Vitte, S. I︠U︡. (Sergeĭ I︠U︡lʹevich), graf, 1849-1915

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

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

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.

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

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

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

In the context of President Jimmy Carter’s work negotiating a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, William C. Sexton reviews President Theodore Roosevelt’s mediation of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 and argues that Roosevelt’s actions set the table for future presidents to act as peacemakers. He looks at Roosevelt’s actions during the negotiations, reviews some of his administration’s other accomplishments, and says that advances in technology like those pioneered by the Wright brothers added to America’s power and prestige.

A listing of the Officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association is found on the second page of this article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-17

This poem details the events of President Roosevelt’s life and presidency, calling him “buster in war and buster in peace.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-26

President Roosevelt holds a “Roosevelt diplomacy” wand as he looks at two hats. One says “Komura” for Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Jutarō Komura, and the other says “Witte” for Russian Prime Minister S. I︠U︡. Vitte. Caption: The President: “Gentlemen, you have seen the insides of these hats—and you noticed they contained no dove. I shall be delighted to place one there—if I can!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-23

President Roosevelt, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Jutarō Komura, and a goddess of peace raise a toast. Behind Komura is a “the dough bag” while “the big stick” is behind Roosevelt. The chair for Russian Prime Minister S. I︠U︡. Vitte is empty. “The dove” is in the center of the table while “rye” is by Roosevelt’s seat, “milk” is by the goddess’s seat, “sake” is by Komura’s seat, and “vodka” is by Vitte’s seat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-28

This newspaper article begins by quoting from Jacob Gould Schurman and notes he advocated “substantial concessions to the radical sentiment of the country.” While Schurman will never openly side with radicals, the writer believes his thoughts are indicative of the rest of the United States. As Schurman demonstrates, there is “real sympathy” between William Jennings Bryan’s radicalism and republicanism. The article suggests that President Roosevelt has tried to bridge the gap between the two positions and that Schurman’s advice of a “modern reform policy” like that in Russia is “the most sagacious policy” conservatism can adopt to retain power.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-20

Secretary of State John Hay’s death was a severe personal loss to President Roosevelt, and he is fortunate to have Elihu Root to take over the State Department. Roosevelt is pleased that Russia is sending Sergei Vitte to negotiate with the Japanese representatives over ending the Russo-Japanese War. However, he is concerned that Vitte and Emperor Nicholas II have not come to terms with the fact that Japan has the upper hand in East Asia. Peace will have to be made with the Japanese as victors. If the Russians cannot reach terms, a “severe defeat” will become an “irredeemable disaster.”

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1905-07-18

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

Sheet music arranged by Frederic Mullen that combines the Japanese and Russian national anthems. “Hail Columbia,” a song representing the United States, concludes the arrangement. The song is in response to the Treaty of Portsmouth which ended the Russo-Japanese War. The front cover displays an angelic figure, representing peace, above the portraits of President Roosevelt, S. Vitte, and Jutaro Komura; three of the negotiators that worked together to end the war.

Collection

Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection

Creation Date

1905

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

A four panel cartoon showing National Guardsmen marching into Camp Ordway in Washington, D.C.; President Roosevelt assisting Foreign Affairs Minister Komura and Secretary of State Witte with the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the Russo-Japanese War; Secretary of Agriculture Wilson celebrating the return of Hyde (possibly James Hazen Hyde); and a Mississippian and a Louisianan eying each other across the state line, while a mosquito above them says, “Here’s where I get my work in. Biz-z-z.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1905

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