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Komura, Jutarō, 1855-1911

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Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft forwards a message from Japanese Foreign Minister Jutaro Komura thanking President Roosevelt for working to find peace in the Japanese Russian conflict. The Japanese await the president’s return to Washington to contribute to a peace plan. Taft tells Roosevelt that Ambassador Kogoro Takahira seems to believe the Japanese government was being too cautious in their messaging regarding their wish to end the war, about the result of the Battle of Port Arthur, and about Roosevelt’s influence on the peace party. Taft also met with British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand after Durand spoke to Lord Lansdowne, regarding British and French reaction after the First Moroccan Crisis. Taft also spoke to Durand about his conversation with German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-02

Letter from Herbert H. D. Peirce to William Loeb

Letter from Herbert H. D. Peirce to William Loeb

Assistant Secretary of State Peirce will not be able to complete his report about his investigation of the consulates before the end of October. However, he does have information that Emperor Meiji wished for him to convey to President Roosevelt. He also has news from Hirobumi Ito and Jutaro Komura about the policy of Japan and the events which led to the declaration of hostilities between Japan and Russia. Peirce would like William Loeb to convey this information to President Roosevelt and ask when Peirce can visit him at Oyster Bay, New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-21

We are fighters for peace

We are fighters for peace

Postcard showing five of the diplomats and statesmen responsible for the Treaty of Portsmouth. A portrait of President Roosevelt is featured in the middle.

Collection

Marple Collection

Creation Date

1905

Reserve your spot!

Reserve your spot!

Announcement that the 2005 annual meeting of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) will be held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. Three paragraphs describe the history and features of the historic hotel.  A photograph of Theodore Roosevelt with members of the Russian and Japanese delegations to the Treaty of Portsmouth negotiations accompanies the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2005

“I am having my hair turned gray…”

“I am having my hair turned gray…”

Henry J. Hendrix describes the negotiations in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, between Russia and Japan in an effort to end the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. Hendrix also details the role played by President Theodore Roosevelt, especially his use of third parties to act as intermediaries between him and the warring powers. Hendrix notes that Roosevelt persuaded the Japanese to surrender their demand for an indemnity from the Russians, convincing them that asking for a payment would appear to the world as continuing the war simply for money. Hendrix asserts that studying the negotiations reveals that Roosevelt was in charge of his diplomacy; that he was “deeply involved” in the process; and that he made effective use of back-channel or third party diplomacy. 

 

Two photographs and two political cartoons of Roosevelt illustrate the article.

Ending the Russo-Japanese War

Ending the Russo-Japanese War

In an excerpt from his book The Roosevelt Family of Sagamore Hill, Hermann Hagedorn examines Theodore Roosevelt’s exercise of personal diplomacy with the representatives of Russia and Japan in his effort to mediate an end to the Russo-Japanese War. Hagedorn details the delicate diplomacy undertaken by Roosevelt at Sagamore Hill and onboard the presidential yacht Mayflower in August 1905 which helped to secure a final peace treaty in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Hagedorn also describes Roosevelt’s descent in the U.S. Navy’s submarine, the Plunger.

A photograph, a political cartoon, and an illustration depict Roosevelt’s interaction with the envoys from Russia and Japan.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

“The Portsmouth Drama”

“The Portsmouth Drama”

Enlargement of a postcard titled “The Portsmouth Drama” showing President Theodore Roosevelt, Czar Nicholas II of Russia, and Emperor Meiji of Japan along with the four envoys from Russia and Japan who negotiated the Treaty of Portsmouth. The building where the negotiations took place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire is depicted at the bottom center of the postcard.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1905

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Kennan

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Kennan

President Roosevelt writes to journalist and explorer George Kennan regarding his article in The Outlook titled “The Sword of Peace in Japan.” He explains that Kennan’s analysis of Japan’s role in the peace agreement is incorrect, and supports his position with confidential facts. Kennan is told that none of the information in the letter is to be made public, but that he may use it to draw more accurate conclusions. Roosevelt explains that he himself did not force Japan into peace, and that he was not interested in boosting his own reputation through the negotiations. Japan willfully asked for the peace agreement, and also for Roosevelt’s involvement. Despite Kennan’s claims, Japan was in no position to demand an indemnity. The cost of the war, both literal and figurative, was too great for Japan to bear, and so they chose to negotiate for peace. They do not want these facts revealed for fear of embarrassment, Roosevelt explains. He supports Japan’s decisions, although he believes they could have fought harder in the agreement for the ownership of the northern half of Sakhalin Island. He quotes a note from Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to support his claims.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-15