The Treaty of Portsmouth (Portsmouth Peace) is a peace treaty between Japan and the Russian Empire that ended the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.
The peace treaty was concluded in the city of Portsmouth (USA), thanks to which it got its name, on August 23, 1905. S.Yu. Witte and R.R. participated in the signing of the agreement on the Russian side. Rosen, and from the Japanese side - K. Jutaro and T. Kogoro. The initiator of the negotiations was the American President T. Roosevelt, so the signing of the treaty took place on the territory of the United States.
The treaty canceled the effect of previous agreements between Russia and China regarding Japan and concluded new ones, already with Japan itself.
Russo-Japanese War. Background and reasons
Japan did not pose any threat to the Russian Empire until the middle of the 19th century. However, in the 60s, the country opened its borders to foreign citizens, and began to develop rapidly. Thanks to the frequent trips of Japanese diplomats to Europe, the country adopted foreign experience and was able to create a powerful and modern army and navy in half a century.
It is no coincidence that Japan began to build up its military power. The country experienced an acute shortage of territories, so at the end of the 19th century, the first Japanese military campaigns began in neighboring territories. The first victim was China, which gave Japan a number of islands. Korea and Manchuria were supposed to be next on the list, but Japan clashed with Russia, which also had its own interests in these territories. Negotiations were held throughout the year between diplomats in order to divide the spheres of influence, but they did not achieve success.
In 1904, Japan, which did not want more negotiations, attacked Russia. The Russo-Japanese War began, which lasted two years.
Reasons for signing the Peace of Portsmouth
Despite the fact that Russia was losing the war, Japan was the first to think about the need to make peace. The Japanese government, which had already achieved most of its goals in the war, understood that the continuation of hostilities could hit the economy of Japan, which was already not in the best condition.
The first attempt to make peace took place in 1904, when the Japanese envoy to Great Britain turned to Russia with his version of the treaty. However, the peace provided for the condition that Russia agrees to appear in the documents as the initiator of the negotiations. Russia refused, and the war continued.
The next attempt was made by France, which assisted Japan in the war and was also severely exhausted economically. In 1905, France, which was on the verge of a crisis, offered its mediation to Japan. A new version of the contract was drawn up, which provided for indemnity (payback). Russia refused to pay money to Japan and the treaty was not signed again.
The last attempt to make peace took place with the participation of US President T. Roosevelt. Japan turned to the states that provided it with financial assistance and asked to mediate in the negotiations. This time, Russia agreed, as discontent was growing inside the country.
Terms of the Peace of Portsmouth
Japan, having enlisted the support of the United States and having agreed in advance with the states on the division of influence in the Far East, was determined to sign a speedy and beneficial peace for itself. In particular, Japan planned to take the island of Sakhalin, as well as a number of territories in Korea, and impose a ban on navigation in the waters belonging to the country. However, the peace was not signed, since Russia refused such conditions. At the insistence of S. Yu Witte, the negotiations continued.
Russia managed to defend the right not to pay indemnity. Despite the fact that Japan was in dire need of money and hoped to get a payoff from Russia, Witte's stubbornness forced the Japanese government to refuse money, otherwise the war could continue, and this would hit Japan's finances even more.
Also, according to the Treaty of Portsmouth, Russia managed to defend the right to own the greater territory of Sakhalin, and Japan retreated only the southern part on the condition that the Japanese would not build military fortifications there.
In general, despite the fact that Russia lost the war, it managed to significantly soften the terms of the peace treaty and exit the war with fewer losses. Spheres of influence on the territory of Korea and Manchuria were divided, agreements were signed on movement in the waters of Japan and trade on its territories. The peace treaty was signed by both parties.
Consequences of the peace treaty
The Russo-Japanese War, although it was formally won by the Japanese, did not bring anything good to both countries. Japan suffered greatly financially, and the signing of the peace treaty in Tokyo was viewed as something humiliating and shameful. Russia, however, showed during the war its political failure, and the already growing dissatisfaction with the government grew into a revolution.
Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 (briefly)
The Russo-Japanese War began on January 26 (or, according to the new style, February 8) 1904. The Japanese fleet unexpectedly, before the official declaration of war, attacked ships located on the outer roadstead of Port Arthur. As a result of this attack, the most powerful ships of the Russian squadron were disabled. The declaration of war took place only on 10 February.
The most important reason for the Russo-Japanese War was the expansion of Russia to the east. However, the immediate reason was the annexation of the Liaodong Peninsula, previously captured by Japan. This provoked military reform and the militarization of Japan.
About the reaction of Russian society to the beginning of the Russo-Japanese war, one can briefly say this: Japan's actions outraged Russian society. The world community reacted differently. England and the USA took a pro-Japanese position. And the tone of the press reports was distinctly anti-Russian. France, which at that time was an ally of Russia, declared neutrality - an alliance with Russia was necessary for it in order to prevent the strengthening of Germany. But, already on April 12, France concluded an agreement with England, which caused a cooling of Russian-French relations. Germany, on the other hand, declared friendly neutrality towards Russia.
The Japanese failed to capture Port Arthur, despite active actions at the beginning of the war. But, already on August 6, they made another attempt. A 45-strong army under the command of Oyama was thrown to storm the fortress. Having met the strongest resistance and having lost more than half of the soldiers, the Japanese were forced to retreat on August 11. The fortress was surrendered only after the death of General Kondratenko on December 2, 1904. Despite the fact that Port Arthur could have held out for at least another 2 months, Stessel and Reis signed an act on the surrender of the fortress, as a result of which the Russian fleet was destroyed, and 32 thousand soldiers were destroyed. man was taken prisoner.
The most significant events of 1905 were:
The Battle of Mukden (February 5 - 24), which remained the largest land battle in the history of mankind until the start of the First World War. It ended with the withdrawal of the Russian army, which lost 59 thousand killed. Japanese losses amounted to 80 thousand people.
The Battle of Tsushima (May 27-28), in which the Japanese fleet, outnumbering the Russian fleet by 6 times, almost completely destroyed the Russian Baltic squadron.
The course of the war was clearly in favor of Japan. However, its economy was depleted by the war. This forced Japan to enter into peace negotiations. In Portsmouth, on August 9, participants in the Russo-Japanese War began a peace conference. It should be noted that these negotiations were a major success for the Russian diplomatic delegation headed by Witte. The signed peace treaty sparked protests in Tokyo. But, nevertheless, the consequences of the Russo-Japanese war turned out to be very tangible for the country. During the conflict, the Russian Pacific Fleet was practically destroyed. The war claimed more than 100 thousand lives of soldiers heroically defending their country. The expansion of Russia to the East was stopped. Also, the defeat showed the weakness of the tsarist policy, which to a certain extent contributed to the growth of revolutionary sentiment and eventually led to the revolution of 1904-1905. Among the reasons for the defeat of Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. the most important are the following:
diplomatic isolation of the Russian Empire;
unpreparedness of the Russian army for combat operations in difficult conditions;
frank betrayal of the interests of the fatherland or mediocrity of many tsarist generals;
serious superiority of Japan in the military and economic spheres.
Portsmouth Peace
The Treaty of Portsmouth (Portsmouth Peace) is a peace treaty between Japan and the Russian Empire that ended the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.
The peace treaty was concluded in the city of Portsmouth (USA), thanks to which it got its name, on August 23, 1905. S.Yu. Witte and R.R. participated in the signing of the agreement on the Russian side. Rosen, and from the Japanese side - K. Jutaro and T. Kogoro. The initiator of the negotiations was the American President T. Roosevelt, so the signing of the treaty took place on the territory of the United States.
The treaty canceled the effect of previous agreements between Russia and China regarding Japan and concluded new ones, already with Japan itself.
