Sovereignty

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge has read Theodore Roosevelt’s article on arbitration under the Russian treaty and is troubled by the matter. The Russians have never “given up the doctrine of indefeasible allegiance,” thus excepting their subjects from part of the treaty. Lodge also believes that the Russians violate the treaty regarding American born Jews. Going to the Permanent Court of Arbitration could strengthen the American position but Russia would likely ignore any decision on their right to exclude immigrants. This would also raise awkward questions regarding the United States’ laws against Chinese immigration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-12

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

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 of the Bolivian Minister presented in writing

The Bolivian minister insists that a concession given to American business interests does nothing to interfere with Brazilian sovereignty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-10

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt is finding it difficult to be courteous to his Outlook colleagues due to their “unutterably silly” views on the arbitration treaties. They want to agree to arbitrate everything because it is unlikely that the issues that the United States would refuse to arbitrate will ever be submitted for arbitration. Roosevelt compares the issue to the tense situation in Europe that he believes will only be peacefully resolved if Germany concludes that France is willing to fight and Great Britain is ready to provide support. He knows that the German war plans involve flank marches through Belgium and Switzerland even though Germany has treaties with these nations guaranteeing their territories.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Senator Lodge’s petition on the arbitration treaty. He can see no argument in favor of a commission which might contain foreigners exercising a power that rightly belongs to the President and the Senate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to W. Cameron Forbes

To keep the Philippines, Theodore Roosevelt believes the United States must administer the territory, keep politics out, and maintain the ability to defend the islands. He does not want any promises made to the Filipinos that the United States does not intend to fulfill. Roosevelt is distressed at how Democrats and the Wilson administration have handled the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Andrew Noll

Theodore Roosevelt directs Andrew Noll to his recently published articles which answer many of Noll’s questions. Noll’s contention that Germany found evidence of Belgian plans to violate neutrality is false and all evidence shows that Belgium would have, if necessary, put up a defense against France, Great Britain, or Germany. Roosevelt believes he has given Germany a “square deal” and that Germany must do the same to Belgium, a neighboring country that is suffering under German “subjugation and destruction.” Roosevelt states that American citizens need to “act purely as American citizens,” treat other countries according to their conduct, and put their country in a position to defend itself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Andrew Noll

Theodore Roosevelt defends himself against accusations that he is slandering Germany and supporting England. Roosevelt seeks to treat all Americans alike, regardless of their nationality. Roosevelt has not slandered Germany but stated that the violation of Belgium’s neutrality was a “dreadful wrong.” He regrets losing Andrew Noll’s support but believes that nations should be judged by the same standard of conduct. Roosevelt receives many letters imploring him to support a certain country based on the letter writer’s nationality. However, he believes that foreign and domestic affairs should only be viewed from “the standpoint of simple American citizenship.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald B. Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt met with William Cary Sanger on Sunday and Sanger was interested in Archie Roosevelt’s proposals. He suggests that Sanger is the person that Archie should work with. Roosevelt read an article by Sanger’s son and agrees with much of it. However, he disagrees with guaranteeing the independence of the Philippines and that Central and South American countries should become guarantors of the Monroe doctrine. Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt attempted to develop a path through Smith’s Field. He warns Archie against damaging his prospects by appearing uncouth and wearing soiled clothing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge’s amendment to the arbitration treaties will allow the United States to ignore any question it does not want to arbitrate as if the treaty did not exist. It is predicated upon the assumption that the president and Senate would never submit certain issues to arbitration, such as the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-01-13

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge went through Senator Crane in order to impress upon the Taft administration the dangers of an open debate on the arbitration treaties. Lodge believes that his resolution will be suitable as it is of a general nature and will allow the treaty making powers of the United States to reject any question they choose.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-01-11

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

The Taft administration is prepared to accept Lodge’s resolution that will allow the Senate to “pass on the arbitrability of a question.” Senator Lodge is pleased with providing the Senate with this level of control even though it “makes the treaties of little value.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-01-10

