China-Harbin | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Memorandum from the Department of State to George von Lengerke Meyer

This memorandum directs Ambassador to Russia Meyer to call on Russian Emperor Nicholas II and encourage him to consent to President Roosevelt’s request to have Russian representatives meet with Japanese representatives. Roosevelt believes it would be best for Russian and Japanese representatives to meet without intermediaries. If Russia is willing to consent to such a meeting, Roosevelt will try to get Japan’s consent without informing Japan that Russia has consented. Russia’s response will be kept secret until Japan agrees.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward VII, King of Great Britain

In a typed copy of the handwritten original, President Roosevelt thanks King Edward VII for the letter and miniature of John Hamden, and sends a copy of his book, The Winning of the West, in return. Roosevelt agrees about the importance of the special relationship between the United States and Great Britain, noting that the external interests of the two are in alignment. Roosevelt believes Russia should make peace with Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-09

Interview between Mr. T’ang Shao-yi and the Secretary of State

Secretary of State Root records an interview he conducted with Special Envoy Tang Shaoyi of China. Much of what was discussed involved the indemnity payments that China had been forced to pay following the Boxer Rebellion, and the return of these payments by the United States to China to be used for educational purposes. Additional subjects include adjustments to the tariff, the situation in Manchuria, and the Chinese Eastern Railway.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-09

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Meyer writes to President Roosevelt comparing the situation in Russia to events in France during the French Revolution. Meyer goes into detail about the current political crisis in Russia, mentioning the need for reform, the need for improved conditions for the military, and the public opinion of the czar. Meyer describes the shutting down of newspaper offices, the imprisonment of editors, and strikes that could take place. He suggests that an American military attache could be of great help to him, as communication and media in St. Petersburg are not reliable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-20

Memorandum from the State Department to George von Lengerke Meyer.

The memorandum directs George von Lengerke Meyer to call on Czar Nicholas II to say that under the personal direction of President Roosevelt he urges Nicholas II to speak with representatives of Japan to end the Russo-Japanese War. It states that Roosevelt and all of Russia’s friends believe continuing the war is only detrimental to Russia’s holdings in East Asia. Roosevelt also believes that it would be best for Russia and Japan to negotiate directly without the interference of outside powers. Roosevelt suggests a meeting location somewhere between Harbin and Mukden. A handwritten note at the end of the memorandum states that a German note to the Czar suggested that Roosevelt was the man that could bring Japan to a reasonable proposal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-05

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to Henry Cabot Lodge

Ambassador Meyer tells Senator Lodge that St. Petersburg, Russia, has been perfectly quiet since he arrived, due to extraordinary precautions taken by Governor-General Trepov to put down any troubles. Meyer thinks the disturbances in Warsaw, Poland, were a smaller scale repetition of those in St. Petersburg on January 22, 1905, and he notes that both could have been avoided by an able police. The stories Meyer has heard about corruption in some of the departments in St. Petersburg are astounding. Meyer thinks the ukaz issued by Emperor Nicholas II giving religious liberty to practically all sects except the Jewish people, if honestly and efficiently carried out, will be beneficial to the country. Representatives of Russian zemstvos, local municipalities, met recently at Moscow and blocked out a scheme of representative government. Meyer thinks the idea of a representative government is permeating all classes of society and that reforms are sure to come about, but the Russian government is currently “in a comatose state,” awaiting the result of the naval conflict and the next battle near Harbin, Manchuria.