Circa 1917: Roland Sletor Morris. Following his Sept. 20^th, 1917 reception in Philadelphia, Morris soon proceeded to Japan. Source: Library of Congress /Bain News Service.

The interior of the Program/Menu to the reception is presented below.

This diplomatic event and the prominent individuals who attended it, offers a window to several significant international issues of that day.

Dinner to Honorable Roland S. Morris

American Ambassador to Japan

on Thursday evening September 20^th, 1917

The Bellevue-Stratford [Hotel], Philadelphia

Speakers

–Honorable William Potter (ex-Minister to Italy)

Toastmaster

–Honorable Thomas B. Smith (November 2, 1869–April 17, 1949) served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and was the 82nd Mayor of Philadelphia from 1916 until 1920.

–His Excellency Aimaro Sato (aka Yoshimaro Satō (佐藤 愛麿, April 22, 1857 – January 12, 1934) was the Japanese Ambassador to the United States from 1916 to 1918.

–Honorable Frank Lyon Polk Frank Lyon Polk (September 13, 1871 – February 7, 1943) was a prominent United States lawyer and diplomat, who was also a name partner of the law firm today known as Davis Polk & Wardwell. At the time of this reception he held the position of Counselor Department of State

–Honorable Alexander Mitchell Palmer (May 4, 1872 – May 11, 1936), was United States Attorney General from 1919 to 1921. He is best known for overseeing the Palmer Raids during the Red Scare (U.S. efforts against communists in America) of 1919–20. Palmer selected J. Edgar Hoover to his position in newly formed federal intelligence organization that would become the F.B.I.

–Honorable Robert von Moschzisker (March 6, 1870 – November 21, 1939) a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1909 to 1921 and Chief Justice from 1921 to 1930.

–Francis A. Lewis, Esq.

–William A. Glasgow, Jr., Esq. (April 29, 1865 – March 14, 1930) [Note 8]                  

–Honorable Roland S. Morris

American Ambassador to Japan

The reception for Morris took place at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, a landmark building at 200 S. Broad Street at the corner of Walnut Street in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Engraved 1916 letterhead of the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia, PA, with vignettes of both that hotel, as well as those of the Waldorf and Astoria Hotels in New York all of which were then operating under the management of George Boldt. Source courtesy of: “The Cooper Collection of U.S. Hotel History” [1]

The below news article describes this festive diplomatic ballroom event, with 600 attendees, including many members Philadelphia’s judiciary, two U.S. senators, a fellow U.S. ambassador, and many other prominent supporters of the civic life in this city and State.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 20^th, 1917, Thu • Page 10

Below is another news article that described the Sept. 20^th diplomatic event:

Evening Public Ledger, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 21, 1917, Friday • Page 9

At the event His Excellency Aimaro Sato Japanese Ambassador to the United States, stated that, “He rejoiced in the appointment of Mr. Morris as Ambassador to his country. He said he considered him the man to bring about the kind of relations which are needed in this time of world turmoil.”

Ambassador Morris stated, “I believe there are no pending questions between America and Japan which, if approached in a frank and generous spirit, are not susceptible of an honorable and fair judgement.” Those are not. They were uttered by his Excellency, Viscount Ishii.

Eleven days earlier, Ambassador Morris and his wife entertained Viscount Ishii and his peace mission. During 1917-1918, Ishii and his delegation travelled the U.S., attempting to negotiate a compromise with the U.S. to ease U.S. Japan tensions. See below news article:

The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 9^th, 1917, Sunday • Page 64

The result of Ishii’s visit was the Lansing: Ishii Agreement a diplomatic note signed between the U.S. and Japan on November 2, 1917 linked to their disputes with regards to China. In the published text of the Agreement, signed by U.S. Secretary of State Robert Lansing and Japanese special envoy Ishii Kikujirō, both parties pledged to uphold the Open Door Policy in China, with respect to its territorial and administrative integrity. However, the U.S. acknowledged that Japan had “special interests” in China due to its geographic proximity, especially in those areas of China adjacent to Japanese territory, which was in full alignment to the Open Door Policy. [2]

In a secret protocol attached to the public Agreement, both parties agreed not to take advantage of the special opportunities presented by World War I to seek special rights or privileges in China at the expense of other nations allied in the war effort against Germany.

