February
5, 1904
Japan At War…Again?
Our country
stands upon the threshold of another war, and yet the question lingers, do we
take the step into the world of combat and uncertainty, or do we adhere to our
traditional way of life?
In 1896, China
and Russia signed a treaty giving Russia access to Manchuria enabling them
to encroach upon our rightfully owned Korea. And in 1898, they signed another
treaty stating that Russia would protect China from any third-party aggressor,
our Dai-Nippon(1) being the target. All due to our stunning military defeat
of China and the massive indemnities we received(2).
But our
success in the Sino
War(1894-1895) does not hold the same guarantee for this proposed war. We are no longer dealing with another
country from our same league. This is Russia. Though not Europe’s
strongest, Russia still has the power to conquer our forces. And despite our
desperate attempts, diplomacy has failed.
“Though it may be too late, if the cabinet does not take the great
decision to send troops into Korea, there may not be an opportunity to
restrain…Russia’s high handedness…diplomatic negotiations are
liable to result to our disadvantage.” said Major- General Shogo Iguchi
(3).
Japan’s naval
development campaign, a direct effect of The Great Restoration,
was just completed two years ago. The
fourteen fleet ships that were launched in England, were last year equipped
with long- distance weaponry. If war is engaged, it is clear that our strength
must lie in the navy we adopted from Europe (4).
Most who favor war also believe Baron Kaneko Kenkaro’s
claim that, “…if Russia is left alone, she will…take complete
possession of Manchuria…would invade Korea, and eventually threaten
Japan.”(5).
In direct
accordance, Field Marshal Oyama Iwao
repeatedly stated that “…any further delay in the war would favor
the Russians.”(6). Oyama’s plea for an early war was acknowledged
by the Emperor merely 4 days ago, and in His Highness’ eyes was fortified
by Shin’ichiro Kurino’s claim that Russia, “…seems to
be laboring under a tremendous conceit which leads to the opinion that an
agreement regarding Manchuria would be looked upon as a great
humiliation.”(7). A mutual sentiment.
We just ended a war with China little
over nine years ago. Do we have the stability and capability to wage another?
Is a war, that must be so rushed that we may not even accomplish our goal,
worth all the time and money required to build such a campaign? Russia’s
foreign minister, Nicholas Lamsdorf, told our own, Kurino Shin’ichiro,
that “ an understanding between the two countries was not only desirable
but the best policy.”(8).
Clearly, Russia
wants war no more than our Emperor, so it is imperative that we stay with our
traditional ways and once again seek diplomacy.
Footnotes
1. Reginald Heargreaves, Red Sun Rising: The Siege of
Port Arthur (New York: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1962) 3.
2. Paige Greco, “The Russo- Japanese War.”
<http://www.pvhs.chico.k12.ca.us/~bsilva/projects/russia/Nick_II/RussoJapWar.htm>
(3 February 2003)
3. Dennis and Peggy Warner, The Tide At Sunrise; A
History of the Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 ( New York: Charterhouse, 1974)
161.
4. Ibid., 162.
5. Ibid., 175.
6. Ibid., 173.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid., 157.
Picture Sources
1. K. O’ Sullivan, “Kunsan City (1900-
1945)” 2001 <http://www.kalaniosullivan.com/Korea/KunsanCity/Kunsanx.html> (3 February 2003)
2. M. Wendel, “Russo-Japanese War Factbook,”
1994 <http://www.skalman.nu/russo-japanese>
(3 February 2003)
- Dennis and Peggy Warner, The Tide At Sunrise;
A History of the Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 ( New York:
Charterhouse, 1974) 308.