Russo-Japanese War. Background and reasons
Japan did not pose any threat to the Russian Empire until the middle of the 19th century. However, in the 60s, the country opened its borders to foreign citizens, and began to develop rapidly. Thanks to the frequent trips of Japanese diplomats to Europe, the country adopted foreign experience and was able to create a powerful and modern army and navy in half a century.
It is no coincidence that Japan began to build up its military power. The country experienced an acute shortage of territories, so at the end of the 19th century, the first Japanese military campaigns began in neighboring territories. The first victim was China, which gave Japan a number of islands. Korea and Manchuria were supposed to be next on the list, but Japan clashed with Russia, which also had its own interests in these territories. Negotiations were held throughout the year between diplomats in order to divide the spheres of influence, but they did not achieve success.
In 1904, Japan, which did not want more negotiations, attacked Russia. The Russo-Japanese War began, which lasted two years.
Reasons for signing the Peace of Portsmouth
Despite the fact that Russia was losing the war, Japan was the first to think about the need to make peace. The Japanese government, which had already achieved most of its goals in the war, understood that the continuation of hostilities could hit the economy of Japan, which was already not in the best condition.
The first attempt to make peace took place in 1904, when the Japanese envoy to Great Britain turned to Russia with his version of the treaty. However, the peace provided for the condition that Russia agrees to appear in the documents as the initiator of the negotiations. Russia refused, and the war continued.
The next attempt was made by France, which assisted Japan in the war and was also severely exhausted economically. In 1905, France, which was on the verge of a crisis, offered its mediation to Japan. A new version of the contract was drawn up, which provided for indemnity (payback). Russia refused to pay money to Japan and the treaty was not signed again.
The last attempt to make peace took place with the participation of US President T. Roosevelt. Japan turned to the states that provided it with financial assistance and asked to mediate in the negotiations. This time, Russia agreed, as discontent was growing inside the country.
Terms of the Peace of Portsmouth
Japan, having enlisted the support of the United States and having agreed in advance with the states on the division of influence in the Far East, was determined to sign a speedy and beneficial peace for itself. In particular, Japan planned to take the island of Sakhalin, as well as a number of territories in Korea, and impose a ban on navigation in the waters belonging to the country. However, the peace was not signed, since Russia refused such conditions. At the insistence of S. Yu Witte, the negotiations continued.
Russia managed to defend the right not to pay indemnity. Despite the fact that Japan was in dire need of money and hoped to get a payoff from Russia, Witte's stubbornness forced the Japanese government to refuse money, otherwise the war could continue, and this would hit Japan's finances even more.
Also, according to the Treaty of Portsmouth, Russia managed to defend the right to own the greater territory of Sakhalin, and Japan retreated only the southern part on the condition that the Japanese would not build military fortifications there.
In general, despite the fact that Russia lost the war, it managed to significantly soften the terms of the peace treaty and exit the war with fewer losses. Spheres of influence on the territory of Korea and Manchuria were divided, agreements were signed on movement in the waters of Japan and trade on its territories. The peace treaty was signed by both parties.
Treaty of Portsmouth between Russia and Japan
Portsmouth
The treaty summed up the results of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, lost by Russia. Signed by Russia S.Yu. Witte. The Portsmouth Peace Treaty sharply worsened Russia's position in the Far East. But the main requirements were not reflected in the contract Japan, which she previously agreed with England and USA: payment of a huge indemnity, the cession of Sakhalin, the transfer to Japan of Russian military ships that were in neutral ports, and the limitation of Russian naval forces in the Far East. Head of the Russian delegation S. Yu. Witte resolutely refused to fulfill all these demands, but then, on instructions from St. Petersburg, he agreed to transfer half of Sakhalin to the Japanese. The public around the world assessed the treaty as a diplomatic victory for Russia. Witte received the title of count, and the head of the Japanese delegation, Japanese Foreign Minister I. Komura, was removed from his post and subjected to persecution. In fact, the treaty reflected not only the defeat of Russia, but also the extremely difficult situation of the victorious country, which had exhausted its human and financial resources. An important role was played by the refusal of England and the United States to further support Japan, since they did not want her to become too strong. In addition to Witte and Komura, the treaty was signed by the Russian ambassador to the United States, Baron R. R. Rosen, and the Japanese envoy to the United States, K. Takahira.
