Treaty of Portsmouth
The Treaty of Portsmouth formally ended the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War. It was signed on September 5, 1905 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in the United States, by Sergius Witte and Roman Rosen for Russia, and by Komura Jutaro and Takahira Kogoro for Japan. Fyodor Martens and other diplomats from both nations stayed in New Castle, New Hampshire, at the grand Hotel Wentworth by the Sea, and were ferried to negotiations held across the Piscataqua River on the base located in Kittery, Maine.
In accordance with the Treaty, both Japan and Russia agreed to evacuate Manchuria and return its sovereignty to China, but Japan was leased the Liaodong Peninsula (containing Port Arthur and Talien) and the Russian rail system in southern Manchuria with access to strategic resources. Japan also received the southern half of the Island of Sakhalin from Russia. Although Japan gained a great deal from the Treaty, it was not nearly as much as the Japanese public had been led to expect, since Japan's initial negotiating position had demanded all of Sakhalin and a monetary indemnity as well. The frustration caused the Hibiya riots and the collapse of Katsura Taro's cabinet on January 7, 1906.
In 1906, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Theodore Roosevelt for negotiating the peace between Russia and Japan.
Negotiations
The negotiations for the treaty were taken under the mediation of Theodore Roosevelt (for which he won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize), both sides were seeking a peace — the Russians had been repeatedly defeated, but the Japanese were in considerable financial difficulties. Negotiations lasted through August. Prior to the beginning of the negotiations, the Japanese had signed the Taft-Katsura agreement with the U.S. in July 1905, agreeing to Japanese control in Korea in return for American dominance in the Philippines.
Also, the Japanese agreed with Britain to extend the Anglo-Japanese treaty to cover all of Eastern Asia in return for Britain also agreeing to Japanese control over Korea. The treaty confirmed Japan's emergence as the pre-eminent power in East Asia and forced Russia to abandon its expansionist policies there, but it was not well received by the Japanese public.
In 2005, a summer-long series of events was held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to mark the the hundredth anniversary of the signing of this treaty, including a visit by a U.S. Navy destroyer, a parade, and a re-enactment of the arrival of diplomats from the two warring nations. The treaty was signed at 3:47 p.m. on September 5, 1905, marked by an honor guard, the firing of a 19-gun salute, and the ringing of area [[church] bells. Those sounds were duplicated on the same date in 2005, when the signing was re-enacted. [1], [2]
Signficance of treaty
The significance of the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War was enormous. Not only for the two belligerent nations were effected, but many others as well. Specifically, the political situation in the Far East was changed. After more than a year of fighting, both Russia and Japan were tired from the conflict. Russia was in turmoil from the 1905 Revolution that undermined the country's absolute monarchy, Japan was distraught both financially and in terms of its military strength. As a result, President Theodore Roosevelt was petitioned by Japan to mediate for peace between the two warring nations. On September 5, 1905, the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, with Russia agreeing to recognize Japan’s “special interests” in Korea. Further, Russia agreed to grant Japan the lease of the Liaodong Peninsula along with economic rights in South Manchuria, including its railroads. Finally, Russia gave Japan the southern half of Sakhalin together with special fishing rights.
However, after the hearing success stories about the war for 18 months, the Japanese were extremely disastified with terms of the treaty. They felt the victory was far more decisive than what the peace terms granted their nation. In the absence of a large Russian indemnity and riots in Tokyo against the Katsura government led by extreme nationalist groups, troops were brought in and and martial law was declared. before order was restored.
Effects on Japan
Internally, although many Japanese in agreement with the peace terms, they were proud of the international power that Japan had not experienced for centuries. Along with the proven success of the Meiji modernization, Japan’s wartime victory due to the growing influence of the militarists. Once again, they had again brought victory and economic benefit to Japan. Many Japanese had learned the lesson that “war pays high dividends” and was an effective means to solve diplomatic impasse. After all, Japan’s victory gave her control of South Manchuria, a region that was beneficial as a market for Japanese products and as a source of raw materials for Japanese industry. Japan could therefore further her industrialization, especially in heavy industries, thus starting in Meiji Japan the so-called second phase of industrial revolution.
