Page 153 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript Americana - Sale 2310 - April 16, 2013

THE PRESIDENT IS RELUCTANT TO ATTACK THE MUSLIMS
356 ● ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. Typed Letter Signed to the acting Secretary
of War, William Cary Sanger. One page, 8 3/4 x 6 3/4 inches to sight, on White House
stationery, with six words added in Roosevelt’s hand; vertical fold passing through
signature; framed with a photograph of Roosevelt by Walter Scott Shinn. Not examined
outside of frame. Washington, 20 April 1902 [1,500/2,500]
In this letter, Roosevelt postpones a major offensive against the Moros, the Muslim inhabitants
of the southern Philippines. The Moro Rebellion was on the verge of becoming a sub-conflict
within the Philippine-American War. Moro guerillas had recently ambushed American troops,
and on 13 April the American commander had demanded that the attackers be surrendered or
he would undertake a punitive expedition. “My dear Colonel Sanger: The enclosed letters
explain themselves, and are in line with our conversation on Thursday. The more I think over
the matter the more reluctant I am to have that campaign against the Moros begun. Is Taft to
be here to-morrow? If so, remember he is to dine with me. In any event, that expedition had
better be held up, for the present at any rate. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt.” The expedi-
tion went ahead on 2 May, resulting in a surprising 18 American casualties. This was the first
major engagement in fighting which continued sporadically for ten more years.