The Treaty of Portsmouth

What was it?
A 1905 pact between Russia and Japan that ended the Russo-Japanese War for Manchuria and Korea.

Why Portsmouth?
Because the Seacoast city represented a neutral, secure location for talks. Envoys met at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, technically in Kittery, Maine, and spent much of August 1905 enjoying the New Hampshire coast during negotiations.

Why is this important?
Not only is the peace treaty considered a significant part of the evolution of the relationship between the United States, Japan, and Russia, but it also helped Theodore Roosevelt become the first president to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

SOURCE: PORTSMOUTH PEACE TREATY ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE