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George von Lengerke Meyer invites Theodore Roosevelt and his family to join him on the U.S.S. Mayflower for lunch during Meyer’s review of the North Atlantic fleet. There will be twenty-four battleships for review, including two new ships.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-24
Acting Secretary of State Adee writes a transcript of his interview with Japanese Minister Shinʼichirō Kurino. Adee and Kurino discussed the housing of the Russian warship Lena in San Francisco and the question of what might happen to the officers and crew of the ship. Kurino expressed the Imperial government’s desire that the men not be sent back to Russia if that is requested by the Russian government, and Adee asked for a written copy of the request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-16
President Roosevelt informs William H. Fletcher that he cannot interrupt the movement of the Great White Fleet and believes that it is unfortunate that the Jamestown Exposition and Fulton Memorial occurred in the same year. The president will see if he can send other vessels to the Fulton Memorial.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
Thomas T. Wright expresses to Oscar W. Underwood that the U.S. needs more American ships in foreign trade and urges Congress to pass a ship subsidy bill to support the merchant marine and boost the southern economy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-11
The Office of Naval Intelligence reports on the status of armed forces in Manchuria and warships in the Sea of Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-16
Ambassador Meyer writes President Roosevelt about the Russo-Japanese War. Meyer describes Stanley Washburn’s report of dwindling American sympathies with the Japanese. Washburn does not believe the Japanese army will ever beat the Russian army in Manchuria. Meyer mentions his interactions with Camille Barrère, the French Ambassador, and his indication that French and German banks are beginning to side with Russia. Meyer also relates an interaction he had with the Japanese minister, in which the minister stated he was interested in Roosevelt’s thoughts on Manchuria and Japan’s control of Port Arthur.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-20
The Office of Naval Intelligence reports on developments along the Sha River in China and the bombardment of vessels at Port Arthur by Japanese forces.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-16
President Roosevelt looks over a fence at a farmer labeled “Congress” chopping the roast off a pig: “salary increase.” The rest of the pig is labeled, “inheritance and income tax,” “big warships,” “Panama Canal legislation,” and “currency reports.” He smokes a pipe as he says, “I’ll take this roast home. The rest will go in the smokehouse.” In the background stands “The Congressional Smokehouse” with a sign, “The Long Cure Process Used.” Four cuts of meat are in there: “Philippines Tariff Bill,” “Ship Subsidy,” “Santo Domingo Treaty,” and “Immigration Bill.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-26
“This picture of the pride of the United States Navy was made on the occasion of the Peace Jubilee in New York City, and was taken from a tug passing the warship on its way up the North River. The entire crew are on deck, and a beautiful view of this wonderful craft is afforded”–American Mutoscope & Biograph picture catalogue.
Views on the starboard side of the battleship, U.S.S. Oregon, as she passes a camera which is probably on another ship; her crew is at quarters on her deck; other vessels are visible in foreground. This may be scenes of New York City’s welcome to William T. Sampson’s fleet after his victory at Santiago Bay, in August 1898.
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
1898
There is an effort to recall the vessels loaned to state naval militias. Governor Odell maintains that the ship loaned to New York is highly efficient, paid for by the state, and necessary for the training of the militia. He hopes that President Roosevelt will oppose the recall.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-02-19
Secretary of the Navy Morton forwards to President Roosevelt a telegram from Rear Admiral Caspar F. Goodrich. The captain of the Russian warship Lena has requested that the crew and officers be sent home and there has been difficulty in enforcing parole on the crew. Morton has responded to Goodrich to inform him it has been referred to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-17
Alvey A. Adee reports on a phone conversation with Baron Kogoro Takahira, who informed Adee that the Japanese cannot consider the American government’s suggestion of returning a Russian warship, confiscated in China, to the Chinese government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-27
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to tell him about his experiences aboard the USS Louisiana (BB-19) while he and Edith sail to Panama.
1906-11-11
Rear Admiral Taylor informs President Roosevelt of the position of Rear Admiral Yates Stirling and the ships deployed with him in China.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-23
Alvey A. Adee informs President Roosevelt that he has spoken with Russian Secretary Hansen and he is amenable to the plan for disarming and docking the war ship Lena provided no Japanese officials are allowed to inspect the ship.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-15
A memorandum (in the handwriting of Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary) describing the creation of a Navy civilian training program. Roosevelt considers the training cruises to be “of the highest importance.”
1916
President Roosevelt comments to Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte about several ships, and shares his amusement at the comment in a newspaper article about the proposed destruction of the Constitution as likely being instigated by Roosevelt, thinking that Roosevelt’s “violent hostility to the Constitution is extended to anything which bears the hated title.” He has “a certain malign satisfaction” in seeing some newspapers take an attitude towards Bonaparte similar to that which they have always taken towards Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-16
President Roosevelt quotes a portion of a letter from George von Lengerke Meyer for Jacob H. Schiff’s information, in which Meyer discusses the Russian refusal to discuss the Bialystok massacre. Roosevelt appreciates the horror such massacres provokes, including that of the Armenian people in Turkey, but believes that sending warships to allow the persecuted people to escape would be “a spectacular bit of folly,” as warships are unfit for the purpose. He comments that “if the object was to take away the fugitives and not to do something theatrical,” it would be better to hire ordinary steamships for the purpose.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-26
On the direction of President Roosevelt, William Loeb forwards Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte a telegram from California Governor George C. Pardee requesting the use of war ships to transport supplies to San Francisco to assist with disaster relief there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-22
President Roosevelt tells Owen McAleer, Mayor of Los Angeles, that the Navy Department is already trying to use warships to the extent they are available to help with disaster relief. Roosevelt notes that warships are “singularly unfitted to transport supplies or individuals,” but that he has instructed the Navy Department “to do everything that can properly be done.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-19