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Herbert H. D. Peirce forwards a message from Baron Komura to President Roosevelt. Komura states that Japan has removed all demands for reimbursement, Russia and Japan have agreed on a division of Sakhalin, and diplomats are now discussing details of the arrangement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-29
Ambassador Meyer met with Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, who refuses to pay war indemnities to Japan. The Emperor would prefer to lose part of Sakhalin rather than pay any money to Japan. William II, German Emperor, is encouraging the Emperor to make peace.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-24
Theodore Roosevelt sees a gloomy future due to the war. Most of all, he believes Belgium needs to be given reparations and guaranteed protection from future invasion. He would rather see indefinite war then give up these goals. Roosevelt does not agree with Oscar S. Straus regarding Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan’s arbitration treaties and states that “sheer criminality” requires action and not investigations. He describes President Woodrow Wilson and Bryan as “the very most contemptible figures” that ever controlled American foreign affairs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-23
Carl Schurz writes to President Roosevelt to discus gradual rearmament. Schurz indicates that Roosevelt’s interview with Baron Rosen was crucial and congratulates him on facilitating the peace between Russia and Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-23
Ambassador Meyer forwards to Secretary of State Root a translation of the proceedings of the Peace Conference. He has asked Count Lamzdorf to have the record corrected, where it states that President Roosevelt encouraged Czar Nicholas II to cede part of Sakhalin to the Japanese, for a specified sum, in order to end the war. Count Lamzdorf agreed to have the record corrected, noting that Roosevelt only discussed a “substantial sum,” and that he could not guarantee the Japanese would accept it but that he would do his best to encourage them to accede.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-07
Ambassador Durand thanks President Roosevelt for the documents he sent regarding his involvement in the peace talks between Japan and Russia. Durand is forwarding these items to Lord Lansdowne who he believes will be very grateful for them. Durand believes Roosevelt’s letters to Baron Kentarō Kaneko contained the advice that caused Japan to cease demands for war indemnities from Russia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-31
Ambassador Meyer reports to President Roosevelt that Russia’s refusal to pay war indemnities is supported by the Russian press and people. They believe that Japan’s economy is such that a refusal to pay will force them into eventual peace due to financial necessity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-28
John Callan O’Laughlin reports to President Roosevelt from the Portsmouth Peace Conference, which was attempting to end the Russo-Japanese War. O’Laughlin says he is glad Roosevelt was able to secure an adjournment for a few days, as negotiations had reached a stalemate and Roosevelt needs time to communicate with the Russian and Japanese governments. O’Laughlin says the Russian Tsar refuses to pay any indemnities on principle, while Japan demands payment on principle, but the reporter tells Roosevelt they may be able to reach a separate agreement about the money later. If the belligerents try to leave the conference and restart the war, O’Laughlin says Roosevelt might make a statement that they are merely fighting over money to get public opinion involved.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-27
Ambassador Meyer forwards a message from Count Lamzdorf, indicating that Czar Nicholas II has received President Roosevelt’s message but will not alter Russia’s stance on peace conditions with Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-27
George von Lengerke Meyer confirms his previous telegram and his conservation with Czar Nicholas II regarding Russian payment of war indemnities and the division of Sakhalin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-25
Ambassador Meyer reports that Czar Nicholas II will consider splitting Sakhalin with Japan but still refuses to pay war indemnities. Meyer states that it is therefore up to Japan to decide whether to accept peace without payment or continue the war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-24
Rudolph Forster forwards text from Ambassador Meyer’s telegram. Meyer states that after a long conversation, Czar Nicholas II still refuses to pay indemnities but will reconsider the yielding of Sakhalin territory.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-24
Ambassador Meyer requests that it be reported to President Roosevelt that he met with Czar Nicholas II who refuses to pay indemnities to Japan. After some discussion, the Emperor begrudgingly agreed to a division of the Saghalin territory. However, he also feels that any type of payment of war reparations would be viewed as dishonorable by the Russian people. Three copies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-24
Count Witte has forwarded President Roosevelt’s telegram to Czar Nicholas II. Japan’s peace offering is still being discussed, but will likely be rejected. Witte believes that Japan only wants peace at a great financial payment at the expense of bloodshed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-22
Whitelaw Reid spoke to Francis Hyde Villiers about Japanese matters, and Villiers did not believe the Japanese would send a fleet to the Baltic as rumored. Peace still seems very distant, but Villiers believes the Russians might be driven to pay war reparations if Japan entered Russian lands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-17
Ambassador Meyer explains to Secretary of State Root that Prince Hohenlohe told him Czar Nicholas II will refuse any peace offerings from Japan that would require them to lose territory or pay war indemnities. The czar was also offended by Japan’s wishes concerning the Russian navy, claiming that these actions were intended to “humiliate Russia before the world.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-20
Rudolph Forster received a telegram from Ambassador Meyer indicating that Czar Nicholas II thinks Japan’s settlement demands are meant to embarrass Russia and wonders if England encouraged those demands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-20
Ambassador Meyer reports that Czar Nicholas II thinks Japan’s settlement demands are meant to embarrass Russia and wonders if England encouraged those demands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-20
Rudolph Forster forwards a confidential message for President Roosevelt from Ambassador Meyer stating that Czar Nicholas II claims peace will be impossible between Russia and Japan, if Japan does not concede its demands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-18