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President Roosevelt hopes that Eugene F. Ware will accept the position of Commissioner of Pensions. Henry Clay Evans, the current Commissioner, will be receiving a promotion to the diplomatic service in Spain.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-02
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Albert J. Beveridge’s opinion that additional battleships would have given Spain the excuse to avoid the Spanish War. Roosevelt mentions the high quality of the naval program when he was president and reiterates that World War I was not caused by anything connected to the freedom of the seas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-01-24
Theodore Roosevelt is doubtful of E. A. Filene’s peace proposition and is opposed to recognizing that Americans of foreign birth have divided interests due to their affiliation with foreign countries. He does not want to encourage “group political action by nationality or creed.” Roosevelt argues that the only peace worth having is a righteous peace as “nonrighteous peace may be as evil as the most unrighteous war.” He faults President Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan for not living up to the country’s international obligations and failing to follow a policy of military readiness. Roosevelt concludes by comparing Wilson and Bryan to Spain’s Prince, Manuel de Godoy, whose policies reduced his country to “complete impotency,” lost Spain’s American possessions, and led to a French invasion under Napoleon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-05
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Munroe Smith for sending his pamphlet, “Military Strategy versus Diplomacy.” Roosevelt corrects Smith that he served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to John Davis Long and while Long was a “high-minded, honorable man,” Roosevelt believes he was unfit to lead the Navy. For example, one of Long’s theories was to hold all warships in port until there was danger of war. After the sinking of the USS Maine, Long refused to prepare the Navy for war as he believed this would “tend to bring about war.” Roosevelt’s actual advice to William McKinley was that the Spanish government should be informed that the United States would consider the Spanish fleet being sent to American waters as a declaration of war. If the fleet were still sent, then it would be attacked on the high seas. This is different from Long’s statement but Roosevelt doubts that Long sees the distinction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-24
Theodore Roosevelt sends Spanish Ambassador to the United States Juan Riaño y Gayangos his photograph. Roosevelt would like Riaño y Gayangos to take lunch or dinner with him, so that he can share information about his time in Spain.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-12
Theodore Roosevelt refutes statements made by James M. Beck regarding Roosevelt’s actions around the time of the Spanish-American War. He denies advocating the sending of the Atlantic fleet to intercept and destroy the Spanish fleet without a declaration of war. He recommended warning Spain that sending the fleet to the West Indies would be considered a declaration of war and that the United States would act accordingly. Roosevelt also denies saying that the Assistant Secretary of the Navy should be made the “general Admiral of the Navy” with precedence over all other admirals. He suggests Beck is attempting to deliberately spread falsehoods and gives Franklin Spencer Edmonds permission to show his letter to Beck or anyone else who heard Beck’s statements. Roosevelt does not believe it is necessary to publish his response to Beck.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-19
President Roosevelt agrees with William Kent, and outlines the foreign policy stance he believes the United States should follow in its relationship with Japan. Roosevelt has come to see the matter of Japanese workers immigrating to the United States as “a race question.” He believes that Japanese citizens should not be permitted to settle permanently in America. However, Roosevelt does not want to provoke a war by offending the “sensitive” Japanese government and population. Current legislation in California and Nevada banning Japanese children from public schools frustrates him, because it is offensive to Japan and does not prevent immigration. Roosevelt wants to forbid Japanese immigration while treating the Japanese government politely and continuing to build up the American navy. He seconds Kent’s view that Japanese laborers should not work on Hawaiian sugar plantations. Roosevelt would prefer to send laborers from Spain, Portugal, or Italy, who could become naturalized United States citizens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-04
President Roosevelt was recently reading a volume of John Morley’s work Critical Miscellanies, and wished to write to him about a number of the issues he raises, and critiques several other historians and works of history. Roosevelt pivots to talking about the recent election in the United States as he identifies it as having taken place under circumstances similar to those identified by Baron Thomas Babington Macaulay–with a recent financial panic and a demagogue opposing William H. Taft–but because of the moral superiority of the Republican party, Taft became president-elect. Roosevelt believes that foolish optimism can get in the way of sane optimism, but also believes that there is cause to hope in the future. He would like to see Morley when he visits England in 1910.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-01
