Russia, Japan, and the Pan-Asiatic Movement to 1925

Abstract

THERE IS a widely shared belief expressed in political literature that Japan is Russia's traditional foe. Japan's policy is very often pictured as a straight line of constant fighting against the Russian much more so since that bear has been dyed red. Actually, however, the history of Russo-Japanese relations proves this assumption to be anything but correct. As far as the prerevolutionary era up to 1917 is concerned, Japan's policy can be described more correctly as aiming not at a struggle against Russia but at an understanding with her on the basis of apportioned spheres of influence in the Far East. To be sure, there were people in Japan who advocated other political courses, and sometimes these men exercised great influence. Japan's foreign policy did not follow an ideal straight line but rather a zigzag one. Invariably, however, it swung back to the fundamental goal mentioned above. An agreement with Russia was the cynosure of Japan's foreign policy. The first attempt in this direction was made at the time of negotiations between Witte and Yamagata at the coronation of Nicholas II. But Russia felt strong enough to pursue an independent policy in China and Korea without granting a share in the spoils to Japan. Russia was inclined to snub Japan and turned a deaf ear to Japan's overtures. Japan was compelled to conclude an alliance with Great Britain in 1902 and, later, to wage war against Russia in 1904-05. That war Japan won. Now, however, we know that she had to pay a very heavy price for the victory, and that she was very close to a catastrophe. Had Russia then not been going through an acute internal crisis and had her government and military command been somewhat better, the war would without doubt have brought about Japan's severest defeat. This was fully realized in Japan, and that is why she signed the Portsmouth peace treaty on conditions which seemed so incompatible with the magnitude of her victories. Japan was afraid to continue the war, and she feared still more the consequences of arousing in Russia feelings of revenge. Despite the war, she was striving to make Russia her ally and friend. * Dr. Nicolaevsky, who was director of the Historico-Revolutionary Archives in Moscow from 1919 to 1921, is author, among other works, of Karl Marx: man and fighter and coauthor with J. Dallin of Forced labor in Soviet Russia.