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Whitelaw Reid writes to President Roosevelt to discuss Roosevelt’s correspondence with the Japanese, Russian, and British governments during the peace negotiations. Reid commends Roosevelt and asks permission to share the correspondence with Lord Lansdowne and King Edward.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-18
Taro Katsura reports that the Treaty of Peace has been signed by Japan and Russia, ratified, and come into full force.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-16
Meiji, the Emperor of Japan, peers over the top of a large globe from the east toward Europe where the rulers of several nations stand with Nicholas II, the wounded and crippled emperor of Russia. There is concern among the European leaders about where Japan will turn after defeating Russia.
“When?” The answer is 1941, as everybody knows. Or 1931, when the Japanese invaded Manchuria and established the puppet Manchukuo government. Or 1937, when the “Second” Sino-Japanese War was begun by the Japanese. There was the troublesome Japanese “sphere of influence” ongoing claim over Korea. And, in the 1930s, its military moves into Southeast Asia, then called Indo-China, over which it claimed hegemonic rights.
Meiji, Emperor of Japan, and Nicholas II of Russia, kneel before the female figure of “Peace.” Caption: When, your Majesties?
Given the exigencies of magazine production — writing and drawing, editing, printing and distribution — we cannot be certain whether the events of Russia’s “Bloody Sunday,” the suppression of protesters on January 9, little more than a week of this cartoon’s cover date, prompted Nankivell’s cartoon. A crowd of petitioners, led by an Orthodox monk, were brutally massacred. The world, and much of Russia, reacted with revulsion, and the Revolution of 1905 began. It was ultimately unsuccessful, but formed a direct line to the Bolshevik Revolution a dozen years later.
In a classroom, the rulers of several countries are the students. Most are identified by country and showing the attributes of their leaders, including, in the back row, “Russia” (Nicholas II), “Germany” (William II), and England (John Bull), and in the front row, “Austria” (Franz Joseph I), “France” (Emile Loubet), Uncle Sam, Japan (Meiji, Emperor of Japan), and Italy (Victor Emmanuel III). On the far left, sitting on a stool, is “Turkey” wearing a “Dunce” cap. The teacher labeled “Diplomacy,” at the front of the room, points to a blackboard on which is written “If the Boer War cost Great Britain $825,000,000 what would a world’s war cost?” While most of the leaders ponder this question, Russia and Japan glare at each other. There are three wastebaskets filled with weapons.
“Coming Events Cast Their Shadows Before.”
Uncle Sam sits at a table with 10 figures, three of which are unidentified, the others showing the attributes of the rulers of Russia (Nicholas II), England (Edward VII), Germany (William II), Japan (Meiji, Emperor of Japan), Italy (Victor Emmanuel III), Austria (Franz Joseph I), and France (Emile Loubet), representing the eight nation alliance. A large tray of fruit labeled “Chinese Indemnity” is on the table. Hanging above the table by a thin string is an enormous sword labeled “Awakening of China.”
The world powers who suffered financial, diplomatic, personnel, and moral setbacks at the hands of the Boxer movement in China, withdrew from activism in China around the time of this cartoon. In formal terms, the combined troops of colonial powers defeated Boxer elements, but the truth is represented by the fact that these powers virtually abandoned their positions in the Celestial City and throughout the country. A “face saving” aspect against China was the demand for indemnities for the losses sustained by the allied powers. This cartoon presents a new spin on the “Sword of Damocles” hanging over world politics by the awakening of a sleeping giant, China.
The rulers of “Russia,” “Germany,” “Italy,” “Austria,” “France,” and “England” are chickens trying to hatch a large egg labeled “China.” A chicken labeled “Japan” stands in the background with Uncle Sam, also as a chicken, perched on a fence in the rear.
This is one of dozens of cartoons published during the Boxer Rebellion that depicts the conflict as merely intractable or challenging rather than as an insoluble crisis. The cartoonist also perpetuates the situation as being one where the United States (Uncle Sam) is nothing more than an observer. In truth, U. S. Marines played a major role in defending the besieged legations and defeating the Chinese insurgents.
The emperors of Russia, Japan, and Germany, and the king of Great Britain each hold a balance scale, and all but “Japan” hold a paper that states their country’s “claim for indemnity.” They are confronting a kneeling, shocked Chinese man labeled “China.” In the background, on the right, Puck is handing a cap and gown to Uncle Sam, suggesting that he play the role of “Portia” and outwit the “Shylocks.” Caption: Puck (to Uncle Sam). — That poor fellow needs a Portia. Why don’t you take the part?
