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Robert Roosevelt congratulates President Roosevelt from escaping arbitrating the Venezuelan crisis. He believes that doing so helped the nation’s reputation. He wishes the Roosevelts a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-31
Venezuela accepts in principle referring the Venezuelan crisis to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. Secretary of State Hay wants to know if President Roosevelt needs to see him before the cabinet meeting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12
Emory C. White is an American businessman with interests in South America. He writes to inform President Roosevelt of the hostility of Germans in South America towards the United States. The Germans are only there to make money in South America and talk against the Americans, trying to trample the Monroe Doctrine. The prevailing opinion is that German trade will continue to increase and eventually lead to colonization, even if that leads to war with the South American republics and the United States. The German situation in Venezuela, with the Germans trying to get the payment of a debt, is only a means to increase German influence in the Americas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-16
George B. Cortelyou forwards to William Loeb a message from Secretary of State Hay to President Roosevelt. The telegram involves the use of arbitration in the Venezuelan crisis. The European powers want to deal with the Hague, while the Venezuelan government wants the issue resolved by Roosevelt’s arbitration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-21
Carl Schurz advises President Roosevelt not to accept the position of arbitrator of the Venezuelan crisis. Rather, he suggests that this would be an ideal case to submit to the Hague Tribunal, and that not to do so would set back organized international arbitration significantly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-23
Albert Shaw sends an article he wrote entitled “The President and the Trusts” and believes that arbitrating the Venezuelan crisis at the Hague will be “a great triumph of American statesmanship.” Shaw wishes President Roosevelt a merry Christmas, but adds that Butler’s wife is very ill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-23
Francis B. Loomis has just returned from a trip out West and has new on the political situation in that part of the country. Loomis would like to offer his Venezuelan expertise to President Roosevelt should the opportunity arise due to the difficulties between Venezuela, Germany, and Great Britain. Loomis is also looking for a new, more active diplomatic post. He wants something more active than Portugal since he still feels relatively young.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-04
James Sullivan Clarkson encloses a letter from Ambassador Loomis regarding the situation in Venezuela. Loomis is in Washington, D.C., if President Roosevelt would like to speak with him. General Tracy will be in town in a few days and could also consult with Roosevelt on Venezuela.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-12
George W. Smalley discusses recent events and public opinion of the Venezuela crisis. He encloses an article from the London Times of December 3, which condemns the sinking of the Venezuelan ships unless justifiable by facts not yet known. However, he comments that public opinion has been “tranquil” on the subject and that many in England view Roosevelt’s administration as a safeguard to British interests and in fact want the British government to ask Roosevelt to help. Smalley offers to come to Washington or to communicate on Roosevelt’s behalf in London, if he can be of help.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-12
Hermann Speck von Sternburg enjoyed his visit to the White House and has returned to Berlin. He will be leaving for India soon. He feels as though he is on the outside of German politics. Germany is focused on the Venezuela crisis and the open door policy in China.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-15
Oscar S. Straus suggests invoking the Hague Treaty to force mediation in the Venezuela crisis. Straus mentions that it would be better to invoke the treaty, as opposed to allowing contingencies to call for use of the Monroe Doctrine. He mentions that the treaty can be invoked by three means: direct presidential communication, diplomacy, or joint resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-15
Assistant Secretary of State David Jayne Hill informs President Roosevelt confidentially that both the German ambassador and the British Ambassador have asked for help from the U.S. in the Venezuelan case. Secretary of State Hay has very decided views on Venezuelan claims. Hill warns against any American financier getting involved with the Venezuelan claims, especially with the hope that the government would back them up.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-29
If President Roosevelt approves, the German Ambassador has requested that the United States Ambassador to Venezuela take charge of German interests in Venezuela should diplomatic relations be severed between their respective countries. The U.S. Ambassador has already been instructed to take over British interests should it be necessary. Only an enciphered, confidential letter should be sent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-01
James Sullivan Clarkson quotes Carlos Calvo and Venezuelan law to explain why the Venezuelan government is resistant to paying foreign debts incurred during a civil war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-24
Important dispatches have been received regarding the situation in Venezuela. European powers would accept arbitration at the Hague but Venezuela wants President Roosevelt to arbitrate. Roosevelt’s vacation does not need to be cut short. There are two copies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-21
John St. Loe Strachey understands President Roosevelt’s objections to arbitration in the Alaska boundary dispute but he supports arbitration especially in light of America’s demand for arbitration in the Venezuelan debt crisis. Strachey wants to avoid a quarrel with the United States but feels that he must support Canada in any conflict.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08-18
Secretary of State Hay spoke with British Ambassador Michael Henry Herbert regarding the blockade of Venezuela. He expressed President Roosevelt’s understanding of the honor the European powers showed to him by asking him to arbitrate the crisis. However, arbitration at the Hague is preferable. Hay expressed Roosevelt’s desire for a quick end to the blockade.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12
In this editorial in The Philadelphia Press, Charles Emory Smith notes that the proposal by England and Germany that President Roosevelt should arbitrate their dispute with Venezuela reflects the growing importance of the United States in the world community and should be seriously considered. It might be better that the United States not be an arbitrator of differences, but remain simply an adviser to the other nations of the Americas. However, if it becomes necessary that Roosevelt act, he will do so with strict justice and to the credit of the nation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-22
Charles Emory Smith editorializes that the European powers’ insistence on the United States arbritrating their dispute with Venezuela might be solved by having a United States Supreme Court justice serve as arbitrator. This would have the advantages of having American issues arbitrated by Americans (rather than Europeans, were the Hague Tribunal to be involved); keeping the judicial and executive actions of the United States separate; and allowing for succession to another justice if the negotiations were protracted beyond the term or life of the one named (succession being a concern if President Roosevelt were named).
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-24
Report listing incidents of interference by the Venezuelan government against the liberty and property of British subjects and correspondence between Venezuela, Great Britain, and Germany regarding these disputes. Representatives of Great Britain and Germany make arrangements for a joint ultimatum and potentially further action towards Venezuela.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-31