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Isaac Seligman reports on a productive conference with Sergei Vitte, wherein they discussed the mistreatment of Jews in Russia. The conference demanded immediate freedom from persecution for Russian Jews, and Vitte will discuss this with the government assembly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-17
Oscar S. Straus recounts to President Roosevelt a meeting during the Portsmouth Peace Conference between Russian plenipotentiary Sergei Witte and influential American Jews discussing the civil rights of Jews in Russia. Straus also notes the doubts some of the ministers have regarding prospects of peace between Russia and Japan, and encourages Roosevelt to make his sentiments known to them to encourage an agreement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-15
Herbert H. D. Peirce discusses arrangements for the Japanese and Russian representatives to meet on the Mayflower.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-01
Nicholas II praises Theodore Roosevelt for orchestrating the meeting between Russian and Japanese delegates to discuss possible terms of peace in the Russo-Japanese War. He informs Roosevelt that he has instructed Sergei Witte and Baron Roman Romanovich, the Russian ambassador to the U. S., on the extent of Russian concessions with the Japanese.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-18
The document contains lists of names of the people who will represent Russia and Japan in the upcoming peace negotiations in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-13
Assistant Secretary of State Peirce informs William Loeb that Russian Diplomat Baron Rosen has expressed interest in meeting with President Roosevelt to discuss relations between Russia and the United States prior to the Russo-Japanese War peace conference. Peirce would also like to know who will be included in the dinner Roosevelt is planning for the plenipotentiaries.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-13
Second Assistant Secretary of State Adee writes William Loeb that Herbert H. D. Peirce is to accompany Baron Rosen from New York to Oyster Bay on the Sylph the next day for luncheon at the house of President Roosevelt. Rosen and Peirce are pleased to accept Roosevelt’s invitation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-12
Minister Takahira is requesting confirmation of news reports that the Russians have replaced their current plenipotentiary and clarification as to whether Baron Rosen, Minister Pokotilov, or some other appointment should be considered the senior member of the Russian Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-12
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-07
Third Assistant Secretary of State Peirce informs President Roosevelt of the arrangements for the peace negotiations between Russia and Japan. Peirce is concerned there is not a suitable ship to transport the dignitaries to Oyster Bay and he also wants to keep the diplomats out of the view of the journalists.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-06
Ambassador Meyer informs President Roosevelt that he received his letter from May 2, 1905, and Meyer is going to send Secretary of State Hay a letter covering the situation in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Relations are good with Russians; however, Czar Nicholas II has issued an edict on the defense of the Russian Empire. Meyer encloses an article from a Russian newspaper entitled “Our New Representative in America,” which describes Russia’s international relations from Russia’s point of view.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-23
An editorial from the Russian Zionist newspaper Razsviet, questions the appointment of Baron Roman Romanovich Rosen to the post of Russian ambassador to the United States. The post is “probably the most important, every step, every thought of which is connected with extreme responsibility.” The question becomes whether the new ambassador can inspire “sincere respect for an Empire defeated by the Japanese.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-21
Postcard showing five of the diplomats and statesmen responsible for the Treaty of Portsmouth. A portrait of President Roosevelt is featured in the middle.
1905
William N. Tilchin examines why Theodore Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for his mediation of the Russo-Japanese War. Tilchin asserts that Roosevelt had gained a great deal of diplomatic experience prior to the 1905 negotiations at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, including his work in acquiring the rights to build the Panama Canal. Tilchin also notes that Roosevelt had a sense of the larger geopolitical stakes at hand in the war; namely, preserving the balance of power in both Asia and Europe, and he highlights how Roosevelt deployed his friendships with Kentaro Kaneko of Japan and the United States Ambassador to Russia George von Lengerke Meyer throughout the negotiations.
Three photographs appear in the essay, including one of Roosevelt with the peace commissioners from Russia and Japan and one of Tilchin at the site of the treaty negotiations at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
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.
William N. Tilchin examines why Theodore Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for his mediation of the Russo-Japanese War. Tilchin asserts that Roosevelt had gained a great deal of diplomatic experience prior to the 1905 negotiations at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, including his work in acquiring the rights to build the Panama Canal. Tilchin also notes that Roosevelt had a sense of the larger geopolitical stakes at hand in the war; namely, preserving the balance of power in both Asia and Europe, and he highlights how Roosevelt deployed his friendships with Kentaro Kaneko of Japan and the United States Ambassador to Russia George von Lengerke Meyer throughout the negotiations.
A silhouette illustration and three photographs of Roosevelt accompany the article as does a text box acknowledging the financial firm Roosevelt & Cross for its support of the Theodore Roosevelt Association.
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.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
2005
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.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1905
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.
A Jewish Morning Journal editorial discusses the issue of Russia not allowing any Jews into the country even with American passports, and Theodore Roosevelt’s suggestion this be taken up in arbitration at the Hague. The author calls Roosevelt a friend of Jewish people, but questions if this is worth pursing since they believe Russia to be unreasonable and uncivilized, other officials have tried and failed to resolve this issue, and if the Hague were to side with Russia then the U.S. would be compelled to accept it without complaint.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-17