E. in. emperor of all Russia, on the one hand, and E. V. the emperor of Japan, on the other hand, being inspired by the desire to restore the enjoyment of the benefits of the world for their countries and peoples, decided to conclude a peace treaty and appointed their representatives for this, namely:
e. c. Emperor of All Russia - His Excellency Mr. Sergei Witte, his Secretary of State and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Russian Empire, and His Excellency Baron Roman Rosen ... his Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America; e. c. Emperor of Japan - His Excellency Baron Komura Yutaro, Yusammi... his Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Excellency Mr. Takahira Kogoro, Yusammi... his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, who, by the exchange of their powers, found in the proper form, decided the following articles.
Peace and friendship will continue from now on between their Majesties the Emperor of All Russia and the Emperor of Japan, as well as between their states and mutual subjects.
The Russian Imperial Government, recognizing Japan's predominant political, military and economic interests in Korea, undertakes not to intercede or interfere with those measures of leadership, patronage and supervision that the Imperial Japanese Government might deem necessary to take in Korea.
It is agreed that Russian subjects in Korea will enjoy exactly the same position as subjects of other foreign states, namely, that they will be placed in the same conditions as subjects of the most favored country. It has likewise been established that, in order to avoid any cause for misunderstanding, the two high contracting parties will refrain from taking any military measures on the Russian-Korean frontier that might threaten the security of Russian or Korean territory.
Article III
Russia and Japan mutually undertake:
1) completely and simultaneously evacuate Manchuria, with the exception of the territory to which the lease of the Liaodong Peninsula extends, in accordance with the provisions of Additional Article I appended to this treaty, and
2) to return to the exclusive control of China, completely and in its entirety, all parts of Manchuria, which are now occupied by Russian or Japanese troops or which are under their supervision, with the exception of the above-mentioned territory.
The Russian Imperial Government declares that it has no land privileges in Manchuria, or preferential or exclusive concessions that may affect China's supreme rights or are incompatible with the principle of equal rights.
Russia and Japan mutually undertake not to put up any obstacles to the general measures which apply equally to all peoples and which China could adopt in the development of trade and industry in Manchuria.
The Russian Imperial Government cedes to the Imperial Japanese Government, with the consent of the Chinese Government, the lease of Port Arthur, Talien and adjacent territories and territorial waters, as well as all rights, advantages and concessions associated with this lease or constituting a part of it, and cedes equally to the Imperial Japanese to the government all public works and property in the area covered by the aforementioned lease…
The two high contracting parties mutually undertake to achieve the agreement of the Chinese government referred to in the above decree.
The Imperial Japanese Government, for its part, assures that the property rights of Russian subjects in the aforementioned territory will be fully respected.
The Russian Imperial Government undertakes to cede to the Imperial Japanese Government without compensation, with the consent of the Chinese Government, the railway between Chang-chun (Kuan-chen-tzu) and Port Arthur and all its branches with all its rights, privileges and property in this area, and also all coal mines in the said locality, owned or developed for the said railway.
The two high contracting parties mutually undertake to reach the agreement of the Chinese government referred to in the above decree.
Article VII
Russia and Japan undertake to exploit the railways they own in Manchuria exclusively for commercial and industrial purposes, and in no way for strategic purposes.
It is established that this restriction does not apply to railways in the territory covered by the lease of the Liaodong Peninsula.
Article VIII
The imperial governments of Russia and Japan, in order to encourage and facilitate relations and trade, will conclude, as soon as possible, a separate convention to determine the conditions for servicing the connected railway lines in Manchuria.
