Scandinavian American. [volume], June 01, 1947, Page 3, Image 3

About Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958

Image provided by: Washington State Library; Olympia, WA

                
THE SCANDI NAVIAN AMERICAN
The Development of Rival
Interests Between Russia
And Japan in The Far East
For the Scandinavian American by
By M. J. FORSELL
Russian interest in the Far East
began to develop after her acqui
sition of Siberia. Parties of ex
ploration and discovery in the
Seventeenth Century pushed
farther and farther eastward. Be
fore reaching the Pacific however.
they met resistance from the Man
chus, who drove the Russians
partially out. of Manchuria. The
Treaty of Nerchinsk, 1689, made
arrangements for the regulation of
trade and control of peoples mov
ing across the common border.
Russia obtained the right to send
a mission to Peking by this treaty.
A general knowledge of the
East stimulated interest in the
region of the Amur River, but un
favorable reports were received
from explorers of 1846. Nuraviev
revived interest and asecond ex
pedition produced enthusiasm for
colonization and claim.
Russian attention was again
drawn to the Far East when an
Anglo-French naval force unsuc
cessfully attacked the region dur
ing the Crimean War. In 1850 the
island of Sakhalin was discovered
by a group of explorers led by
Captain Nevelski.
The Treaty of Aigun, 1858, with
China consolidated Russian gains
and determined the boundary be
tween the two countries «as the
Amur River as far as the Ussuri
River. The remaining portion was
undetermined.
Count Putiatin arranged a
Treaty of Peking 1860, which re
adjusted the Siberian-Manchurian
boundary bringing Russia to the
Pacific. Russia was also appor
tioned the region next to Lake
Balkash and Lake Issik-kul and
given trade rights in all parts of
China. Vinacke suggests that all
this Far Eastern activity was not
directly the Russian Imperial Pol
icy, which rather supported a
Western movement not involving
Russia with China. He credits
Muraviev with the Eastern prog
ress of Russia.
After 1860 Siberia became more
settled with Cossacks. exiles from
European Russia, and peasant
emigrants. The Trans-Siberian
Roalroad, with its Manchurian
Section, the Chinese Eastern
Railway. stimulated this settle
ment. Navigation was being main
tained on the Ussuri and Sungari
Rivers. and even Chinese towns,
such as Mukden, felt the Russian
infiltration.
The Ili Agreement between
China and Russia in 1881 allowed
Russian settlement in China. north
of the Great Wall. for purposes of
trade. The treaty stipulated a free
trade between Russia and China.
With aid for Chinese railroad
growth from the Russo-Chinese
Bank in 1896, Russian policy ad
mitted favoring open expansion in
the Far East. By 1897 Port Ar
thur came to be used as a military
installation. England recognized
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Russian growth by an agreement
in 1899 granting the area north of
the Great Wall as a Russian sphere
of railway interest.
For the purpose of securing her
interests in the Orient Russia.
posed as friend of China after
the Boxer Rebellion against the
other Western powers. China
viewed this friendliness with sus
picion however, especially when
Russia insisted that China and
Manchuria were separate countries
and settlement of grievances be
longed to Chinese-Russian juris
diction and should not be included
in any Inter-Allied settlement.
During the Boxer Rebellion Rus
sia had sent troops to Manchuria
to guard the railroads. These
troops were to be removed when
all was peaceful, but peace never
seemed to ascend on this region.
Negotiations for evacuation of the
troops were carried on in 1901 and
1902 with a settlement finally
reached whereby their removal
was to be effected. The Western
powers were becoming disturbed
and even alarmed at so much Rus
sian strength. military, territorial.
and economic, in the Far East.
As a result the Anglo-Japanese
Alliance was concluded in 1902.
By the Russo-Chinese Agreement
of 1902 Chinese proposals for
evacuation were accepted and car
ried out somewhat. Many of the
troops Were only moved around to
a different concentration~center in
Manchuria.
Defeat in the Russo-Japanese
War did not break down the Rus
sian spirit or unity but rather
tended to create a nationalist feel
ing among the people, it incor
porated their spirit.
Mongolia is the Russian road to
China: it prevents Japan from ly
ing astride the full length of the
eastern Russian border. So Russia
has naturally been interested in
the development of Mongolia. The
Russo-Mongolian Agreement and
Protocol of 1912 practically made
Mongolia 8. protege of Russia. And
again in 1920 Russia sponsored
Baron Ungern von Sternberg in
his efforts at driving the Chinese
out and establishing arrangements
with the Living Buddha proclaim
ing the independence of Mongolia.
When internal difficulties be
came foremost in importance and
finally cuiniinated in the revolu
tions. Russian influence in China
declined. Extra—territorial rights
and control of concessions were
terminated. the Chinese Eastern
Railway came under the control of
an Inter-Allied Board, and the
Russian sponsored Anfu Govern
ment in Outer Mongolia was over
thrown.