In a somewhat inverted depiction of the actual situation in China as the Boxer Rebellion reached its most dangerous threats to colonial powers, the cowering Chinese figure is being pressured to deliver multiple pounds of flesh, in the cartoon’s reference point: Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. Also unique to cartoonist Pughe’s point of view is that Uncle Sam (the United States) was acting differently than the other colonial nations, which was not quite true.
Uncle Sam and John Bull stand with six figures showing the attributes of the rulers of Russia (Nicholas II), Germany (William II), Japan (Meiji, Emperor of Japan), Italy (Umberto I), Austria (Franz Joseph I), and France (Emile Loubet), representing the eight nation alliance. They look up at a mountain labeled “Chinese Question” topped with the face of an angry Chinese person.
As the Boxer Rebellion in China morphed from commercial challenges into a matter of deadly massacres of Westerners and Japanese, and desperate sieges in embassies and compounds, the colonial situation seemed intractable to the newcomers. The caption’s reference to a “kopje” is ironic — a sudden and solitary mountainous rise on an otherwise flat horizon is a word of South African origin, and at the time of this cartoon, another thorn in the side of colonialism was the Boer Rebellion in the southern tip of Africa.
The rulers of Germany, France, Austria, Japan, and John Bull, representing England, watch as the ruler of Russia lights the fuse of a large firecracker labeled “China.”
At the time of this cartoon’s publication, the daily news carried stories from China about the worst period of the Boxer Rebellion, when European powers, American, and Japanese citizens, businesses, and missionaries were being killed and besieged by aggrieved nationalists.
President Roosevelt has instructed William Loeb to send Secretary of State Elihu Root the enclosed draft of a dispatch. Loeb is also to ask Root to look it over and if he approves, send it to Ambassador to Japan Thomas J. O’Brien to give to Emperor Meiji.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-22
President Roosevelt asks Ambassador O’Brien to convey a message to Emperor Meiji of Japan. The message thanks the Emperor for the hospitality shown to the Atlantic Fleet during its visit to Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-21
President Roosevelt apologizes to Baron Kaneko for failing to reply to his “very courteous letter.” Roosevelt sometimes shares his letters from “Japanese friends” with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and William Sturgis Bigelow, and perhaps it was not returned to Roosevelt in order to make a timely and appropriate reply. Roosevelt treasures the armor given to him by Emperor of Japan Meiji stating “it will be an heirloom for my children’s children.” Roosevelt wishes the Baron and his family well and shares news about his children and other current affairs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-10
President Roosevelt introduces Luke E. Wright, American Ambassador to Japan, to Oliver H. P. La Farge, and asks if it would be possible to have him presented to Emperor Meiji.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt asks General Wright to emphasize to Emperor Meiji of Japan the importance the United States puts on the creation of an Ambassador to Japan, as Japan is “the first Asiatic Power to whom we have ever sent an Ambassador, and at once the oldest and the youngest of the great civilized Powers among which it has taken a place in the very foremost rank.” Roosevelt hopes the appointment of an ambassador will help expand the friendship between the United States and Japan. He asks Wright to consult with the State Department when putting together his presentation speech, but encourages him to, “in the end shape the speech as you choose.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-28
President Roosevelt sends Kentarō Kaneko a photograph of himself to show Emperor Meiji of Japan. Roosevelt also expresses his appreciation for Kaneko’s services during the peace negotiations and maintaining contact between Japan and the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-11
President Roosevelt discusses the military prowess of the Roman Empire. He tells German Ambassador Sternburg that he believes that the Japanese government did a poor job of communicating to their people how much they gained in the Treaty of Portsmouth. The Japanese are now rioting because the country did not receive a large indemnity. Roosevelt also tells Sternburg about problems with stockholders, as well as his trip in the submarine Plunger.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-06
President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Griscom to relay a message of appreciation to Meiji, Emperor of Japan. Roosevelt especially would like to thank Meiji for his message thanking him for his role in negotiating peace between Japan and Russia. Roosevelt believes that in agreeing to peace terms, Japan has done something very honorable and that it will have a long-lasting impact on the “welfare and tranquility” of the Far East.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-04
President Roosevelt sends Senator Lodge the complete texts of various cablegrams he sent and received in his efforts to broker peace between Russia and Japan. He includes cablegrams to and from George von Lengerke Meyer, Ambassador to Russia, to show his role in it, as well as congratulatory notes from Kaiser William II, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Emperor Meiji of Japan, and British Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-02
President Roosevelt hopes to have Baron Kaneko for lunch once the peace settlement is assured. He hopes that the Japanese will publicly tout how much they have won.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-02