KITTERY (AP) – The 100th anniversary of the treaty that ended the Russo-Japanese War was commemorated Monday with a re-enactment of the treaty signing, a 19-gun salute and a visit by the Japanese ambassador.

The Treaty of Portsmouth was signed on Sept. 5, 1905, at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard by representatives of the emperor of Japan and the czar of Russia. The treaty ended a year-and-a-half-long war brought on by Japan’s and Russia’s ambitions in Manchuria and Korea.

To mark the anniversary, a ceremony was held on the shipyard mall with remarks given by Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato, shipyard commander Capt. Jonathan Iverson and Charles Doleac, co-chairman of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty anniversary committee.

A re-enactment of the treaty signing was planned for 3:47 p.m. – the same time the treaty was signed a century ago – followed by a 19-gun salute, the sounding of the shipyard whistle and the ringing of area church bells.

The Russo-Japanese War, which is often glossed over in history books, signaled the emergence of Japan as a force in the Pacific and marked the first military victory by a modern Asian nation over a European power.

The war began in February 1904, but by the spring of 1905 both sides were looking for a resolution to the conflict. Japan wanted a peace conference in Asia, and Russia wanted it to be held in Europe.

As a compromise, the sides asked President Theodore Roosevelt to choose a neutral site.

Most times of the year, the talks would have been held in Washington, D.C. But the capital’s sweltering summers combined with New England’s climate and emergence as a summer vacation led planners to choose Portsmouth instead.

In the end, an agreement was reached that recognized Japan’s dominance in Korea and Manchuria but did not accede to its demands that Russia pay reparations.

A series of events marking the negotiations have been held throughout the summer and will continue into the fall.

On the Net: http://www.portsmouthpeacetreaty.com