Finally through a treaty in 192“
Russia recognized China's su-i
zerainty over Outer Mongolia and!
promised to recognize China‘s sov-i
ereignty therein Russia agreed to‘,
evacuate her troops from Mon-1
golia. ;
More advantageous Sino-Sovieti
relations were established by Mm
Joffa in 1922. He compared the;
Western imperialists with the non- j
imperialist communist government
of Russia. Again Russia would be}
the friend and protector of China.‘
Further arrangements concluded5
in a. Chinese-Russian Convention‘
May 31. 1924, restored Russian po-1
sition in Northern Manchuria, al-l
though her influence in China]
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Proper was still lessened. Russia
again controlled the Chinese East
ern Railway.
The Far Eastern Republic of Si
beria, a. non-communist govern
ment which had been formed under
the leadership of Krosnoschekoff,
was incorporated into the Soviet
Union November 15, 1922.
And so Russia gradually expand
ed throughout the Far East, not
forcefully annexing territory, but
increasing trade relations, spon
soring Chinese Commercial
growth, etc. Mr. Milivoy Stanoye
vich states that Russia has a win
ning way with Orientals. Russia
can be more diplomaticvsomehow,
carry on with more splendor and
majesty. and also soothe hurt
pride or straighten entanglements
better than the more blunt
straightforward Western states
men. He also assures us that Rus
sian aims in the Far East were
purely cultural, that political or
territorial advantages were gained
only in protection of Russia‘s ter
ritorial integrity. Russia has al
ways come to the aid of subjected
peoples—Balkans and Mongols,
and ”secured nothing for herself.
but only fought to assuage the
downtrodden and humiliated peo
ples; . . . fought for justice .and
humanity.” — It is difficult to
match some actions with this
statement of policy.
Japanese interest in me affairs
of the Far East developed even
in pre-restoration days when the
Outer Western clans began to
trade with the continent against
all efforts at isolation by the To
kugawa. The island of Sakhalin
was known but not occupied or ac
tivley governed under the Toku
gawa Shogunate. Little by little
the economic change evidenced by
the growth of a money economy
aided Japan in reaching out to
other lands. With the Meiji Resto—
ration came the building of a mod—
ern country preparing for expan
sion and enrichment.
Japan's neighbor Korea was the
natural object of any expansion,
and also was a bridge between
other Oriental countries and Ja
pan. So Japan desired control of
Korea so it could never threaten
her safety. In 1876 a Japanese-
Korean treaty proclaimed the in
dependence of Korea as did an
American-Korean treaty in 1882.
These moves seemed to nullify
Chinese interests and claims of su—
zerainty over the country.
Japan feared Russian domina
tion of China, which if Korea
were Chinese territory, would in
effect make Korea Russian. In
fact Russia did enter the situa
tion in 1884 when she planned to
send officers to reorganize the K0-
rean army. and wanted the use of
Port Lazareff. However. British
protests prevented the fulfillment
of these measures.
Chinese-Japanese rivalry in Ko
rea finally led to the war of 1894,
the Japanese victory. and the
Treaty of Shimonoseki.‘ April 17,
1895. which again proclaimed the
independence of Korea. Japan
made territorial gains by this
treaty——Formosa and the Pesea
dores.
Russian activity in the Far East
created uneasy tension among the
Western powers. This atmosphere
led to the creation of the Anglo-
Japanese Alliance of 1902 between
Japan and Great Britain. Britain
felt she had to check Russia to
prevent domination of that power
in Peking.
With Russia continually expand
ing in Manchuria and Japan grow
ing more dominant and demanding
it seemed inevitable that these
two powers would find their in
terests overlapping. Negotiations
were entered into. but failed and
war broke out in 1904. Peace was
achieved through the services of
the United States Government.
After this Treaty of Portsmouth
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Korea became a Japanese protec
toratea
The Twenty One Demands on
China in 1915 and the Lansing-
Ishii Agreement of 1917 aided the
strengthening of Japan in the Far
East. She attained further rights
in Manchuria and Inner Mongolia
also.
While Russia's attention was
drawn to the West because of the
World War, Japan utilized this
freedom to gain more advantage
in the Orient. Shipping and foreign
trade in the Pacific were expand
ed. When Intervention was pro
posed Japan sent a huge force and
remained two years longer than
any other country. Other nations
were a little afraid of so much Bol
shevist activity and wanted to be
on hand at any event, Czech troops
or not.
Between 1921 and 1931 Japan
continued to strengthen her posi
tion by consolidating railroad in
terests in Manchuria and Mon
golia. She had the advantage of a
new government in Russia. First,
Japan gained by the World War.
now she gained by the Russian
Revolutions.
