Portsmouth Peace Treaty - the agreement between the Russian Empire and Japan on Cessation of Hostilities.This treaty put an end to the senseless and destructive Russian-Japanese War, which lasted from 1904 to 1905.This momentous event occurred August 23, 1905 in Portsmouth, American town, with the mediation of the US government.The agreement was signed by both parties.Because of him, Russia was deprived of the right to rent the Liaodong Peninsula and terminated the alliance with China, which provided for the military alliance between the two nations against Japan.
causes of the Russo-Japanese War
long time Japan was a closed country, but in the second half of the XIX century began to suddenly get free, it opened to foreigners, and its citizens have been actively visiting European countries.Progress was clearly visible.By the beginning of the twentieth century, Japan has created a powerful navy and the army - this helped foreign experience, which the Japanese have adopted in Europe.
island nation needs to expand the territory, which is why it has started military aggression aimed at neighboring countries.Japan became the first victim of China aggressor managed to capture several islands, but this was clearly not enough.The government has its eye on the land of Manchuria and Korea.Of course, the Russian Empire could not tolerate such impudence, because the country had its own plans for these areas, otstraivaya Korean railways.In 1903, Japan and Russia held numerous talks, hoping to resolve the conflict peacefully, but all in vain.Have not agreed on the division of the land, the Japanese side suddenly unleashed the war by attacking the empire.
role of Britain and the US in the war
In fact, Japan has decided to attack Russia is not alone.By this it prompted the US and England, because they provided financial support for the country.If not aiding these countries, then Japan could not have broken tsarist Russia, because it is an independent force at the time had no idea.Portsmouth world may well not have been signed if not for the decision of sponsors to engage with military action.
After Tsushima England realized that Japan has increased too well, so to a large extent reduced the cost of the war.The United States strongly supported the aggressor, and even banned in France and Germany stand in defense of the Russian Empire, and threatened with death.The President Theodore Roosevelt had a cunning plan - to drain long hostilities both sides.But the unexpected strengthening of Japan and the Russian defeat, he did not plan to.The conclusion of the Peace of Portsmouth are unlikely to be held without the mediation of America.Roosevelt to work hard to reconcile the two sides of the militants.
Unsuccessful attempts to make peace
Without the financial support of the US and Britain, Japan significantly weakened economically.Despite significant military achievements in the war against Russia, the country under pressure from former sponsors were inclined to peace.Japan has made several attempts to come to terms with the enemy.For the first time spoke about the reconciliation of the Japanese in 1904, when the Russian was invited to the UK to sign the contract.The talks did not take place: Japan demanded that the Russian Empire recognized that initiated the cessation of hostilities.
In 1905, a mediator between the warring nations by France.The war affected the interests of many European countries, so they wanted a speedy graduation.France at that time was not in the best situation, the brewing crisis, so she offered to help Japan and undertook mediation in the conclusion of peace.At this time the aggressor is demanded from the Russian Empire Capitulations indemnity payment, but Russian diplomats categorically refused such conditions.
US mediation
After the Japanese demanded the mercy of Russia in the amount of 1.2 billion yen, and in addition the island of Sakhalin, the US government unexpectedly sided with the Empire.Roosevelt threatened to Japan's full support deprivation.Perhaps the conditions of the Portsmouth Peace would have been different if not for the intervention of the United States.The American president, on the one hand, tried to influence the Russian Empire, gently giving advice to the king, and on the other - put pressure on the Japanese, forcing think about the sad state of the economy.
peace terms put forward by Japan
aggressor wanted to squeeze the maximum out of the war.That is why Japan would maintain its influence in Korea and South Manchuria, take the whole island of Sakhalin and obtain mercy in the amount of 1.2 billion yen.Of course, for the Russian Empire conditions were unfavorable, so the signing of the Peace of Portsmouth was postponed indefinitely.Witte, the Russian representative, flatly refused to pay the indemnity and assignment of Sakhalin.
Rebates Japan
As later admitted in his memoirs Ishii, their country has had to deal with Russia, which never did not pay anyone anything.The hardness of the Russian diplomacy and deprivation of support Japanese sponsors have put in a blind alley.Portsmouth Peace was on the verge of collapse, the Japanese government had gathered at the meeting, which lasted the whole day.Decide whether to continue the war for Sakhalin.August 27, 1905, it was decided to abandon the island and do not require a contribution.The state was so exhausted that continue military action was not possible.
Oversight Russia
Meanwhile, Russian President sent a telephone message to the king, which advised to give the island of Sakhalin.Russian empire like the world, because the government had to suppress the impending revolution.Nevertheless, the king agreed to give only the southern part of the island.Portsmouth Peace Treaty could be signed and other conditions, because the Japanese have already decided to abandon attacks on Sakhalin.August 27, immediately after the meeting, it became aware of the decision of the king.The Japanese government, of course, do not miss the chance to seize new territory.However, the Japanese risk, because if the information was not true, then the world would not be again concluded.The official, who passes it, in case of failure had to do hara-kiri.
Eventually Portsmouth Peace Treaty was signed on September 5, 1905.Ambassador of Russia lost to Japan's demands, as he told the king.As a result, the Tokyo government has found a sphere of influence in Korea, received the right to lease Liaodong Peninsula, the South Manchurian Railway, as well as the southern part of Sakhalin.However, Japan does not have the right to engage in the strengthening of the island.
What brought both sides to the conflict Portsmouth Peace?
date of signing of the peace treaty was to be the last point in the conflict and start to lift the economy out of the ruins.Unfortunately, from the Russian-Japanese war is not won, neither Russia nor Japan.It was all a waste of time and money.The Japanese have accepted the signing of a peace treaty as a personal insult, humiliation, besides the country was virtually ruined.In the Russian Empire, and so a revolution was brewing, and the defeat in the war was the last straw of popular anger.In the early twentieth century, for both states came not the best of times.In the Russian revolution began ...
