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Ambassador Meyer discusses the benefits of Sergei Vitte taking over N. V. Muravʹev’s position in Russia. He believes Vitte will be instrumental in bringing peace between the Russians and the Japanese.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-18
George von Lengerke Meyer, Ambassador to Russia, informs Acting Secretary of State Loomis that Sergei Vitte has been appointed in place of Nikolai Valerianovich Murav’ev. Vitte is due in New York on August 1.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-13
George von Lengerke Meyer, Ambassador to Russia, reports that Sergeĭ I︠U︡lʹevich Vitte has been appointed in place of Nikolaĭ Valerʹi︠a︡novich Muravʹev. Vitte is due in New York on August 1.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-13
William Loeb asks Rudolph Forster, assistant secretary to the President, to forward a message to Baron Kogoro Takahira, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, from President Roosevelt, that Sergei Vitte has been appointed in place of Nikolay Valerianovich Muraviev, and is due to arrive in New York on August 1.
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
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
Ambassador Meyer tells Acting Secretary of State Adee that Sergei Vitte called on him recently. Meyer was impressed with Vitte’s character and direct way of speaking. Vitte told Meyer that he regrets Ito Hirobumi is not coming as plenipotentiary, as Vitte feels they could have come to an immediate understanding. Vitte will do the utmost within his instructions in order to bring about an agreement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-16
Cecil Spring Rice shares matters of foreign affairs regarding Russia, Japan, Germany, and other countries with First Lady Edith Roosevelt. Issues regarding the resolution of the Russo-Japanese War and terms for peace – as well as the situation within Russia, which Spring Rice says borders on anarchy – make up the bulk of the letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-29
United States Ambassador to Italy Meyer relates a conversation he had with the English Ambassador, Sir Edwin Henry Egerton. The latter expressed the opinion that the Russians now recognize, following the assassination of Grand Duke Sergeĭ, that Czar Nicholas II’s attitude to the war and internal affairs must change. Sergeĭ Vitte, it is expected, will implement reforms once it becomes clear that those reforms can be achieved. Egerton also relayed information he had garnered from Japanese Minister to Spain Shiro Akabane, who expressed that his country might concede Port Arthur to China, and that Japan was more interested in the island of Sakhalin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-21
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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.”
Massachusetts Historical Society
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.
1905-1907