Takahira, Kogoro, Baron, 1854-1926

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.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

James R. Reckner recounts the voyage of the Great White Fleet from December 1907 to February 1909. Reckner looks at the many ports of call made by the flotilla, and he notes some of the entertainment, ceremonies, and honors accorded the fleet as it made its way around the globe. Reckner highlights a change of command necessitated by the poor health of Admiral Robley D. Evans, and he emphasizes the difficulties faced by the ships by a lack of adequate coal supplies at various points in the cruise. Reckner also describes how a part of the fleet came to the aid of Messina, Sicily in the aftermath of an earthquake, and he outlines how important the voyage was to the relationship between the United States and Japan.

The article includes twenty-seven images from the Great White Fleet collection of Bill Stewart, including twenty photographs, five souvenirs, and two postcards.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

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

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.

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

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

Acting Secretary of State Adee relays a telegram from Acting Secretary of Commerce and Labor Lawrence O. Murray, which relates to a telegram to Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw from the collector of customs at the port of San Francisco regarding the Russian cruiser Lena, which is being inspected for repairs. Adee includes Murray’s reply stating that the collector’s telegram to Shaw should have been sent to the Department of Commerce and Labor, rather than the Treasury Department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-12

Kentarō Kaneko presents Theodore Roosevelt with two books, Heroic Japan and Kokon. Kaneko also sends a list of books on Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-31

Secretary of War Taft responds to William Loeb’s letter concerning the U.S. government’s consent to Japan’s request to lay a cable between Yokohama and Guam, and whether the consent is in violation of neutrality laws. Taft recommends allowing a private company to install and maintain the cable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-24

This postcard commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth on September 5, 1905. Photographs are included for five people involved in the signing. On the left are Russia’s Sergei Witte and Roman Rosen. On the right are Japan’s Jutaro Komura and Kogoro Takahira. President Roosevelt is between the two countries. The reverse is for address only.

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1905-1907

On August 5, 1905, the Japanese and Russian delegations to the Portsmouth Peace Conference left New York City to board ships which would take them first to Oyster Bay to talk with Theodore Roosevelt and then to the conference in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This film includes views at the wharf of the New York Yacht Club of the Japanese delegation boarding two U.S. Navy steam launches; and part of the Russian delegation walking down a ramp to the wharf. The first three men are unidentified. The last two men are the chief Russian envoys, Sergei Witte and Baron Roman von Rosen. The delegation is greeted by Third Assistant Secretary of State Herbert H. D. Peirce and others. The Russians board a steam launch. The final view shows a man walking down the ramp and then boarding another launch. Members of the Japanese delegation included Baron Kogoro Takahira, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States, and envoy Jutaro Komura.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1905

The artist depicts portraits of the principal and secondary leaders involved in the Treaty of Portsmouth and includes a quote by President Roosevelt at the bottom of the postcard.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1905

Using his access to Theodore Roosevelt’s correspondence, Joseph Bucklin Bishop examines the events, decisions, and actions that brought about the Treaty of Portsmouth and ended the Russo-Japanese War on September 5, 1905. Bishop primarily focuses on Roosevelt’s work to bring about peace; work that earned Roosevelt the Nobel Peace Prize.

Collection

Newberry Library

Creation Date

1919-09

Second Assistant Secretary of State Adee reports that he has had a visit from the Japanese minister who left him copies of two telegrams from the Japanese foreign office concerning Russia’s violation of China’s neutrality and Japan’s threat to take matters into its own hands. Adee encloses these two telegrams along with a copy of the memorandum of the interview that took place between himself and the Japanese minister.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-26

Formal photograph taken onboard the USS Mayflower before the beginning of the Russian-Japanese peace conference at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. From left: Count Sergei Iulievich Vitte, Chief Russian Envoy; Baron Roman Romanovich von Rosen, Russian Ambassador; Baron Jutaro Komura, Japanese Foreign Minister; Kogoro Takahira, Minister of Japan.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

1905-08

Baron Takahira announced his government’s intention of sending Prince Arisugawa and his wife, Yasuko Maeda, to meet with President Roosevelt and attend the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Secretary of State Hay attempted to explain Roosevelt’s policy of not inviting royalty to the exposition but eventually consented to informing Roosevelt of the Japanese government’s intentions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-05

Secretary of State Hay is arranging a meeting between Count Matsukata and President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-04-05

Secretary of State Hay has informed Baron Takahira that President Roosevelt will be pleased to see him during Hirobumi Ito’s visit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-19

Secretary of State Hay offers to arrange an informal dinner for President Roosevelt and Hirobumi Ito.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-19