On the Periphery of the Russo-Japanese War - Part I

Chapman: Major defects in British naval intelligence were the absence of an effective central department, an inferior network of naval attachés in major capitals prior to 1902 and the lack of secure direct cable communications with Northeast Asia. The performance of the Naval Intelligence Department was changed for the better by the efforts of Lord Selborne as First Lord of the Admiralty (1900-5). Selborne's promotion of Britain's alliance with Japan was conditional on a close working relationship with the administration of Theodore Roosevelt.Nish: There was considerable uncertainty and indecision about whether China would take part in the Russo-Japanese war. Finally under considerable outside pressure she declared strict neutrality. Since the civil administration in her Three Eastern Provinces (Manchuria) was in Chinese hands, she inevitably had a role in the war; and her people suffered much.The Portsmouth treaties that ended the war could only be implemented with China's agreement. Foreign Minister Komura had to conclude new treaties with China at the Peking Conference on 22 December 1905.Japan, China, Russia, Manchuria, Britain, Admiralty, Fisher, Selborne, Balfour, Uchida, Komura, Yuna Shikai, Great Northern Telegraphs, Naval Intelligence, Portsmouth Conference, Peking Conference.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic

Taha Toros Arşivi, Dosya No: 228-Zeki Kuneral

Court-Martial Jurisdiction over Non-Military Persons under the Articles of War

On the first of February, 1918, the military authorities apprehended at Nogales, Arizona, a young man travelling under the name of Lathar Witcke, whose real name was Pablo Waberski. He had just crossed the border with two companions, who were, contrary to his belief, secret agents of the American and British Governments respectively. To them he had confided the fact that he was a German spy and was re-entering this country for the purpose of destroying property of military value as well as for the purpose of obtaining information for transmission to the enemy. He was traveling as a Russian but was in fact a subject of the Kaiser. He had on his person a cipher message in the German consular code signed by Von Eckhardt, the German Ambassador to Mexico. Was he triable by a military tribunal or must he be turned over to the civil authorities and be given a trial by jury? The judge advocate general had no difficulty in determining that a military tribunal had jurisdiction. Waberski was accordingly tried for violation of the 82nd Article of War, was found guilty and sentenced to death. It was most strenuously urged by civilian officials high in authority, that Waberski\u27s offense was triable only in the civil courts, and that the president ought not confirm the sentence. On the mistaken supposition that he was a Russian national, it was argued that he was entitled to a jury trial under the constitution. Before the controversy was settled, he most conveniently died a natural death in prison

The Status of the Diplomatic Bag: A Proposed United States Position

The protections afforded diplomats, diplomatic missions, and diplomatic bags have been misused to sponsor or commit various criminal acts. This strikes at the heart of traditional concepts of international diplomatic relations. Use of the diplomatic bag to import and export prohibited or illegal items is particularly concerning, and the most disconcerting abuses are those that use the diplomatic bag to facilitate acts of terrorism. All malum in se acts that abuse this diplomatic shield are objectionable. As such, it is necessary to examine the current legal status of the diplomatic bag and recent international efforts to re-examine that status. Conflicts between the sending state’s confidentiality interests and the receiving and transit states’ security interests must be closely examined, and a the United States should formalize its position on the status of the diplomatic bag. The United States must remember that laws are made for general application and not for exceptions. Sporadic abuses of the diplomatic bag must not cause abandonment of this longstanding and necessary tool, used in performing diplomatic relations and in carrying out of legitimate national interests

U.S. Military Intelligence in Mexico, 1917-1927: An Analysis

The Military Intelligence Division (MID) was the U.S. Army\u27s intelligence agency that reported to the Chief of Staff within the War Department. During the years 1917- 1927, the MID routinely conducted surveillance of Mexico, including: espionage, mail censorship, radio intercepts, intelligence gathering, and development of plans for the invasion of Mexico. This study utilizes a tripartite model to evaluate the production and analysis of military intelligence by the MID in Mexico during the period 1917-1927. First, the organization and development of the Military Intelligence Division from its origins in 1885 through the year 1927 is explored with sections on institutional history and objects of investigation. Second, a quantitative analysis of intelligence documents identifies the focus and priorities of the MID in Mexico. Third, a textual analysis of intelligence documents makes use of a cross-cultural framework to demonstrate the prevailing attitudes, perspectives and world views of the MID toward the Mexican state and its peoples. The thesis question as to whether the U.S. Military Intelligence Division created an accurate and complete picture of reality of Mexico is answered in the negative. The MID perspective was colored by cultural bias, ignorance, and misunderstanding. Ultimately, the MID failed to grasp the reality of Mexico because it failed to ask the right questions. It seriously misunderstood the nature of Mexico and its peoples, especially in its relationship with the United States .. The particular model developed for this study lends itself to the possibility of further research in the area of international history and cross-cultural studies. The use of multiple analysis techniques provides a more comprehensive picture of the various factors involved that influence historical events

State Department Schedule Plan Showing Personnel Distribution, October 29, 1906

This typed comprehensive plan by Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson outlines how he wishes to organize the Department of State, including details about personnel distribution, costs, needed legislation and salary compensation.https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/fmhw_third_documents/1001/thumbnail.jp