Three ALSs in pencil as president, all signed "Roosevelt," totaling five pages, 5 x 8, no dates but circa 1935. All are retained drafts of telegrams written to Secretary of State Cordell Hull while traveling onboard the USS Houston during his 'second presidential cruise' in 1935, containing FDR's reactions to developments in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.
The first, in full: "It is my judgment that proclamation issue immediately in view of the undoubted state of war and without waiting League action. I entirely approve the suggested statement to be given out at same time as proclamation"
The second, in part: "Approve issuance proclamation and also statement to accompany. Period. Agree…that further action relating to publicity of names and manifests be held up for further study and recommendation by you.
The third, in part: "Americans sailing on belligerent ships may repeat may jeopardize peace or endanger lives or effect commercial interests or security of U.S. In other words if in this specific case Americans continue to patronize Italian ships there may very easily occur some untoward episode either to or by an individual American or through some commercial transaction which violates the spirit of the arms and munitions proclamation. Period. In other words if Americans travel on Italian ships there is that much more danger of some episode, whereas if the proclamation under section six is issued Americans will do that travelling only at their own risk. Italy can find no affront in this as it carries out what I believe to be the intent and the spirit of the law. Period. The clinching argument is that if Ethiopia had a single submarine in the Mediterranean we would not hesitate a moment. Period. But submarines are not the sole causes of danger to American lives and interests."
In overall very good to fine condition, with staining to each piece, not affecting any readability. Accompanied by a program from the U.S.S. Houston for FDR's cruise, listing the presidential party and destinations.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 'second presidential cruise' aboard the U.S.S. Houston began on October 3, 1935, bound for a wide-ranging list of destinations including San Diego, the Cerros Islands, Magdalena Bay, Cocos Island, Balboa, Cristobal, Porto Bello, and Charleston, South Carolina. On the same day, the Second Italo-Ethiopian War broke out when a force of 200,000 soldiers of the Italian Army commanded by Marshal Emilio De Bono attacked Ethiopia without prior declaration of war. The Ethiopian counteroffensive managed to stop the Italian advance for a few weeks, but the superiority of the Italians' weapons soon overwhelmed the Ethiopian defenses. Roosevelt's real-time reaction to the crisis—centered on protecting American citizens and interests—offer fascinating insight into his leadership as America's commander-in-chief.
