, Panama, and the United States. The Colombians seek concessions from Panama and the U.S., including free passage of Colombian shipping through the Panama Canal. In return Colombia will have a “favorable attitude” to shipping interests in the United States. Barrett includes his itinerary for his trip through Ecuador.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-02
James Alexander Scrymser thanks Secretary of State Hay for his reply to Scrymser’s earlier letter about his company’s dispute with both Colombia and Panama over contracts giving the Central and South American Telegraph Company exclusive cable rights in both countries. Scrymser says he understands if the State Department cannot intervene at the moment but hopes that the department will support his claims.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-13
John M. Thompson examines the domestic political dimensions of the United States’ efforts to secure a canal zone in Central America. Thompson identifies those who favored canal routes in Nicaragua or Panama, and he looks closely at the Congressional reaction to the revolt in Panama and the United States’ quick recognition of the new nation. Thompson lays out the opposition to the subsequent canal treaty from Democrats and anti-imperialists, and he details the publicity campaign waged by President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration to justify its course of action and win Senate approval of the treaty. Thompson highlights the role of Southern Democrats who supported the treaty because they saw the canal as aiding their region’s economy and because Democrats did not want to be seen as opposing a popular policy of constructing a canal. Thompson concludes his article by examining the various aspects of domestic politics that Roosevelt had to consider when making foreign policy decisions.
Ten photographs and five political cartoons populate the article.
President Roosevelt looks at a “Panama discussion” cat with the face of Colombian president Rafael Reyes that has a pile of papers entitled “canal settlement” tied to its neck.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-30
William Nelson Cromwell discusses the status of suits brought by Colombia and by French engineer Lucien N. B. Wyse for an injunction against transfer of the Panama Canal to the United States, and expresses confidence that suits will be dismissed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-27
William Nelson Cromwell discusses the status of suits brought by Colombia and by French engineer Lucien N. B. Wyse for an injunction against transfer of the Panama Canal to the United States, and expresses confidence that suits will be dismissed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-27
Commander Merts reports to Rear Admiral Coghlan about his reconnaissance mission. Merts went to Colombia Bay and anchored at Turbo. He reports on the number and size of villages or encampments, including the number of people, particularly men. The chief of the camp had no knowledge of Rafael Reyes or of the Russo-Japanese conflict, and the chief and the men of the village had no information about the current whereabouts of the Englishman whom Merts had been sent to find.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-14
William Nelson Cromwell reports to President Roosevelt on Rafael Reyes’ victory in Colombia’s presidential election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-25
The USS Prairie is with Russell. Everything is quiet in Cartagena, Colombia, and Rafael Reyes appears to have been elected.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-13
Series of telegrams concerning the Panamanian revolution and negotiations with the United States that will save the “honor and interests of Colombia.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-10
Rear Admiral Coghlan reports to Secretary of the Navy Moody about Colombian troop levels in Cartegena. Coghlin also reports unease in the populace due to the contested election between Rafael Reyes and Joaquin Vélez for the Colombian presidency, and explains who supports which side.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-05
Report from Rear Admiral Coghlan to Secretary of the Navy Moody concerning military operation in Panama. Coghlan includes news of the election of Rafael Reyes to president of Colombia, noting that it is only hearsay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-04