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Portsmouth Peace Treaty Trail
The Portsmouth Peace Treaty Trail that begins at the exhibit (and where free Trail maps are offered) links these iconic sites, including the gardens, shops, churches and private homes where local people welcomed the diplomats.
Respecting the wishes of both parties for no other party at the conference table, Roosevelt never attended the 30 days of negotiations in Portsmouth.
But, when the negotiations stalemated over issues of territory and the war costs indemnity, Roosevelt immediately activated formal and informal back channel approaches to both the Russians and Japanese and other European powers to encourage the parties to stay at the negotiation table, to continue to negotiate and suggested possible compromises to continue the negotiations. Roosevelt, at this moment, also relied on the local hospitality of the Navy, New Hampshire Governor and local people of Maine and New Hampshire to encourage the parties to stay at the table.
Roosevelt provided a neutral Portsmouth site, secure negotiation facilities, welcoming neutral and local hosts, and his own “remote” back channel diplomacy to forestall deadlock and the failure of the negotiations. One of the first examples of successful “multi-track diplomacy” the Portsmouth Peace Treaty process worked. Visitors to Portsmouth can follow the diplomats’ footsteps through Market Square, shop where they shopped, stay at Wentworth and visit the gardens, historic churches and byways of their hosts. Along the way, still today, they will get a sense of the New Hampshire hospitality that helped an American President win the first Nobel Peace Prize.
For more info: The Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum website shows the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Trail in detail.
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