Yang 1 Allison Yang Pols 150 Prof. Pinnell May 6, 2015 Russo­Japanese War The Russo­Japanese War was a conflict between Russia and Japan. Fought from 1904­05 over the division and control of Korea and Manchuria, Japan had proposed a buffer zone, or neutral zone, to Russia. Japan’s diplomatic proposal was left unanswered and its patience grew thin. In a last­ditch effort for any diplomatic relation with Russia, the Japanese government issued a note verbale, or diplomatic note written in third person (Koda, 2005). Russia’s inability to answer to Japan led to the surprise naval attack on Port Arthur off the Inchon coast on Feb. 8. 1904 (Shimazu, 2008). Two days later, 1904, Japan declared war on Russia. The Russians finally responded on a declaration of war on Feb. 16, 1904 (The Russo­Japanese War Research Society). Port Arthur, the site of the first attack, was leased to Russia from China (Nish, 1985). The Russian military outnumbered the Japanese force greatly, but even with numbers on its side, the Russians were unable to defeat the Japanese in battle (Nish, 1985). The Russo­Japanese War was fought between the two countries as a result from other countries such as the United States and China declaring neutrality (The Russo­Japanese War Research Society). Although countries declared neutrality, it did not stop some from aiding Russia and Japan. France gave loans to Russia while Japan received funds from the Britain and the United States (Steinburg, 2008). Although Japan received funds from Britain, British war correspondents felt hindered by the influence of orientalism (Nordlund, 2015). America had decided to fund Japan in response to “Russia’s persecution of their Jews” (Steinburg, 2008). Yang 2 Some notable wars are: The Battle of Yalu River, Battle of Nanshan, Battle of Telissu, Battle of Motien Pass, Battle of Tashihchiao, Battle of the Yellow River, Battle of Ulsan, Battle of Liaoyang, Battle of Sha­ho, Battle of Sandepu, Battle of Mukden and the Battle of Tsushima (Kowner, 2009). At the Battle of Yalu River, which was a Japanese victory, it allowed passage into Manchuria. The Battle of Liaoyang, which took place from Aug. 26 ­ Sept. 3, 1904, was the first major land battle and another Japanese victory (The Russo­Japanese War Research Society). The Battle of Mukden, which took place from Feb. 22 ­ March 10, 1905, was yet another Japanese victory and the largest land battle. It forced Russia to abandon Mukden (The Russo­Japanese War Research Society). One of the last battles of the Russo­Japanese War was the Battle of Tsushima, which lasted from May 27­29, 1905. Thirty Russian ships were sunk and was a huge blow for the Russians (The Russo­Japanese War Research Society). After many Japanese land and naval battle victories, Japan established itself as a world power having beat an Eastern European country. On June 8, 1905, United States finally agree to host peace talks with Russia and Japan. President Theodore Roosevelt mediated the treaty between Russia and Japan (The Russo­Japanese War begins). Roosevelt later received a Nobel Prize for his involvement and peace talks with Russia and Japan (Steinburg, 2008). The last major battle, the Battle of Tsushima, happened and May and by the time the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, it was then signed on Sept. 5, 1905 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Treaty of Portsmouth ultimately ended the Russo­Japanese War. It gave Japan the control over Korea, southern Manchuria and Sakhalin Island (Russo­Japanese War, 2014). In the article “American Angels of Mercy,” the Japanese were notorious for heavily punishing prisoners, but during the Russo­Japanese War, multiple sources said Japan took care Yang 3 of its prisoners (Clarke, 2014). Even in the early 1900s, Japanese hospitals were sterile and even had aseptic tools (Clarke, 2014). Since the Japanese valued sanitation, when it came to infection rates among Japanese troops, their totals were less than other wars. The total amount of casualties cannot be pinpointed since many sources report different numbers. There were ~47,000 Japanese deaths and an estimated ~28,000 Russian deaths (Dumas, 1923). Soldiers from the Russo­Japanese War were “disciplined” as opposed to the “barbaric” Japanese soldiers in World War II (Shimazu, 2008). Realism best describes the Russo­Japanese War. After a period of time, cooperation between Russia and Japan went out the window and Japan was unable to work with Russia over the division and control of Korea and Manchuria. It was in Japan’s best interest to protect itself from Russia, so the Korean Peninsula had to be kept from Russia’s control (Koda, 2005). The buffer zone proposal was sent to Russia on August 12, 1903. Russia’s response came a long two months later and the answer was far from fulfilling the Japanese, they proposed a ban on military use (Koda, 2005). Japan replied on Dec. 21, 1903, removing Russia’s ban and proposed its initial offer. Seeing Russia’s reply as a diplomatic rejection, Japan went straight to a surprise attack in hopes of gaining more land and power. Japan hoped for more power with the control of Korea and Manchuria, which borders Russia. Aside from Russia and Japan, there were no other actors who engaged in combat. Other countries sat on the sidelines and watched the war unfold over the year and saw Japan rise as a world power. It was said that after the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, Japan fell into anarchy, which is exactly what realism entails (Shimaza, 2008). Some may argue, that since the war is based on competition between states that Marxism can best define the Russo­Japanese War. Even though Marxism is closely related to realism, it is Yang 4 based on competition between classes, states or organizations. Russia and Japan did not seek markets or furthering production, Japan assumed Russia did not want to engage in diplomatic relations (Koda, 2005). Some could also argue Marxism best defines because it is a conflict over land or resources across borders, but loan from outside countries other than Russia and Japan involve “alliances” with other powers. The Russo­Japanese War was far from a call conflict, but more of a country seeking the upper hand over another. For the smallest window of time, if Russia and Japan were to cooperate and work with one another, some would argue liberalism. But because no negotiations were made and agreed upon, Liberalism does not define this war. Although Japan did want to establish a diplomatic relationship with Russia that came with mutual gains, Russia did not answer the proposal. Instead, it “imposed a total ban on military use of the Korean Peninsula, establishing a neutral zone in the peninsula … and [banned] fortifications along its coast” (Koda, 2005). If Russia and Japan agreed on having diplomatic relations with one another and settled in Korea or Manchuria together and then went to war while both countries were there, maybe then liberalism could have defined the Russo­Japanese War. Japan attempted to develop ties with Russia, but the Russians did not answer Japan’s proposal. It instead imposed a ban on military use. No actor in this case cooperated until peace talks more than a year later. There was a lack of cooperation between the two actors. After many failed diplomatic attempts by Japan, the potential for cooperation was no longer attainable. There was a nationalistic fever that ran through Japan, but constructivism would still not define the cause of the Russo­Japanese War. Constructivism is lacking as the definition of the Russo­Japanese War because there were no ideas or ideologies involved. Russia and Japan are Yang 5 very unalike. While Russia did what they believed was right, Japan justified itself and did what it thought was right, which was the surprise attack before a formal declaration of war. The Japanese victory made Japan “united in its patriotism” (Shimazu, 2008). Many countries were surprised with the way the Japanese fought. Prince Karl von Hohenzollern of Germany even visited Japan himself to witness the strong country (Shimazu, 2008). Japan’s nationalism also went through the roof. After each Japanese battle victory, there were lantern parades. On Feb. 10, 1904, students from Keio University from Tokyo, Japan, led a victory parade (Shimazu, 2008). Although Japan had fought a great war to some, other researchers believe it is often “overlooked” (Steinburg, 2008). Another incident seen as a nationalistic action was the Hibiya Riot. The riot was a large anti­government movement against the Treaty of Portsmouth (Shimazu, 2008). The Russo­Japanese War has reinforced the view of countries going to war over disagreements. The war made Japan a formidable power in the Pacific and in the world’s eye. Though Russian troops outnumbered the Japanese, Japan still prevailed and was victorious in numerous battles. Realism best defines the Russo­Japanese War because cooperation between Russia and Japan was unattainable, power­seeking Japan attack Port Arthur in China, which is off the Inchon coast. Japan wanted a buffer zone, while Russia imposed a ban on military use. Therefore, liberalism does not define the Russo­Japanese War. The war was band on land control, and Russia and Japan did not seek markets for production. In the end, thanks to the Treaty of Portsmouth, Japan was able to gain Korea, southern Manchuria and Sakhalin Island (Russo­Japanese War, 2014). Yang 6 References Clarke Jr., Tim. 2014. ""American Angels of Mercy" and the Russo­Japanese War." Military ​ Medicine 179 (11) (11):1398­9. ​ Dumas, Samuel. 1923. “Losses of Life Caused By War.” Koda, Yoji. 2005. "The Russo­­Japanese War." Naval War College Review 58 (2) ​ ​ (Spring2005):10­44.