The Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forums are the first formal meetings between Japanese, Russian and American scholars and diplomats in Portsmouth, NH, since the negotiation of the Treaty of Portsmouth Treaty in 1905.  The Treaty is considered one of the most powerful symbols of peace in the Northern Pacific region and the most significant, shared peace history for Japan, Russia, and the United States.

The Forums are sponsored by the Japan-America Society of New Hampshire, together with the Russia Society of New Hampshire, to explore, through Japanese, Russian and American perspectives, the history of the Treaty of Portsmouth and its relevance to current issues involving the Northern Pacific region.  The Forums provide modern scholarship on international problems in the "spirit of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty" and study the Treaty as an example of multi-track or two-track diplomacy.

The Portsmouth Peace Treaty provides an example to the world of the enlightened foreign policy for peace by Japan, Russia, and the United States. The Treaty also exemplifies the ability of local citizens to mediate informally international disputes. As hosts for thirty days in August 1905, the State of New Hampshire, the people of Portsmouth and the United States Navy fostered goodwill between Russian and Japanese Delegates during the critical peace negotiations that ended the Russo-Japanese War, then the largest war being fought in the world.  In 1905 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, an uncommon commitment to peace became a common virtue. The Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forums commemorate and continue that tradition.

Follow these links for the proceedings from each Forum:
Forum I, June 1994
Forum II, October 1994
Forum III, September 1995
Forum IV, March 2000
Forum V, December 2006
Forum VI, December 2007
Forum VII, December 2008
Forum VIII, December 2009