War

Letter from Edith Wharton to Theodore Roosevelt

Minnie Jones has fought so hard and so successfully for Edith Wharton’s war charities, and Wharton thanks Theodore Roosevelt for supporting the charities on her own and Minnie’s behalf. Roosevelt’s gift of $500 will be devoted to the convalescent home for refugee women and children. Wharton saw Ted Roosevelt in Paris, France, and he looked well. She wishes the Roosevelts could have seen the great outpouring of sympathy in France after the death of Quentin Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-09-02

Letter from Frederick Courteney Selous to Theodore Roosevelt

Frederick Courteney Selous introduces Theodore Roosevelt to his friend and fellow officer, Captain T. P. Sutton Page. Page anticipates a conflict between the United States and Mexico and, assuming Roosevelt will lead a Rough Rider unit, would like to offer his assistance and experience.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-11-08

Letter from Edith Wharton to Theodore Roosevelt

Edith Wharton thanks Theodore Roosevelt for the book and for his work during these “unbelievable days.” Ethel Roosevelt Derby has been helping raise funds for the refugee hostels and is doing good work. Wharton has just returned from the front where she was trying to get information on the state of the ambulances. She was surprised that she was able to acquire the necessary permit and witnessed some fighting during the battle of Vauquois from a distance of five miles. Wharton witnessed many “moving and sad and thrilling things.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-15

Letter from Kermit Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Kermit Roosevelt tells Theodore Roosevelt about a dinner he had with David Goodrich, during which they discussed the work Goodrich has done with the Progressive Party and the possibility of war with Japan. He also talks about a lunch he had with Percival Farquhar. Roosevelt expresses the desire to pick up more contracts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912

Letter from George B. Hoffman to Theodore Roosevelt

George A. Hoffman, a Rough Rider, wants Theodore Roosevelt to inform him if he decides to fight in Mexico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-22

Letter from Jack Quayle to Theodore Roosevelt

Having heard that Theodore Roosevelt may be organizing a cavalry brigade in case of war with Mexico, Jack Qualye volunteers his services, and lists his qualifications for inclusion in such a brigade.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-18

Letter from John H. Tweedy to Theodore Roosevelt

John H. Tweedy sincerely wants to join Theodore Roosevelt on the front if there is war with Japan. He hopes the country will not be fooled by the Japanese.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-18

Letter from Elia H. Meyer to Theodore Roosevelt

Elia H. Meyer saw in the newspapers that Theodore Roosevelt will have a division of Rough Riders if there is war with Japan. He volunteers to be part of it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-17

Letter from Robert H. Bruce to Theodore Roosevelt

Rough Rider Robert H. Bruce tells Theodore Roosevelt that he believes that revolution in Mexico is inevitable. The revolution will likely affect Americans, and Bruce believes that Roosevelt should lead the army if Americans are affected. Bruce, who missed out on fighting in Cuba, wants to fight alongside him if this happens.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-10

Letter from Lewis C. Conwell to Theodore Roosevelt

Lewis C. Conwell recently heard a lecture from J. M. Driver that suggested that then-Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt gave the order to Commodore George Dewey to attack the Spanish fleet in the Philippines when Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long was out of town. This attack was against President William McKinley’s wishes. Conwell would like to know if this story is true.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-10

Letter from John Callan O’Laughlin to Theodore Roosevelt

John Callan O’Laughlin reports to President Roosevelt on his recently-finished trip to Japan. In particular, he recounted conversations with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Komura Jutarō and Russian military attache W. K. Samoiloff. Japan intends to declare Manchuria a “zone of special interest.” O’Laughlin’s overall impression is that, while Roosevelt’s and Secretary of State Elihu Root’s efforts to improve relations with Japan have helped, Japan, and not China, represents the United States’s biggest problems in the region. O’Laughlin summarizes twelve conclusions from his trip about the current state of international relations with Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-20

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Reid has discussed President Roosevelt’s upcoming trip to Africa with Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, and reports that the issue regarding permits to enter game reserves has been resolved. The licenses will be taken care of. Crewe-Milnes assured Reid that Roosevelt’s needs will be taken care of, but that the British government understands that he does not want a fuss. Reid also discusses a number of domestic political issues in England, as well as the state of international affairs in Europe. He thinks that in spite of rumors in the British press about southwestern Europe, a war is unlikely. Reid encloses a caricature of Roosevelt that he thinks he will find amusing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-03

Letter from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of State Root returns President Roosevelt’s write-up on the Navy with some edits suggesting the postponement of war until they obtain the four battleships. Root says that it is “a bully spiel.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-13

Letter from Charlemagne Tower to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Tower relays to President Roosevelt a private conversation he had with Emperor William II of Germany, who had recently heard reports of Japanese soldiers training and gathering in Mexico, Peru, and Chile. The Emperor believes that the Japanese are preparing to seize the Panama Canal if war is declared. Additionally, reports from Portugal suggest that the Japanese are preparing for war against the United States. He approves of Roosevelt’s decision to send the war fleet out because it has strengthened the position of the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-28

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

Leonard Wood updates President Roosevelt on the geopolitical situation in the Philippines, largely in regard to Japan. In the Philippines, there is a marked concern that Japan is preparing for war. They have scouts on the island and are trying to drum up pro-Japan sentiment. The British, who are allied with Japan, are becoming increasingly uneasy. Wood believes it is imperative that the American fleet stay entirely in Manila until more defenses can be set up. He details the defenses and supplies that should be brought in. Controlling Japan now means securing white influence in Asia and the surrounding waters. Wood also discusses the training, promotion, and management of troops.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-30

Letter from George Otto Trevelyan to Theodore Roosevelt

George Otto Trevalyan is grateful for President Roosevelt’s interest in his work on the Revolutionary War, and says that he is going to be working on it in a enjoyable, leisurely pace He discusses Roosevelt’s own writings on military subjects ranging from history to his time with the Rough Riders. Ambassador to Italy Lloyd Carpenter Griscom often goes shooting alone with the King of Italy, and introduced Trevelyan’s son to him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

President Roosevelt and Secretary of the Navy Metcalf have reopened inquiry into an order declaring that naval medical ships be treated as hospital ships and placed under the command of medical officers. The writer asserts that this order is correct, and offers examples of times when medical ships under the order of a line officer, rather than a medical officer, have violated neutrality during times of war. All hospital facilities, whether ships or otherwise, should be under the command of surgeons rather than line officers. This practice would be in keeping with the army’s practice regarding hospital ships.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-04

Letter from Charlemagne Tower to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Tower has spoken with Chancellor Bülow of Germany about the Japanese situation. Bülow has spoken with Ambassador Alfons Mumm, who does not believe that Japan intends to attack the United States, even though they do harbor hostility toward the country. Tower expresses concern that Japan might want to invade the West Coast to gain territory. Tower has also spoken with Minister Wilhelm Eduard von Schoen about relations with Germany and China. Tower assured Schoen that President Roosevelt agrees with Bülow on the issues regarding China and the open door policy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-08

Letter from Jose F. Godoy to Theodore Roosevelt

Mexican diplomat José F. Godoy notifies President Roosevelt that through official channels of communication, Mexico informed El Salvador that it recognizes the provisional government of Honduras and its neutrality. Godoy mentions the inevitability of war between Nicaragua and Guatemala, with the latter being the aggressor and receiving Salvadorian aid.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-17

Letter from Ángel Ugarte to Alvey A. Adee

On behalf of the government of Honduras, Minister Ángel Ugarte writes Acting Secretary of State Adee requesting the United States’ support in maintaining Honduras’ neutrality in the probable war between El Salvador and Nicaragua.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-18