ROOSEVELT THEODORE: (1858-1919) American President 1901-09. Nobel Peace Prize winner, 1906. A good L.S., Theodore ...

ROOSEVELT THEODORE: (1858-1919) American President 1901-09. Nobel Peace Prize winner, 1906. A good L.S., Theodore Roosevelt, as President, two pages, folio, Washington, 6th December 1905, to [Tomas Estrada Palma] the President of the Republic of Cuba. Roosevelt announces 'I have made choice of Edwin V. Morgan, one of our distinguished citizens, to reside near the Government of Your Excellency in the quality of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America' and continues 'He is well informed of the relative interests of the two countries and of our sincere desire to cultivate to the fullest extent the friendship which has so long subsisted between us. My knowledge of his high character and ability gives me entire confidence that he will constantly endeavour to advance the interest and prosperity of both Governments and so render himself acceptable to Your Excellency. I therefore request Your Excellency to receive him favorably and to give full credence to what he shall say on the part of the United States and to the assurances which I have charged him to convey to you of the best wishes of this Government for the prosperity of Cuba'. Countersigned by Elihu Root (1845-1937) American Lawyer & Statesman, Nobel Peace Prize winner, 1912. Very slightly irregularly trimmed to the upper edge, one neat tear to the right edge of the central fold, several large reddish stains to the blank lower half of the second page, and with some other light overall staining and age wear, about G Tomas Estrada Palma (1832-1908) Cuban politician who served as the first President of Cuba 1902-06. Edwin Vernon Morgan (1865-1934) American diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Brazil 1912-33 and also as Minister to Portugal (1911-12), Paraguay (1910-11), Uruguay (1910-11), Cuba (1906-10) and Korea (1905). Theodore Roosevelt had led the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War of 1898 and gained fame for his role in the capture of Kettle Hill in Cuba in July 1898. In 1906, following a disputed election, an insurrection ensued in Cuba. The first President, Palma, faced an armed revolt by independence war veterans who defeated the meagre government forces. The United States intervened by occupying Cuba and named Charles Edward Magoon as Governor for three years.