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History of the Kuril Islands. Kuril Islands in the history of Russian-Japanese relations

Territorial disputes are present in the modern world. Only the Asia-Pacific region has several such. The most serious of them is the territorial discussion for the Kuril Islands. Russia and Japan are its main participants. The situation on the skeletons, which are considered a kind of stumbling block between these states, has the form of a dormant volcano. No one knows when he will start his "eruption."

Discovery of the Kuril Islands

The archipelago, located on the border between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, is the Kurile Islands. It stretches from about. Hokkaido to the peninsula of Kamchatka. The territory of the Kuril Islands consists of 30 large areas of land, surrounded on all sides by the waters of the sea and the ocean, and a large number of small.

The first expedition from Europe, which was near the coasts of the Kuriles and Sakhalin, is Dutch seafarers under the guidance of MG Friz. This event occurred in 1634. They not only made the discovery of these lands, but also proclaimed them as Dutch territory.

The explorers of the Russian Empire also studied Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands:

  • 1646 - the opening of the north-western Sakhalin coast by the expedition of VD Poyarkov;
  • 1697 - VV Atlasov becomes aware of the existence of the islands.

At the same time, Japanese explorers begin to sail to the southern islands of the archipelago. By the end of the 18th century, their trading stations and fishing grounds have appeared here, and a little later - scientific expeditions. A special role in the study belongs to M. Tokunai and M. Rinzo. Approximately at the same time, an expedition from France and England appeared on the Kurile Islands.

The problem of opening islands

The history of the Kuril Islands has so far retained discussions about the issue of their discovery. The Japanese claim that they were the first to find these lands in 1644. The National Museum of Japanese History carefully keeps a map of the time on which the appropriate designations are made. According to them, Russian people appeared there a little later, in 1711. In addition, the Russian map of this area, dating from 1721, refers to it as "Japanese Islands". That is, the discoverer of these lands was Japan.

The Kuril Islands in Russian history are first mentioned in the report of NI Kolobov to Tsar Alexis from 1646 on the peculiarities of the wanderings of I. Yu. Moskvitin. Also, the chronicles and maps of the medieval Holland, Scandinavia and Germany testify to the indigenous Russian villages.

By the end of the 18th century, they were officially annexed to the Russian lands, and the population of the Kuril Islands acquired Russian citizenship. At the same time, state taxes have been raised here. But neither then nor a little later was there signed any bilateral Russian-Japanese treaty or international agreement that would consolidate Russia's rights to these islands. In addition, their southern part was not under the power and control of the Russians.

Kuril Islands and the relationship between Russia and Japan

The history of the Kuril Islands in the early 1840s is characterized by the intensification of the activities of British, American and French expeditions in the northwest Pacific. This is the reason for a new surge in Russia's interest in establishing diplomatic and commercial relations with the Japanese side. Vice-Admiral E. V. Putyatin in 1843 initiated the idea of equipping a new expedition to the Japanese and Chinese territories. But it was rejected by Nicholas I.

Later, in 1844, he was supported by IF Krusenstern. But even this was not supported by the emperor. During this period the Russian-American company took active steps to establish good relations with the neighboring country.

The first agreement between Japan and Russia

The problem of the Kuril Islands was decided in 1855, when Japan and Russia signed the first treaty. Before this, a rather lengthy negotiation process took place. It began with the arrival of Putyatin in Shimoda in the late autumn of 1854. But soon the talks were interrupted by an intense earthquake. A serious complication was the Crimean War and the support provided by the French and British rulers to the Turks.

Main provisions of the agreement:

  • Establishment of diplomatic relations between these countries;
  • Protection and protection, as well as ensuring the inviolability of property of subjects of one power in the territory of another;
  • The border between the states located near the islands of Urup and Iturup of the Kuril archipelago (preservation of the Sakhalin territory indivisible);
  • Opening of some ports for Russian seafarers, permission to conduct trade here under the supervision of local officials;
  • Appointment of the Russian Consul in one of these ports;
  • Granting the right of extraterritoriality;
  • Getting Russia's most favored nation status.

Japan also received permission from Russia to trade in the port of Korsakov, located on the territory of Sakhalin, for 10 years. Here, the consulate of the country was established. At the same time, any trade and customs duties were excluded.

The attitude of countries to the Treaty

A new stage, which includes the history of the Kuril Islands, is the signing of the Russo-Japanese Treaty of 1875. He caused mixed reviews from the representatives of these countries. The citizens of Japan believed that the government of the country had acted wrongly, exchanging Sakhalin for "a small ridge of pebbles" (as they called the Kuriles). Others simply put forward statements on the exchange of one country's territory to another. Most of them were inclined to think that sooner or later there would come a day when the war would nevertheless come to the Kurile Islands. The dispute between Russia and Japan will grow into military actions, and battles between the two countries will begin.

Similarly, the situation was assessed by the Russian side. Most representatives of this state believed that the entire territory belongs to them as pioneers. Therefore, the treaty of 1875 did not become an act that once and for all determined the disengagement between countries. He also could not be a means of preventing further conflicts between them.

The Russo-Japanese War

The history of the Kuril Islands continues, and the next impetus to the complication of Russian-Japanese relations was the war. It took place, despite the existence of treaties concluded between these states. In 1904, Japan's treacherous attack on the territory of Russia took place. This happened before the official launch of hostilities was officially announced.

The Japanese fleet attacked the Russian ships that were on the outer roadstead of Port-Artois. Thus, part of the most powerful ships belonging to the Russian squadron was put out of order.

The most significant events of 1905:

  • The largest land battle of Mukden in the history of mankind at that time, held on February 5-24 and ended with the withdrawal of the Russian army;
  • Tsushima battle in late May, culminating in the destruction of the Russian Baltic squadron.

Despite the fact that the course of events in this war was the best possible for Japan, she was forced to go to peace talks. This was due to the fact that the country's economy was very exhausted by military events. August 9 in Portsmouth, a peaceful conference between the war participants.

The reasons for Russia's defeat in the war

Despite the fact that the conclusion of the peace treaty determined to some extent the position of the Kurile Islands, the dispute between Russia and Japan did not stop. This caused a significant number of protests in Tokyo, but the consequences of the war were very tangible for the country.

In the course of this conflict, the total practical destruction of the Russian Pacific Fleet took place, more than 100,000 of its soldiers were killed. Also, the expansion of the Russian state to the East stopped. The results of the war were undeniable evidence of the fact that tsarist policy was so weak. This was one of the main reasons for the revolutionary actions in 1905-07.

The most important reasons for the defeat of Russia in the war of 1904-1905.

  1. Presence of diplomatic isolation of the Russian Empire.
  2. Absolute unpreparedness of the country's troops to conduct military acts in difficult circumstances.
  3. Shameless betrayal of domestic stakeholders and the lack of talent of the majority of Russian generals.
  4. High level of development and readiness of the military and economic sphere of Japan.

Until now, the unresolved Kuril issue presents a great danger. After the Second World War, the peace treaty was not signed on its results. From this dispute, Russian people, like the population of the Kurile Islands, have absolutely no benefit. Moreover, this state of affairs contributes to the generation of hostility between countries. It is the prompt decision of such a diplomatic issue as the problem of the Kuril Islands that is the key to good neighborly relations between Russia and Japan.

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