Diplomatic negotiations in international disputes

Letter from William Woodville Rockhill to Francis B. Loomis

William Woodville Rockhill acknowledges receipt of a telegram from Herbert H. D. Peirce indicating that the United States will do all it can to preserve the territorial integrity of China during the peace negotiations between Japan and Russia. Rockhill believes the Chinese Government is apprehensive that Japan may seek to secure the reversion of concessions made to Russia of rights in Manchuria. Rockhill also encloses the translation of a despatch sent to him by Yikuang of the Chinese foreign ministry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-08

Letter from Cheng Liang to Alvey A. Adee

Cheng Liang communicates a declaration from the Chinese Imperial Government stating that no provision of the peace treaty between Russian and Japan that affects China may be made without China’s approval.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-10

Letter from Cecil Spring Rice to Theodore Roosevelt

Cecil Spring Rice relays a speech the Marquess of Lansdowne gave before the English government. Lansdowne urged the English government to use its influence to help bring peace to the conflict between Russia and Japan. Rice discusses the issues influencing the actions of Russia and Japan, including the history and balance of power in Europe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-11

Letter from J. J. Jusserand to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Jusserand writes that he is greatly comforted by President Roosevelt’s news concerning the Moroccan Crisis. He also discusses the amenities that the French Government provided to the plenipotentiaries of the United States and Spain during negotiations for an end to the Spanish-American War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-11

Letter from Lloyd Carpenter Griscom to Francis B. Loomis

Baron Jutarō Komura has been appointed one of the plenipotentiaries by Japan. Komura is a respected man and his appointment as a plenipotentiary may demonstrate Japan’s sincere desire to come to terms of peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-07

Telegram from Herbert H. D. Peirce to William Loeb

Russian Ambassador Roman Romanovitch Rosen desires to know where and when President Roosevelt will receive him. Rosen also desires to know whether he should go in uniform, and if not, what he should wear. Rosen accepts Portsmouth for the peace conference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-07

Imperial message

Ambassador Griscom forwards a message from the Japanese government stating Japan will negotiate for peace if Russia is willing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-07

Letter from William Woodville Rockhill to Secretary of State of the United States

Ambassador Rockhill informs the Secretary of State that the Emperor of China has decided not to send a representative to the United States to guarantee the interests of China are not ignored in the Russo-Japanese War peace treaty talks in Portsmouth. The Minister of the Foreign Office, Na-tung, stated that no one would be sent, and instead China will trust the United States. Rockhill was asked to send the enclosed cablegram asking for the territorial integrity of China to be respected, complete and without loss, especially with respect to Manchuria.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-06

Confidential letter from Baron Kogoro Takahira to Theodore Roosevelt

Baron Kogoro Takahira writes, in cipher, to answer President Roosevelt’s questions of the second and third of July. Takahira received telegrams from his government telling him to thank the President for his efforts, that a cease fire would not be advantageous to Japan and it would be to Russia, so Japan would rather make peace rather than armistice. Second, as Japan has no information about Russia’s disposition towards peace and will not have any until the Plenipotentiaries meet, Japan does not see armistice as viable for her at this time. Japan thinks that the time to decide on an armistice is when the Plenipotentiaries meet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-06

Telegram from William Loeb to Rudolph Forster

The United States will do all that it can to preserve the territorial integrity of China and to ensure that her sovereignty is not injured in the coming peace negotiations. However, the United States will not be involved in the peace negotiations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-06

Telegram from Charlemagne Tower to Theodore Roosevelt

Emperor William II has expressed concern that Emperor Nicholas II’s life will be in danger when the truth about the latest defeat is discovered. William II has written to Nicholas II and urged him to take immediate steps to peace. William II believes that President Roosevelt is the right person to help to bring about peace with the Japanese.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-04

Letter from Francis B. Loomis to William Loeb

Enclosed is a copy of the dispatch from Minister Conger which reports that Prince Ching Yikuang and Viceroy Shih-kai expressed a strong desire that the United States take an important part in the negotiations for peace between Japan and Russia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-19

Letter from Francis B. Loomis to William Loeb

Assistant Secretary of State Loomis forwards communications from the Russian Embassy regarding their unfavorable opinion on the removal of Emperor Kojong from Korea.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-23

Memorandum on the Moroccan crisis

The French Minister president had advised that Germany and France should come to an understanding about Morocco and the German government has sent word that they cannot make any statements until they have heard from their Minister in Morocco. While this was accepted by the French Minister, there has been some conflicting and contradictory action taken by Theophile Delcasse. Delcasse appears to be taking his cue from the British government who will drop their opposition to a Morrocan Conference if President Roosevelt informs them he is in favor. It is suspected in some circles that Delcasse is attempting to engineer a quadruple alliance between Great Britain, France, Russia and Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-13

Letter from Francis B. Loomis to William Loeb

Acting Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis forwards a letter and article from the American Minister to Japan. The article discusses the Japanese public’s opinions on peace negotiations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-31

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft writes to President Roosevelt about the events that will later be called the Moroccan Crisis (1904-1906), which worsened German relations with France and England. At the request of Roosevelt, Taft met separately with the German and British Ambassadors to try to deescalate tensions so that a misunderstanding would not lead to increased hostility. Taft writes also of the Loomis-Bowen affair and of a Japanese minister who spoke of negotiating a peace for the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-26

Letter from Kentarō Kaneko to Theodore Roosevelt

Kentarō Kaneko promises to relay to President Roosevelt the full details of the Battle of Tsushima as soon as he receives them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-29

Note from Kogoro Takahira

Baron Takahira summarizes a message from the Japanese government thanking President Roosevelt for his efforts for peace. From Japan’s perspective, the war with Russia is one of self-defense, and even in the face of decisive victories, Japan will not demand anything excessive in the way of cession of territory or indemnity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-03

Letter from Edwin H. Conger to John Hay

Minister to China Conger reports to Secretary of State Hay that China strongly wishes the United States to take an active role in brokering peace between Japan and Russia. In particular, Conger believes it would be beneficial for the United States to guarantee transfer of the railway in Manchuria to China, rather than Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-31

Telegram from Charles D. Sigsbee to Paul Morton

Rear Admiral Sigsbee, commander of the Caribbean division of the North Atlantic fleet, reports to Secretary of the Navy Morton that he is authorizing the USS Dixie to proceed to Colon. The revolutionists in Santo Domingo appear to be preparing for an outbreak. Action in the U.S. Senate will affect the crisis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-25