Sin

The Japanese question

This article, published in The Outlook, seeks to present the principles which “should, and eventually will, determine the whole question of the treatment of the Oriental races in this country.” Considering specifically the case of California, where Japanese children were being excluded from public schools, the article highlights three issues: the prerogative of the states to control and make decisions about public schooling, the right of the Federal Government to determine who may enter into the country, and the power of Congress to make naturalization laws to determine who may become a citizen. After explaining these, the article then applies them to the situation in California.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-29

Creator(s)

Unknown

Translation of notice appearing in the World News of July 5th

The Chinese people are boycotting American goods, to the joy of all Chinese. “Three Castles” and “Woodbine” cigarettes are not made by America and are fine to smoke.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-05

Creator(s)

Unknown

Telegram from William Woodville Rockhill to Francis B. Loomis

William Woodville Rockhill sends a confidential message from the Emperor of China to President Roosevelt expressing gratitude for Roosevelt’s proclamation that China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty should be preserved. The Emperor of China hopes that Roosevelt will remember these words and protect the territorial rights of China in Manchuria during the upcoming peace negotiations between Japan and Russia. China will not send a representative to Washington to take part in the negotiations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-05

Creator(s)

Rockhill, William Woodville, 1854-1914

Letter from William Woodville Rockhill to John Hay

Ambassador Rockhill updates Secretary of State Hay on China’s concerns about the upcoming negotiations between Russia and Japan. Rockhill states the Chinese government wanted to participate in the negotiations; however, Rockhill was able to convince the Chinese officials to avoid hasty actions that could cause embarrassment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-01

Creator(s)

Rockhill, William Woodville, 1854-1914

Remarks made by Frank P. Sargent at Honolulu, June 27, 1905

Commissioner Sargent delivers remarks at a dinner given by the Chinese-Consul General of Hawaii. Sargent praises the friendly relations that exist between the United States and China, yet acknowledges that the Chinese Exclusion Act prohibits “certain classes of its people” from emigrating to the United States. As the two countries work towards a new treaty, Sargent hopes that “nothing will be permitted to arise which will mar the good feeling which does and should prevail between the two countries.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-27

Creator(s)

Sargent, Frank P., 1854-1908

Memorandum regarding a circular sent to William W. Rockhill in China

It is revealed in the memo that a circular, based on one of President Roosevelt’s letters, has been sent to Diplomat Rockhill in China.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-26

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Victor Howard Metcalf to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf discusses the procedures for implementing the Chinese exclusion law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-24

Creator(s)

Metcalf, Victor Howard, 1853-1936

Letter from Victor Howard Metcalf to William Loeb

Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf returns the proposed draft of President’s Roosevelt letter to the Acting Secretary of State. Metcalf has stricken out after the words “minor children” the following: “and their body and house servants.” Metcalf has done this because he believes that is it extremely doubtful that the body and house servants of merchants, travelers, students, and teachers could, under the Exclusion Law, be admitted to the United States. Only the body and house servants of the Chinese Government are expressly permitted to enter the United State under similar conditions as the officials.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-24

Creator(s)

Metcalf, Victor Howard, 1853-1936

Enforcement of the Chinese exculsion laws – general instructions

Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf issues instructions on how the Chinese exclusion laws shall be enforced including who may and may not enter the United States, how to verify status, and ramifications for improper enforcement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-24

Creator(s)

Metcalf, Victor Howard, 1853-1936

Memorandum from the Office of Naval Intelligence

There has been a considerable amount of activity in the past week near the railroad in Manchuria, and the Russians seem to be falling back rapidly. The key to the Russian position is Kirin, and the Japanese appear to be moving on it from the east, southeast, and south. Japan can now move her forces and supplies by sea with complete safety.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-23

Creator(s)

United States. Office of Naval Intelligence

Statement of Japan’s terms of peace

Statement listing thirteen items Japan demands from Russia as terms of peace, including indemnity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Hermann Speck von Sternburg to Theodore Roosevelt

Hermann Speck von Sternburg updates President Roosevelt on the conditions in Morocco and references dispatches and excerpts from newspapers. One dispatch states France accused Great Britain of trying to drive France and Germany to war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-18

Creator(s)

Sternburg, Hermann Speck von, Freiherr, 1852-1908

Letter from John Barrett to Theodore Roosevelt

Responding to a request from President Roosevelt, John Barrett details his analysis and his involvement in a number of matters of international relations regarding Colombia, Panama, and South America generally, as well as Japan and China. He responds to the president’s concerns that he has been “too much in the papers.” He also suggests that Roosevelt visit South America at some future time after leaving the presidency. Such a visit would strengthen ties and would prepare Roosevelt for handling international affairs, should the nation again select him for the presidency.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-17

Creator(s)

Barrett, John, 1866-1938

Letter from Benjamin Ide Wheeler to Theodore Roosevelt

Benjamin Ide Wheeler praises President Roosevelt’s diplomatic skills. Wheeler states the future of the United States will be determined by the countries across the Pacific Ocean instead of those across the Atlantic Ocean as it was in the founding of the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-16

Creator(s)

Wheeler, Benjamin Ide, 1854-1927

Memorandum from the Office of Naval Intelligence

The Office of Naval Intelligence reports on the status of armed forces in Manchuria and warships in the Sea of Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-16

Creator(s)

United States. Office of Naval Intelligence

Letter from Francis B. Loomis to William Loeb

Acting Secretary of State Loomis writes to William Loeb regarding Mexican President Porfirio Díaz, who wishes to offer an autographed letter to President Roosevelt. Loomis mentions that Roosevelt may want to meet with Díaz and asks Loeb what time Roosevelt is available. Loomis then discusses a letter he received from the so-called Chinese reformer Kang Wu Wei, who wishes to interview Loomis and Roosevelt. Loomis reveals that the Chinese Minister, whom he contacted, informed him that Wei was an impostor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-13

Creator(s)

Loomis, Francis B. (Francis Butler), 1861-1948

Letter from William Woodville Rockhill to John Hay

William Woodville Rockhill proposes that the guard for the Legation of the United States in China be changed from a company of the 9th U.S. Infantry to one hundred Marines. Rockhill believes the change is desirable for a number of reasons including: it would be cheaper to maintain, the number of Marines could be promptly increased or decreased, the group of Marines would be more flexible than an infantry unit, and undesirable men could be readily replaced by better Marines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-08

Creator(s)

Rockhill, William Woodville, 1854-1914

Letter from Victor Howard Metcalf to Theodore Roosevelt

Victor Howard Metcalf provides President Roosevelt with a series of correspondences regarding an immigration inspector, George C. Triick, who was accused of mistreating Mr. Chow Tszchi, a Chinese dignitary. The department agrees that the Government should provide the utmost courtesy to Chinese people but notes issues in proving citizenship or defining who could be classified as a Chinese laborer. Chinese merchants, teachers, students and bankers are welcome, but not laborers with falsified Chinese papers pretending to be of a higher class. A treaty written in 1904 sought to deal with falsified records but the Chinese thought it was too strict. Metcalf notes any concerns of harshness in the enforcement of exclusionary laws is necessary to combat those trying to skirt the system.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-07

Creator(s)

Metcalf, Victor Howard, 1853-1936

Letter from Léopold II, King of the Belgians to Theodore Roosevelt

King Léopold II of Belgium warns President Roosevelt that the Chinese are seeking to remove a railroad concession from an American company, which consequently threatens some Belgian shareholders. Léopold sees this as a broader movement of the Chinese to exclude other nations from doing business in their country. He feels, however, that if Roosevelt ordered the American consuls to watch over the work on the railroad that the Chinese would back down and not directly oppose the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-01

Creator(s)

Léopold II, King of the Belgians, 1835-1909

Letter from Charlemagne Tower to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Tower writes to President Roosevelt about a confidential interview he had with Emperor William II, particularly with regard to the situation in China and the Far East. The Emperor feels that Roosevelt’s attitudes towards China have been helpful for all nations’ interests in China. The Emperor had been formally approached by France regarding a cooperation between Germany, France, and England “for the purpose of establishing permanent control within Chinese territory.” He declared that he would not be part of such an arrangement, and that Germany was in favor of an open door policy. The Emperor believes that immediate danger has been put off by Roosevelt’s actions and by Secretary of State John Hay’s note.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-04

Creator(s)

Tower, Charlemagne, 1848-1923