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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
John Callan O’Laughlin writes to President Roosevelt regarding the recent mutiny on the Russian battleship Kniaz Potemkin. Count Cassini spoke to O’Laughlin confidentially about his concerns over the loyalty of the army and artillery. O’Laughlin also discusses relations between Japan and Russia and the possible upcoming peace talks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-29
Ambassador George von Lengerke Meyer updates President Roosevelt on the difficulties he has encountered trying to obtain Russia’s commitment to peace negotiations with Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-18
Late last night, Ambassador Meyer received a letter from Minister Lamzdorf informing him of Emperor Nicholas II’s decision to accept President Roosevelt’s invitation for peace talks with Japan. Meyer has had some frustrating and heated discussions with Lamzdorf and has had to threaten to take matters to the Emperor himself. Lamzdorf is eager to know who the Japanese plan to appoint as plenipotentiaries, so that Russia can choose its best representatives. Meyer hopes that Russia does not appoint Ambassador Nelidov who he considers to be “too old and nervous.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-18
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
Chargé d’Affaires of Britain Spring Rice details to First Lady Roosevelt the economic and political climate in Russia. While Spring Rice sees no immediate stirrings of revolution there, he hints that revolution may still be in Russia’s future because of the unsustainable, poor economic conditions in the rural areas and the dearth of strong, reform-minded leadership within the government. While Spring Rice sees Russia’s Interior Minister, Vi︠a︡cheslav Konstantinovich Pleve, as a capable leader, Pleve opposes reform, and though S. I︠U︡. Vitte, the chairman of the Committee of Ministers is “a strong man, too, and might be a reformer,” Emperor Nicholas II strongly dislikes him. Spring Rice also perceives Russia’s slights of other nations and its aversion to making treaties as hindrances to its government. Additionally, Spring Rice tells Roosevelt of a Russian folk story he has recently translated into English.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-09