Note: An upcoming blog post on this website will focus on the Lansing: Ishii Agreement

Some general biographical information about Roland Sletor Morris (March 11, 1874 – November 23, 1945): Morris was a U.S. diplomat and politician. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1917 to 1921, and is perhaps best remembered for his special missions to Siberia in 1918 and 1919. He was one of the founding partners of the law firm of Duane Morris, in Philadelphia. For additional biographical info about Ambassador Morris see notes: [3] [4] [5] [6] Morris’ official papers are in the Library of Congress.

Some pivotal issues of the day during Morris’s time as Ambassador to Japan, which affected U.S., European, Russian, Chinese and Japanese relations:

-The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 combined with destruction of World War One destabilized mainly Europe and Russia, and in its aftermath, created uncertainties as to who would now take the leadership roles in Asia. Would the prior now weakened European colonial powers retain their positions, and to what degree would the rise Japanese influence impact the situation? [7]

-Japan had been an active ally of the democracies in WWI, and she felt she deserved to be treated as an equal to the European powers and the U.S. Despite her support in WWI, she felt dishonored when she saw racism shown against Japanese Americans living in the U.S. She viewed the great instability and civil war in Russia, and felt she was justified to have a larger presence in China, so as to contain the Russian Bolshevik movement from moving into China.

-The U.S. took the stance that the best way for China to resist moving towards communism, was for China’s territory to remain intact. The U.S. accepted that prior colonial powers could continue to hold significant influence in China, but that China not be divided up by those nations. Instead, the U.S. promoted the Open Door Policy with the hope China would move towards democracy. There was idealism and optimism to this approach, which could not stand up to the future destabilizing rise of communism and fascism leading to World War Two.

                  AMBASSADOR MORRIS ARRIVES IN JAPAN

Circa 1918: U.S. Ambassador Roland Sletor Morris going to call on Japanese Emperor Taisho. Source: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress).

Circa 1918: Roland S. Morris in Tokyo, seated in front of artwork.

Source: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress).

Ambassador Roland S. Morris accompanied by U.S. naval officers of the U.S.S. Brooklyn (ACR-3) – Right to left, Captain Althaus, Admiral Roger, Ambassador Morris, Lt. Commander Smith, and Lt. Commander Estes at Vladivostok, Russia. Circa 1918 to 1919.

Postcard: Springfield College Archives and Special Collections

Courtesy of: Cliff Smith YMCA Postcard Collection

U.S.S. Brooklyn (ACR-3) at anchor, c. 1898.

United States Navy

Built: 1893–1896

In commission:     1896–1921

Namesake:  City of Brooklyn, New York

Portrait photo of Roland Sletor Morris

Book source: The World’s Work, 1919: https://archive.org/stream/worldswork38gard#page/566/mode/2up

Ambassador Morris was in Japan, taking a supportive role for the White Russians who are resisting the Bolshevik takeover of the important port city of Vladivostok.

The historical novel The Emperor and the Spy dramatically presents the exciting events surrounding this period of history in Vladivostok, and how a regional war almost erupted, but was prevented in 1922 by an American military intelligence agent Captain Sidney Mashbir.

Available in Print, EBook, and Audiobook:

Here are links to the book.

Barnes & Nobles link

Amazon Link

1921 Ambassador Roland S. Morris is called back from Japan to Washington, D.C. to negotiate with Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Baron Shidehara. In 1921, Baron Shidehara accompanied Prince Iyesato Tokugawa, who headed Japanese delegation to the Washington Naval Arms Conference in the U.S. capital – Where they met with the leaders of many other nations to work out a naval arms limitation treaty, which was signed in 1922.

