2018 Volume 2018 Issue 191 Pages 191_16-191_31
This article aims to analyze the Japan-Russia territory negotiation over Sakhalin by SOEJIMA Taneomi.
In 1872, Soejima proposed to the Russian envoy in Tokyo, E. Butzow, his plan to buy the island of Sakhalin, a territory that belonged to both Japan and Russia. His proposal was modeled on the American purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. Alternatively, Soejima planned to divide Sakhalin in case the Russian side was not ready to agree to his proposal. He wanted to retain southern Sakhalin for a geopolitical reason: to keep the La Pérouse Strait between Hokkaido and Sakhalin. However, Sakhalin was important for Russia as well, not only to secure the La Pérouse Strait but also to defend the Amur River. Butzow did not agree to this and instead encouraged Soejima to abandon the whole Sakhalin Island in exchange for a part of the Kuril Islands. Soejima rejected this proposal as he considered Kuril Islands worthless because of their small area.
In 1873, Soejima dropped a hint to Butzow that there was a possibility of Japan abandoning Sakhalin if Japan could get Taiwan. However, this proposal was withdrawn because Soejima’s plan for the Taiwan Expedition was rejected by the Japanese government. After Soejima returned from China, he proposed to Butzow that he would give Sakhalin to Russia if Russia would maintain neutrality and allow the Japanese army to go through Russian territory when Japan attacks Korea. Soejima’s plan to abandon Sakhalin was a strategic compromise for the expedition to Korea and Taiwan. The Russian side was also ready for a neutral closure with Japan. However, this negotiation was disrupted by the political change in Japan.
It is a fact that the English envoy in Tokyo, H. Parkes, had earlier encouraged the Japanese government to abandon Sakhalin, but Soejima decided to do so himself as part of his diplomatic strategy. However, Soejima’s idea was not to abandon the whole Sakhalin Island in exchange for a part of the Kuril Islands and make it one of the terms of the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875). He succeeded in advancing the stagnated territorial problem to a new stage by making the abandonment of Sakhalin a predetermined route. And, he built a relationship of trust between Japan and Russia, which was a prerequisite for solving the territorial problem. Furthermore, Butzow guaranteed that the Japanese who remained in Sakhalin would not to be forced to change their nationality, and assured the establishment of a Japanese consulate on the island if Japan gave Sakhalin to Russia. These were the contents reflected in the Treaty of Saint Petersburg.