Even after the Washington Con—
ference Japan increased her rail
road holdings. She built feeder
lines in South Manchuria in com
petition with Russian projects.
After the seizure of Manchuria the
Russian Chinese Eastern Railway
was virtually valueless.
So two growing nations, Russia
and Japan. both chose to expand
in about the same area. The first
diplomatic relations between these
two countries were concluded at
the Treaty of Shimoda in 1855.
Russian interest in Japan devel
oped in the late seventeen hund—
reds and early eighteen hundreds
when they jointly occupied the is
land of Sakhalin. In 1875 Japan
relinquished her claim to the
sOuthern half of Sakhalin in re
turn for Russian recognition or
her title to the Southern Knrile
Islands.
The Japanese victory over China
in 1895 provided Russia a new an
tagonist. The time for treaty ne—
gotiations afforded excellent op
portunity for her to move into
Korea. The equality of Russia and
Japan in Korea was pronounced
in the Yamagata-Lobanov Proto—
col of 1896.
Manchcuria, although an inte
gral part of the Chinese Empire,
was the object of interest for
Japan and Russia. Russia's inter
est was of political and strategic
nature. with economic activity
only as a means to this end. And
economic stakes in China might
entitle her to a territorial claim
in the event of the complete break
up of China. Russia tried to de
tach Manchuria from China Proper
just as Japan tried to seVer Korea.
Japan was not interested in di
rect aggression in Manchuria' but
became disturbed when Russra
threatened to upset the balance oi
power. Japan cooperated with a
“Russia in Manchuria" policy so
that Russia would not object to
"Japan in Korea.“
Bad faith on agreements for
Manchuria and activities along the
Korean border became alarming to
both countries. The Korean King
fled to the Russians for safety
after a Japanese-instigated attack
on the Royal Palace The Nishi-
R o s e n Convention confirmed
equality of the powers again in
1898 but Japanese influence
seemed to grow. The Korean and
Manchuria questions became fused
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into one issue and proposals for
their discussion or settlement
arose. Russia suggested that she
be allowed control in China and
Manchuria but that Japan be 31-
lowed only economic powers in
Korea. It was proposed that neith
er power would use Korea for
strategic purposes or erect fortifi
cations impairing the freedom of
the Straits of Korea. No diplo
matic settlement could be found
satisfactory and so after more
dickering. relations were severed
and war broke out Feb. 8. 1904,
without a formal declaration.
Inner conflict in Russia found
her not prepared for an Oriental
war, while Japan, the smaller na
tion, was prepared. France and
Germany supported Russia, while
the United States favored Japan.
At a Japanese suggestion (Japan
was near financial collapse. al
though winning the war; Theodore
Roosevelt offered to negotiate a
peace treaty. Although Russia
would liked to have remained
fighting to recover her losses, she
agreed to an armistice. The peace
treaty was concluded at Ports
mouth, New Hampshire. in 1905.
Russia hoped that Japan would
make harsh demands and thereby
lose favor in world opinion. This
was the case but no one gained by
it. Through the treaty Japan in—
herited Russia's position on the
continent_ giving her a sphere of
influence in Manchuria. Southern
Sakhalin was ceded to Japan. her
position in Korea was recognized
as permanent and the Liaotung‘
peninsula became Japanese. Japan
became the owner of the South
Manchurian and Mukden-Antung
Rialroad. She also received certain
fishing rights.
The Portsmouth Treaty was un
favorable to Japan because it (lid
not allow an indemnity to defray
the cost of the war.
After 1905 there was a tempo
rary halt in this rivah‘y and the
balance of power was left un-
changed
A Russo ~ Japanese e'isneries
Convention held July 28. 1907.
more clearly defined the fisheries
terms of the treaty in 1905. Japan
was to have all rights in catching
and in the manufacturing pro
cesses but the area of activity was
limited. The Japanese were placed
on equal basis with the Russians.
Fish eventually going: to Japan
was to be tax free and fish im
ported to Japan was to be duty
free. This agreement was to run
for twelve years.
AlmOSt coinciding with this
Eastern Commercial Agreement
was the General Political Conveno
tion on July 30, 1907. Amiable re
lations were reaffirmed. as was
the integrity of China and them
selves. This Convention provided
a “front" for secret treaties be
tween Japan and Russia, There
was known to exist in 1916 a
secret defensive alliance directed
against either Germany or the
United States.
Intense economic activity by one
nation in another country can
mean fulfillment of natural pro
cesses investing capital. finding
markets, etc. or it can mean the
establishment of a definite t‘irm
basis for future political control.
Nearly always political expansmn
has been preceded by economic
extension.
The countries of the Far East
through their natural resources
offer great fields {or economic in
vestment and possible territorial
gain. The railroads, grain. timber,
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