Book source for the photo: The World’s Work, 1921: https://archive.org/stream/worldswork41gard#page/318/mode/2up

Author: Underwood & Underwood

The Art of Peace illustrated biography highlights the diplomatic engagements between leaders of the U.S. and Japan during the first four decades of the twentieth century, in their support of democracy and their creative pursuit of goodwill, in spite of the turbulent times they lived. So influential was Prince Tokugawa and his Japanese supporters, that it would only be after Tokugawa’s passing in 1940, that Japan was pressured to ally with the Axis Powers in WWII.

Link to the Introduction:

THE ART OF PEACE

NOTES

[1] Constructed in 1904 and expanded to its present size in 1912, Bellevue-Stratford Hotel has continued as a well-known institution for more than a century and is still widely known by that original, historic name. In 1988 the building was converted to a mixed-use development. It has been known since then as The Bellevue. The hotel portion is currently managed by Hyatt as The Bellevue Hotel.]

[2] Tuchman, Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911–1945, page 48

[3] Biography and History from: Princeton University Library Finding Aids: Morris, Roland S. (Roland Sletor), 1874-1945.

“Roland S. (Sletor) Morris was a leader of the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania and was the ambassador to Japan from 1917-1921…born in Olympia, Washington on March 11, 1874 to Thomas Burnside Morris and Sarah Arndt Sletor. Morris attended the Lawrenceville School before entering Princeton University in September 1892. He graduated in June 1896, and went to the University of Pennsylvania Law School from 1896-1899, graduating cum laude. After receiving his law degree, Morris practiced law in Philadelphia at the firm of Duane, Morris and Heckscher. Morris was also politically active; he was the Chairman of the Democratic State Finance Committee in 1908 and from 1913-1916; additionally, he was a delegate or delegate at large to the Democratic National Convention in 1904, 1908, 1912, 1920, and 1928. President Woodrow Wilson appointed him as Ambassador to Japan from 1917-1921, and sent him on a special mission to Siberia from 1918-1919. Morris was a professor of international law at the University of Pennsylvania beginning in 1924, President of the American Philosophical Society, a trustee of both Princeton University and Temple University, and a Regent of the Smithsonian Institute.”

[4] In 1934, Morris lost the Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Senate primary to Joseph Guffey, who was subsequently elected. Source: “Pennsylvania Oracle”. Time Magazine. 1934-05-28.

[5] Morris was one of the founding partners in 1904, of the law firm Duane, Morris, Heckscher and Roberts that is currently known as Duane Morris, which has offices in the United States, London, Singapore, Viet Nam, Oman, Myanmar, Shanghai and Taiwan. Morris also served as the Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1933 to 1935.  Source: The Duane Morris firm website.

[6] Morris was one of the reception hosts at the 1934 Japan Society of New York City Annual Gala Dinner event honoring the visit of Prince Iyesato Tokugawa. A blog post for that event is included on this website. Source: TheEmperorAndTheSpy.com blog

[7] The Russian Revolution began during the First World War. The revolution erupted in the context of Russia’s major military losses during that War, which resulted in much of the Russian Army being ready to mutiny. The situation climaxed with the October Revolution in 1917, a Bolshevik-led armed insurrection by workers and soldiers in Petrograd that successfully overthrew the Provisional Government, transferring all its authority to the Soviets.

The Russian Revolution was a period of political and social revolution across the territory of the Russian Empire, commencing with the abolition of the monarchy in 1917, and concluding in 1923 after the Bolshevik establishment of the Soviet Union, resulting in the end of the Civil War. They also established Soviet power in the newly independent republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine, and brought these jurisdictions into unification under the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922. Victorious, they reconstituted themselves as the Communist Party.

[8] William A. Glasgow, Jr., Esq. (April 29, 1865 – March 14, 1930) was one of the speakers at the Ambassador Morris dinner event.                        Source: Ancestry.com. Since there is no Wikipedia page, the below obituary announcement is included to honor his memory.