The Russian Imperial Government cedes to the Imperial Japanese Government the southern part of the island of Sakhalin and all the islands adjacent to it, as well as all public buildings and property located there, in perpetual and complete possession. The fiftieth parallel of north latitude is taken as the limit of the ceded territory. The exact boundary line of this territory will be determined in accordance with the provisions of Additional Article II, annexed to this treaty.
Russia and Japan mutually agree not to build any fortifications or similar military installations in their possessions on the island of Sakhalin and on the islands adjacent to it. Likewise, they mutually undertake not to take any military measures that could hinder free navigation in the Straits of La Perouse and Tatar.
Russian subjects, residents of the territory ceded to Japan, are allowed to sell their real estate and retire to their own country, but if they prefer to remain within the ceded territory, their industrial activities and property rights will be preserved and protected in full measure, subject to submission to the Japanese laws and jurisdictions. Japan will be completely free to revoke the right of residence in this territory to all residents who do not have political or administrative legal capacity, or to evict them from this territory. It undertakes, however, to fully secure for these inhabitants their property rights.
Russia undertakes to enter into an agreement with Japan in the form of granting Japanese citizens fishing rights along the shores of Russian possessions in the Seas of Japan, Okhotsk and Bering. It is agreed that such an obligation will not affect the rights already owned by Russians or foreign nationals in these parts.
Article XII
Since the effect of the treaty on trade and navigation between Russia and Japan was abolished by the war, the imperial governments of Russia and Japan undertake to accept as the basis of their commercial relations, pending the conclusion of a new treaty on trade and navigation on the basis of the treaty in force before the present war, the system of reciprocity on most favored nation principles, including import and export tariffs, customs rituals, transit and tonnage dues, as well as conditions for the admission and stay of agents, subjects and ships of one state within another.
Article XIII
As soon as possible after the entry into force of this treaty, all prisoners of war will be mutually returned. The imperial governments of Russia and Japan will each appoint a special commissar for their part, who will take charge of the prisoners. All prisoners who are in the power of one of the governments will be handed over to the commissioner of the other government or its representative, duly authorized to do so, who will receive them, including in those convenient ports of the transferring state, which will be indicated in advance by the latter to the commissioner of the receiving state.
The Russian and Japanese governments will present to each other as soon as possible after the completion of the transfer of prisoners, a justified account of the direct expenses incurred by each of them for the care of prisoners and their maintenance from the day of captivity or surrender until the day of death or return. Russia undertakes to reimburse Japan as soon as possible after the exchange of these accounts, as established above, the difference between the actual amount of expenses incurred by Japan in this way and the actual amount of expenses equally incurred by Russia.
Article XIV
This Treaty will be ratified by Their Majesties the Emperor of All Russia and the Emperor of Japan. Such ratification shall be mutually communicated to the imperial governments of Russia and Japan through the ambassador of the United States of America in St. Petersburg and the French envoy in Tokyo, and with On the day of the last such notice, this treaty shall enter into full force in all its parts.
The formal exchange of ratifications will follow in Washington as soon as possible.
This Agreement will be signed in duplicate in French and English. Both texts are exactly the same; but in case of disagreement in interpretation, the French text shall be binding.
In witness whereof the mutual plenipotentiaries have signed the present treaty of peace, and have affixed their seals thereto.
Done at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on the twenty-third of August (fifth of September), one thousand nine hundred and five, which is the fifth day of the ninth month of the thirty-eighth year of Meiji.
Signed:
Yutaro Komura,
Sergei Witte,
K. Takahira,
Collection of agreements between Russia and other states. 1856–1917.-S. 337–342
After the Russian defeats, the United States government concluded that the time for peace was approaching. Then the President of the United States on June 8, 1905, proposed peace negotiations between Russia and Japan, offering his mediation.
