The art of diplomacy Archives

1948- Walt Disney’s office in Burbank, California: Standing with Walt (he didn’t like being called Mr. Disney) is his corporate pilot Marine Lt. Colonel Kelvin Bailey (retired), and Kelvin’s wife Gwen, who was something of a starlet in her day.

The author of this blog post was gifted this photo by Colonel Robert F. Warren, who was a mutual friend of Colonel Sidney Mashbir and Colonel Kelvin Bailey. Continue Reading...

As President of the Red Cross Society of Japan, Prince Tokugawa, supported by Jesuit Priest Jacquinot, helped save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and tens of thousands of Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust. Tokugawa’s recently published biography highlights these international heroes.

August 8, 2021 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

For decades, Prince Tokugawa Iesato (aka Prince Iyesato Tokugawa – 1863-1940) devoted his life to maintaining peace in Asia and specifically preventing Japan from coming into conflict with China. When hostilities did break out, Tokugawa did all he could to protect innocent lives.

Prince Tokugawa presided over the 1934 International Red Cross Conference held in Tokyo, where for the first time in history the concept of creating civilian/refugee Safe Zones in war-torn areas was established. Prince Tokugawa promoted these safe havens which continued to exist throughout WWII.

Prince Tokugawa’s illustrated biography comes in two versions: THE ART OF PEACE digital edition & the Print and Kindle edition titled: THE ART OF DIPLOMACY.

March 1, 2021 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

DIGITAL EBOOK EDITION

PRINT & KINDLE EDITION

The Art of Peace: the illustrated biography of Prince Iyesato Tokugawa – Introduction

April 13, 2020 by Stan S. Katz 3 Comments

For centuries, the Shoguns ruled over a relatively isolated feudal society. Prince Iyesato Tokugawa aka Prince Tokugawa Iesato was to become the next shogun, but when that dynasty ended, he instead creatively guided an emerging Japan onto a modern, interconnected world stage.

Description of the book cover photo: Continue Reading...

Captain Sidney Mashbir’s successful 1922 secret mission prevented a potential war in Asia. However, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 again destabilized Japan – During the challenging first months following that major disaster, Mashbir spearheaded a U.S. Medical Relief Effort to assist many of the injured Japanese.

March 8, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

In 1922, Mashbir completed a dangerous mission in Vladivostok, Russia, preventing the outbreak of a regional war between Japan, China, and Russia, which might have expanded further!

The following year on September 1, 1923, the most destructive natural disaster in modern Japanese history occurred, The Great Kantō Earthquake (関東大震災, Kantō daishinsai), a Japanese natural disaster in the Kantō region of the island of Honshū. This earthquake destroyed Tokyo, the port city of Yokohama, surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Shizuoka, and approximately 140,000 people died. During the challenging first months following that major disaster, Mashbir spearheaded an American Medical Relief Effort to assist many of the injured Japanese – As part of this humanitarian process, Mashbir created the first English – Japanese Medical Translation Dictionary that was used by English speaking health care workers while treating Japanese speaking patients. Continue Reading...

1915 – Former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft secretly attended a diplomatic banquet sponsored by the Japan Society of New York, honoring the visit of Baron Shibusawa Eiichi. Their goal to strengthen the future US Japan alliance for World War One.

February 11, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

Photo above: William Howard Taft (next to the gentleman whose image reveals only half of his face)

Photo below: Theodore Roosevelt (centered beneath the chandelier)

Prince Tokugawa encouraged Emperor Hirohito’s younger brother Prince Takamatsu and Princess Takamatsu to take a fourteen month Goodwill World Tour during 1930-1931. In Washington, D.C., they were personally escorted by President Herbert Hoover down Pennsylvania Avenue, as part of their special reception.

January 14, 2020 by Stan S. Katz Leave a Comment

These rare antique photos present a long forgotten 1931 diplomatic event where Prince and Princess Takamatsu as a gesture of international goodwill visited the US Capital and were personally escorted down Pennsylvania Avenue. by President Herbert Hoover, as thousands of onlookers gathered to honor their visit. Surprisingly, it has proved difficult to find news coverage about the above diplomatic procession. Continue Reading...