Here is an important moment in history, when the leader of the Japanese peace and democracy movement met with his counterparts in the United States during a challenging period of U.S. Japan relations. This rare, perhaps one of a kind photo presents the Japan Society’s Annual Dinner event honoring Prince Tokugawa on Feb. 27, 1934 – This diplomatic goodwill gathering took place at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. [Source of photo: TheEmperorAndTheSpy.com archives – The actual photo is 14 x 22 inches in size.]
Above: Right half of the Feb. 27, 1934 photo: Prince Tokugawa and other dignitaries sit at a table on the front stage, with an American and Japanese flag hanging behind them. It is amazing how a photo can almost bring people and events back to life. As a potential, future, historical project, it would be interesting to identify as many guests as possible who attended this celebratory event. This current presentation will focus on the individuals seated at the front table.
Above: Left half of the Feb. 27, 1934 photo
Historical note
The global economic depression of the 1930s, combined with the spread of communism and fascism contributed to an internationally unstable and dangerous period in history. Prince Iyesato Tokugawa (aka Prince Tokugawa Iesato 1863-1940), supported by his Japanese and non-Japanese allies, heroically devoted his diplomatic/political career to creatively striving to maintain goodwill between Japan and the U.S., as well as other nations.
Over the many years it took to create the recently published, illustrated biography on Prince Tokugawa, titled The Art of Peace, the author of this blog post was constantly surprised how this great statesman had largely been forgotten, despite Tokugawa having been the diplomatic face of Japan internationally for the first forty years of the 1900s, while also holding significant political influence domestically, as the President of Japan’s upper house of congress, The House of Peers.
During the 1934 Japan Society Annual Dinner, Prince Tokugawa eloquently declared:
“The bulk of public opinion and the best of character and intelligence was on the side of peace,” and that it was “most regrettable, that statements predicting war (between their nations) had been circulated on both sides of the Pacific and even on the other side of the Atlantic.”
“Thinking men in Japan do not wish to disturb the traditional goodwill and friendship that unite us with America, and I believe that sentiment is reciprocated by sensible people in this country. You on this side of the Pacific and we on the other side, all know that a war between our two countries would not only be unprofitable, but highly disastrous to both of us.”
To prove his above statement, Prince Tokugawa gave specific details highlighting the enormous economic interdependence of the U.S. and Japan, and clarified just how mutually beneficial America/Japan trade was. Prince Tokugawa admitted that Japan-U.S. relations had occasionally experienced some strains in the past, but that was true of many other nations as well. He recalled the success of the Four-Power Pacific Pact (signed on Dec. 13, 1921, during the Washington Naval Conference) between Great Britain, France, Japan and the U.S. The Four-Power Pacific Pact required any controversy arising out of any Pacific question, if not settled satisfactorily by diplomacy, should be considered and settled at a joint conference. These four nations agreed to respect the status quo in the Pacific and respect the territorial holdings of these countries and not attempt to pursue further territorial expansion.
Some of the other speakers at this gathering were: Reverend James DeWolf Perry, presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, and great-nephew of Commodore Perry; former Ambassador to Japan Roland S. Morris of Philadelphia; and Henry Waters Taft President of the Japan Society of New York City, who presided over this 1934 event. Henry W. Taft was the brother of former President William Howard Taft.
During this February 27th event, Henry W. Taft said, “Japan and the Americans were increasingly making themselves understood one to the other,” and that he believed that “despite occasional differences in national policies, the spirit of mutual helpfulness will grow and abide.”
Source: The New York Times article, February 28, 1934: “Japan Shuns War, Says Tokugawa”
-The below newspaper article comes from the Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) 26 Feb 1934, Monday Page 16. It highlights some of Prince Tokugawa’s other diplomatic engagements during his 1934 visit to the U.S.
The Society Section headline stated: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was going to hold a luncheon honoring Prince Tokugawa.
The news article also mentioned that during his 1934 visit, Prince Tokugawa was hosted at other diplomatic events given by:
–Ambassador of Japan and Madame Saito
–U.S. Chief Justice and Mrs. Charles Evans Hughes
–Ambassador of Spain Juan Francisco de Cardenas and his wife Senora de Cardenas
–Miss Mabel Thorp Boardman – philanthropist involved with the American Red Cross
–Secretary of State Cordell Hull
– Under Secretary of State William R. Castle Jr.
-Former Japanese Consul General and Madame Horinouchi
-While in Washington, D.C., Prince Tokugawa visited the American Red Cross National Headquarters and the U.S. Senate.
Prince Iyesato Tokugawa, supported by his Japanese and non-Japanese allies, was so influential in Japan & internationally, it was only after his passing in 1940, that a global war erupted in Pacific.
The Japan Society which sponsored the 1934 Annual Dinner that honored Prince Tokugawa’s visit, continues to this day as a leading U.S. organization committed to deepening mutual understanding between the United States and Japan in a global context. Now in its second century, the Society serves audiences across the U.S. and abroad through innovative programs in arts and culture, public policy, business, language and education.
Japan Society was founded on May 19, 1907 by a group of prominent New York business people and philanthropists, many of whom shaped the policies of exchange and collaboration that guided the Society until the outbreak of World War II. After the war, activities slowly resumed. The stewardship of John D. Rockefeller 3rd from 1952 to 1978 led to a unified vision, a firm financial foundation, and a revitalized mission that continues to inspire and sustain the organization.