Externally, the Japan's international status of Japan grew to new heights with her defeat of Russia. Ten years previous, Japan became the leading Asian power by defeating China. Now she became a world power by defeating Russia, a major Western power. Futhermore, Japan's relations with other countries improved, starting with negotiations for the restoration of tariff autonomy. By 1911, Japan was able to extricate itself from the last vestige of unequal treaties. Soon after, Japan’s victory was celebrated throughout the East, giving impetus to nationalist and reform movements in China, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
From then, Far Eastern nations looked to Japan as a model of independence from European control. Through her victory, Japan demonstrated that the westerners were not invincible and could be defeated with her own weapons. From 1905, in one colony after another, an organized independence movement began. Then, with Japan gaining footholds on the mainland in Korea and South Manchuria, the nation's second advance into the Far East began, which acted as bridgeheads for future imperial advances, paticularly during the First World War.
Relation with Britain
Japan’s victory over Russia was acclaimed by the British, and in August 1905, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was renewed, two years before its termination. For Japan, the renewal would help stave off Russian revenge and accepted British approval of her special interests in Korea. In return, Japan would recognize British interests in the Yangtze area, Southeast Asia, and India. Thus, the scope of the renewed Japanese-British Alliance was covered the Far East and Asia, including India, in general. In 1911, the Alliance was renewed for another 10 years, during which time it enabled Japan to enter World War I against Germany. Later, the Alliance was replaced by the Four Power Treaty in 1922. Nonetheless, Anglo-Japanese relation continued to be friendly and Japan was regarded by Britain as an important ally in the Far East in the 1920s.
Relation with Russia
Japan had stopped the Russian advance and had removed it as a first-class Western power in Korea and South Manchuria, leaving Russia only with a foothold in North Manchuria. Although the and of the Russian threat in Korea opened the door for a Russo-Japanese rapprochement, Russian anger was possible due to the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. However, Russia turned its interest in the Far East to a focus on the Balkans, with the two recent enemies befriending ach other. In 1907, a Russo-Japanese convention was signed which, by its secret clauses — an exchange policy, of sorts — divided Manchuria into a Russian and Japanese sphere of influence.
Relation with the United States and France
The United States became concerned over the rapid acension in power of Imperial Japan. Unhappy with Japanese advances in South Manchuria—a violation of the Open Door Policy—the U.S. also was alarmed about the security of its Pacific possession, the Philippines. Therefore, in 1905 and 1908, Japan and the United States reached two agreements promising to respect each other’s possessions in the Far East. However, worsening Japanese-American relations in the 1910s led to conflicts. In 1907, France and Japan signed a treaty to respect each other’s interests on the Asian continent, particularly in relation to their spheres of influence in China.
Relation with China
The Russo-Japanese War was fought on Chinese soil, but China was helpless to do more than recognized Manchuria as a zone of neutrality. At the end of the war, China (the Qing Dynasty) - was not even consulted about the peace terms. The transfer from Russia to Japan of the Liaodong leasehold and the railway rights in South Manchuria was only reluctantly agreed upon by the Qing government.
Effects on China
That the Qing government had to accept this humiliation was a reflection of her decadence. This directly stimulated the Chinese revolutionary movement. In 1905, the Tung Meng-hui was founded under the leadership of Sun Yat.sen to overthrow the Manchus. At the same time, in an eleventh hour attempt to save herself, the Qing government speeded up her reforms. Since the success of Japan’s modernization was beyond doubt, it was natural that reformers in China strongly advocated the following of Japan’s example in reform practice. In 1905, the Manchus abolished the century-old civil service examination and promised the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. 1905 was perhaps a turning point in Chinese history.
Effects on Korea
Quite obviously, Japan fought the Russo-Japanese War mainly to protect her interests in Korea. Now with Russia defeated and Britain allied, Japan tightened her grip on Korea. In November 1905, Japan forced the Korean king to accept a Japanese Resident-General who would have control over Korean foreign affairs. In 1907, Japanese advisers had control over Korean legislative and executive affairs, thus reducing Korea into a virtual colony of Japan. In 1909, Ito was assassinated by a Korean and this gave the Tokyo government a pretext for annexation which took place in August 1910. There followed 35 years of Japanese rule in Korea.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Axelrod, Alan. Political History of America's Wars. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1568029566
- Ericson, Steven J., and Hockley, Allen. The Treaty of Portsmouth and Its Legacies. Hanover, N.H.: University Press of New Engalnd, 2008. ISBN 978-1584657224
- Randell, Peter. The are No Victors Here: A Local Perspective on the Treaty of Portmouth. Portsmouth, N.H.: P.E. Randall Society, 1985. ISBN 978-0915819072
External links
- The Treaty of Portsmouth, 1905, Russo-Japanese War www.lib.byu.edu.
- Actual wording of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty www.portsmouthpeacetreaty.com.
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