I believed, therefore, that the time had come when it
was greatly to the interest of both combatants to have peace, and when
therefore it was possible to get both to agree to peace.
I first satisfied myself that each side wished me to act, but that,
naturally and properly, each side was exceedingly anxious that the other
should not believe that the action was taken on its initiative. I then
sent an identical note to the two powers proposing that they should
meet, through their representatives, to see if peace could not be made
directly between them, and offered to act as an intermediary in bringing
about such a meeting, but not for any other purpose. Each assented to my
proposal in principle. There was difficulty in getting them to agree
on a common meeting place; but each finally abandoned its original
contention in the matter, and the representatives of the two nations
finally met at Portsmouth, in New Hampshire. I previously received the
two delegations at Oyster Bay on the U. S. S. Mayflower, which, together
with another naval vessel, I put at their disposal, on behalf of the
United States Government, to take them from Oyster Bay to Portsmouth.
As is customary--but both unwise and undesirable--in such cases,
each side advanced claims which the other could not grant.
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