Today, Japan Society, located at 333 East 47th Street, New York City, has evolved into a world-class, multidisciplinary hub for global leaders, artists, scholars, educators, and English and Japanese-speaking audiences. At the Society, more than 100 events each year feature sophisticated, topically relevant presentations of Japanese art and culture, and also open, critical dialogue on issues of vital importance to the U.S., Japan, and East Asia.
Photo taken Oct. 2008: (Source: Wikipedia, contributor Jim Henderson)
Source for the above description: the Japan Society website.
To learn more about this fine organization, here is their internet link:
https://www.japansociety.org/
To better recognize the guests seated at the front table with Prince Tokugawa, below are some enlarged segments of the photo. The guests have been numbered to assist in identifying them. Some have been identified, but if you recognize any who haven’t, please send this information thru the comment section at the end of this blog post. Thank you.
Prince Tokugawa sits (seventh seat from the left), accompanied his son, Iyemasa Tokugawa, and their hosts. Obtaining good scanned images of the front table was challenging, in that the photographer took this photo from the furthest position from those being honored on the front stage, but an attempt has currently been made to add contrast and modify the lighting to enhance the image. The below sectional views used slightly different modifications to bring out the details as best as possible.
Starting on the Left and moving right, the attendees have been given identifying numbers 1 to 15 to assist in identification. Below are further enlarged segments of the above photo.
Starting on the Left and moving right:
- 1- Unknown
- 2- Probably the former Japanese Consul General Horinouchi
- 3- Probably the wife of former Japanese Consul General Horinouchi
- 4- Iemasa Tokugawa (徳川 家正, March 23, 1884 – February 18, 1963, aka Tokugawa Iemasa, Iyemasa Tokugawa, Tokugawa Iyemasa, and Yoshihisa Tokugawa) – Iemasa Tokugawa was the son and supporting ally of Prince Iyesato Tokugawa. Iemasa was a political/diplomatic figure of the Taishō and early Shōwa periods. He was the 17th hereditary head of the former shogunal branch of the Tokugawa dynasty and the final President of the House of Peers in the Diet of Japan. At the time of this 1934 event, he was the Japanese Minister to Canada.
Starting on the Left and moving right:
- 5- Reverend James DeWolf Perry, presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, and great-nephew of Commodore Perry.
- 6- Probably the wife of Reverend James DeWolf Perry
- 7- Prince Iyesato Tokugawa
- 8- Henry Waters Taft President of the Japan Society, presided over this 1934 event – He was the brother of former President William Howard Taft.In 1929, Emperor Hirohito honored Henry Waters Taft with the insignia of the Second Class of the Order of the Rising Sun, together with a diploma signed by the Emperor. This Insignia was presented to Taft by the Japanese Consul-General, in recognition of Taft’s fostering of international friendship.Source: The New York Times, June 28, 1929, Page 15Biographical note: In 1882, Henry W. Taft was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law in Ohio. Shortly afterward, he joined Strong & Cadwalader, in New York City, later known as Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft. Taft became one of the most noted lawyers in New York – The law firm that continues to honor his name, Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft is headquartered at 200 Liberty Street in Lower Manhattan, and is New York City’s oldest law firm and one of the oldest continuously operating legal practices in the United States. It operates out of five offices across the United States and Europe. In addition to its Wall Street location, it has offices in Washington, D.C., Charlotte, London, and Brussels.
Starting on the Left and moving right:
- 9- Roland Sletor Morris (March 11, 1874 – November 23, 1945) was a U.S. diplomat and politician, and one of the founding partners of the international law firm of Duane Morris, in Philadelphia. Morris served as U.S. ambassador to Japan from 1917 to 1920 – To improve U.S. Japan relations in April 1917, the America-Japan Society, located in Japan, was born pledging friendly interexchange and fosterage of mutual understanding between the Japanese and American people. The first president of the Society was Kentaro Kaneko, a Harvard University graduate and one of the members involved in drafting the Constitution of the Empire of Japan; Roland Morris, US Ambassador to Japan at the time, was nominated as honorary president; Iyesato Tokugawa, Eiichi Shibusawa, Korekiyo Takahashi, Jokichi Takamine were honorary vice presidents; Inazo Nitobe, Takuma Dan, Junnosuke Inoue were on the list of the Executive Committee. They were leaders from political and business establishments, as well as from the academic community of that era.
- 10- Probably the wife of Roland Morris: Augusta Twiggs Shippen West Morris, a relative of both Levi Twiggs and Edward Shippen.
- 11- Unknown gentlemen behind candelabra
- 12- Unknown lady
Starting on the Left and moving right:
- 13- Unknown gentlemen
- 14- Unknown lady
- 15- Unknown gentlemen
The 1934 Japan Society Annual Dinner photo was discovered while doing research for the illustrated biography on Prince Iyesato Tokugawa titled THE ART OF PEACE.
The book cover presents Prince Tokugawa receiving an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Southern California during his 1934 visit to the United States – This degree was bestowed upon him by the president of USC, in recognition of Prince Tokugawa’s many academic, diplomatic, and philanthropic contributions.
LINK TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BIOGRAPHY