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge was pleased with Theodore Roosevelt’s article on the arbitration treaties. Lodge is troubled by the thought that there are issues which the United States will never agree to arbitrate but that this fact is not present in the treaty. The public is not grasping this dichotomy and the portrayal of the treaty as a “peace” treaty sheds the Senate’s opposition in a poor light. The Outlook‘s claim that issues such as immigration or the Monroe Doctrine will never be submitted for arbitration misses the point. If the United States agrees to the current terms of the treaty, these issues can be arbitrated and the decision-making authority will be outside the “treaty-making authorities of the United States.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-09

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge believes that amending the arbitration treaty is preferable to the resolution suggested by Senator Root that would require Senate ratification of any arbitration. Such a resolution would make it obvious that the United States would not accept arbitration on some issues, which is exactly what President Taft said in a recent speech. Lodge does not want a treaty that claims all issues will be arbitrated when it is clear that the United States will not follow such a treaty on several issues. Root agrees with Lodge’s views but is in an awkward position as he negotiated previous arbitration treaties and does not want to appear to be amending a treaty created by his successor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-24

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge will be sending a copy of the minority report written by Senator Root regarding the arbitration treaties. Lodge’s and Root’s views on arbitration differ slightly but they both seek to protect American sovereignty by providing a means for certain questions to avoid arbitration, although through different clauses and resolutions. He is concerned that if President Taft campaigns on the arbitration issue it will raise debates in the Senate that will damage the nation’s foreign relations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-22

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from F. V. Greene to Theodore Roosevelt

Francis V. Greene of Niagara Lockport and Ontario Power Company lets President Roosevelt know that he approves the passing of a bill regulating power companies and power production. The bill that Greene refers to concerns the use of Niagara Falls for water power and also concerns the preservation and conservation of the waterfalls. Greene mentions that he met with Canadian officials to discuss this matter and found out that Niagara Falls was not the main focus of the Canadians. Instead, they were more concerned with other bodies of water.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-05

Creator(s)

Greene, F. V. (Francis Vinton), 1850-1921

Letter from Alvey A. Adee to Thomas J. O’Brien

Second Assistant Secretary of State Adee instructs Ambassador O’Brien to informally inquire if the Danish government is willing to ratify a treaty for the cession of the Danish West Indies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-19

Creator(s)

Adee, Alvey A. (Alvey Augustus), 1842-1924

Letter from William Woodville Rockhill to Secretary of State of the United States

Ambassador Rockhill informs the Secretary of State that the Emperor of China has decided not to send a representative to the United States to guarantee the interests of China are not ignored in the Russo-Japanese War peace treaty talks in Portsmouth. The Minister of the Foreign Office, Na-tung, stated that no one would be sent, and instead China will trust the United States. Rockhill was asked to send the enclosed cablegram asking for the territorial integrity of China to be respected, complete and without loss, especially with respect to Manchuria.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-06

Creator(s)

Rockhill, William Woodville, 1854-1914

Letter from Datu Piang to Theodore Roosevelt

In this translated piece of correspondence, Datu Piang wishes prosperity upon President Roosevelt in both material wealth and military power. Piang further declares his loyalty to Roosevelt, whose government he says has “the wisest of laws, the greatest of riches and most compassion to its subjects.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-24

Creator(s)

Datu Piang, 1846-1933

Letter from George Marvin to Theodore Roosevelt

George Marvin informs President Roosevelt that while he had initially planned on taking Roosevelt’s suggestion to make a report on the schools in the Philippines, his plans have since changed. Marvin has been asked by the Viceroy of Manchuria and the Governor to create a publicity campaign to draw attention to the continued aggression of Japanese and Russians in Manchuria in spite of ongoing diplomatic negotiations. Marvin sees the fact that the Chinese government is seeking to publicize this issue as an indication of the difficulty of the situation there, and hopes that he will be able to help preserve Chinese sovereignty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-14

Creator(s)

Marvin, George, 1873-1955