President Roosevelt thinks that French Ensor Chadwick has correctly characterized Spaniards in comparison to other European races and nationalities. Roosevelt reflects on some of the strengths and weaknesses of various European navies, and how this has changed through time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-08
President Roosevelt has recently received a copy of Arthur James Balfour’s book Decadence through Viscount Arthur Hamilton Lee, and he writes to thank Balfour for it and offer his thoughts. Roosevelt believes that Balfour is essentially right about there being something that can lead to the downfall of nations, races, and so forth, and also that it is difficult to properly explain it. He discusses many examples, including that of Spain, the Roman Empire, and South America, and how he sees them fitting in to Balfour’s theories.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-05
President Roosevelt tells Henry Howard of the Eastern Yacht Club that he welcomes international competitions when they are as cordial as last year’s German-American races. Roosevelt would like to see such competitions with Spain, Russia, or other international powers. Roosevelt extends his good wishes to the American team, as well as to German Emperor William II and Prince Henry.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-18
President Roosevelt thanks Mexican Ambassador to the United States Creel for his letter and the Spanish translations of Roosevelt’s writings on “American Ideals” and “The Strenuous Life.” He is pleased that his works were translated in Spain into Spanish, the language of Cervantes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-15
President Roosevelt tells Representative Sickles that he has spoken with Ambassador to Spain William Miller Collier regarding his son George Stanton Sickles. He regrets to inform the representative that his son will not be able to return to his secretarial post in Spain, partially due to the fact that he had previously quit the position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-05
President Roosevelt asks William Miller Collier, American Minister to Spain, to give his personal thanks to Spanish Minister Emilio de Ojeda y Perpiñán for the expressions of sympathy from Spain.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-02
President Roosevelt informs American Minister to Spain Collier that Theodore W. Myers and Rosalie Myers will be attending the wedding of Spanish King Alfonso XIII and asks him to do anything he properly can to make their visit to Spain an enjoyable one.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-03
President Roosevelt was glad to hear from American Minister to Spain Collier. He is sure that Collier will like Frederick W. Whitridge, who is going to Spain as the United States’ special ambassador for the wedding of King Alfonso XIII. Roosevelt looks forward to meeting with Collier when he returns to the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-27
President Roosevelt rebukes Maria Longworth Storer for her repeated attempts at “ecclesiastical intrigue” while trying to get Archbishop John Ireland made Cardinal. Roosevelt has repeatedly told Storer and her husband, Ambassador Bellamy Storer, that both they and he cannot officially get involved in matters regarding the Catholic Church. However, the Storers seem to have ignored these directives and continued to improperly write letters on Ireland’s behalf and to improperly quote portions of Roosevelt’s letters about the matter. If such actions do not stop, Roosevelt will have to remove Bellamy from his position as Ambassador. He asks Maria to return his letters on the subject.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-11
President Roosevelt welcomes Secretary of State Root back and “cheerfully” unloads the issues in Venezuela and Santo Domingo on him. He asks what Root thinks of enclosures from Edward Everett Hale and Admiral Colby Mitchell Chester, and also encloses a letter about Newfoundland from Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. Roosevelt says they need to think about who will replace Lloyd Carpenter Griscom as Ambassador to Japan if Griscom leaves. In a postscript, Roosevelt asks if Root, Lodge, and Joseph Hodges Choate can come spend a few nights at Oyster Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-05
President Roosevelt discusses the timing of Secretary of State Root’s visit to Oyster Bay. He wants to hear what Root did in Labrador, and agrees with the approach Root suggests in dealing with the Spanish famine. Roosevelt also has heard that Root plans to speak in Ohio this fall; if he has not already committed, he would like to speak with Root before he accepts the invitation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-10
President Roosevelt asks William Miller Collier to get New York Representative Payne to write a line endorsing Collier for the ambassadorship to Spain. While Roosevelt says it is not necessary, it is desirable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-16