The Russian government willingly took advantage of Roosevelt's proposal, as it needed peace in order to intensify the struggle against the unfolding revolution. In Tokyo, Roosevelt's proposal was also accepted.
In August 1905, Russian-Japanese peace negotiations began in the seaside resort town of Portsmouth (USA).
With the support of the United States and England, the Japanese delegation made huge demands at Portsmouth.
Tsar Nicholas II appointed Witte as the Russian chief commissioner. At the peace conference, the Russian delegation accepted the Japanese demands regarding South Manchuria and Korea. The Russian government expressed its readiness to recognize them as spheres of Japan's exclusive influence.
However, there was a heated debate over two issues. The Japanese intended to receive the island of Sakhalin and an indemnity of 1 billion 200 million yen.
Witte flatly refused to talk about any kind of indemnity. President Roosevelt supported Russia. He threatened the Japanese that if they insisted and the war resumed, the United States would change its attitude towards the warring parties.
For this reason, and most importantly, thanks to the firmness of Russian diplomacy, the Japanese yielded. As one Japanese diplomat wrote in his memoirs, Japan was dealing with a country that throughout its history has never paid indemnities.
Witte also refused to cede Sakhalin. The Japanese government faced the question - whether to continue the war for the sake of capturing this island? In Japan, tense political consultations have begun. It was decided that Japan was so exhausted that it could no longer fight. In the presence of the emperor, a decision was made to abandon Sakhalin. This happened on August 27, 1905.
Meanwhile, a few days before, in an effort to end the war as soon as possible, Roosevelt sent a telegram to the tsar advising him to cede Sakhalin to Japan. On August 23, Nicholas II received the American envoy and told him that, as a last resort, he agreed to give up the southern half of the island. The Russian tsar was ready for any peace, if only to untie his hands to suppress internal unrest.
By chance, the statement of the king became known to the Japanese. They found out about him immediately after they decided to abandon Sakhalin. The Japanese government immediately changed its mind. True, the Minister of Marine stated that if the information about the consent of the king is incorrect, the official who passed it on would have to make hara-kiri for himself. “However,” the minister lamented, “this will not give Japan back the opportunity to conclude a much-needed peace.”
Instructions were sent to the head of the Japanese delegation in Portsmouth to demand the southern part of Sakhalin. Witte conceded, following the king's command: the Japanese received part of the island south of the 50th parallel of north latitude. This episode testifies to what extent Japan was exhausted by the war.
It was clear to the Tokyo government that it was impossible to continue the war. The same conclusion was reached by such a military observer as the Chief of the German General Staff, Count Schlieffen, who carefully studied the experience of the war.
Russia, according to Schlieffen, could easily continue the war. Her resources were barely affected, and she could field, if not a new fleet, then a new army. Schlieffen believed that despite a number of defeats inflicted on her, Russia was able to succeed, it was only necessary to better mobilize the country's forces.
But the regime that existed at that time was not up to this task. “The Japanese did not defeat Russia, not the Russian army, but our orders,” Witte wrote in his memoirs.
In addition to ceding the southern part of Sakhalin Island, the tsar agreed to pay the cost of keeping Russian prisoners of war in Japan.
On September 5, 1905, the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed. According to it, Russia recognized Korea as a sphere of Japanese influence. A Japanese protectorate was actually established over Korea. Article 2 of the Treaty of Portsmouth read: "The Russian imperial government, recognizing Japan's predominant political, military and economic interests in Korea, undertakes not to interfere with those measures of leadership, patronage and supervision, which the imperial Japanese government might consider necessary to take in Korea"
According to Article 5, Russia ceded to Japan the lease rights to the Liaodong Peninsula with Port Arthur and Dalny, and under Article 6, the South Manchurian Railway from Port Arthur to the Huanchendze station, somewhat south of Harbin. Thus, South Manchuria turned out to be a sphere of influence of Japan.
Russia ceded the southern part of Sakhalin to Japan. According to Article 12, Japan imposed on Russia the conclusion of a fishing convention: “Russia undertakes to enter into an agreement with Japan in the form of granting Japanese citizens fishing rights along the shores of Russian possessions in the Seas of Japan, Okhotsk and Bering. It is established that such an obligation will not affect the rights already owned by Russians or foreign nationals in these parts.
Article 7 of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty stated: "Russia and Japan undertake to operate the railways belonging to them in Manchuria exclusively for commercial and industrial purposes, and in no way for strategic purposes."
Russia's defeat in the war with Japan had a serious impact on the alignment of forces of the imperialist powers not only in the Far East, but also in Europe.
The Peace of Portsmouth is one of the most controversial diplomatic acts of pre-revolutionary Russia. Some considered it an important document that stopped the senseless bloodshed, while others are sure that it was a shameful treaty that lowered the authority of the monarchy and provoked the growth of revolutionary sentiments. Contemporaries and some historians considered the Peace of Portsmouth to be the last link in a series of betrayals and defeats that marked it.
War with Japan
Since the end of the 19th century Russia's persistent expansion into northern China has taken place. The imperial interests of St. Petersburg clashed with the same interests of Japan. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, both empires sought to expand their spheres of influence into Manchuria and Korea. At the same time, Russia managed to gain a foothold on the Liaodong Peninsula (in the fortress of Port Arthur), and Japan on the Korean Peninsula. In 1903, Tokyo turned to St. Petersburg with a proposal to divide the spheres of influence. At the suggestion of the Japanese government, Russia was to renounce claims to Korea, and the Land of the Rising Sun - from claims to Manchuria.
Petersburg refused such an amicable division. In response to Russia's refusal, the Japanese fleet in February 1904, without declaring war, attacked a squadron of the Russian Pacific Fleet on the Port Arthur roadstead. Thus began the bloody Russo-Japanese War. Characteristically, there were no hostilities either in Russia or in Japan. The main battles took place on the territory of China and off the coast of the Chinese and Korean coasts. In less than two years, the Russian army and navy suffered several severe defeats: near Mukden on land, near Tsushima in the Sea of Japan, and near Port Arthur on the Liaodong Peninsula.
Preconditions for making peace
The heavy defeats of Russia provoked panic in the army. At the same time, the rear of the empire weakened: in January 1905, it began in St. Petersburg, and soon revolutionary uprisings swept all the major cities of the empire. At the same time, Japan's industry was exhausting its possibilities. The Tokyo General Staff was aware that a series of victories could be interrupted due to a lack of weapons, finances and manpower. During 1905, Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi approached him several times for negotiations, but was consistently refused. Only in the summer did the tsar give the go-ahead for negotiations through the mediation of American diplomats. The peace treaty was concluded in Portsmouth on August 25 (September 5), 1905.
terms of the peace treaty
By concluding an agreement with Japan, the Russian Empire renounced any interests in Korea and South Manchuria and the rights to lease the Liaodong Peninsula. In turn, Japan recognized the exclusive interests of Russia in northern Manchuria and Harbin. The treaty also limited the size of the Pacific squadron and gave Japanese fishermen the right to fish in close proximity to the Russian coast. Russia withdrew from the war without the obligation to pay indemnity to the Japanese government. The most significant were reputational and territorial losses. Russia ceded to Japan the southern part of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.
Consequences of the Peace of Portsmouth
From the point of view of the economy, the war brought Russia fewer losses than Japan. The conclusion of a peace treaty allowed the power structures of the empire to focus on suppressing the revolution. On the other hand, the crushing defeat inflicted on huge Russia by small Japan greatly damaged the authority of the army and government. In the end, the blow was also dealt to the economy: the well-known financier, who signed the Peace of Portsmouth and was nicknamed Polu-Sakhalin for this, lost all his posts a year later, which prevented him from completing fiscal reform.
