Russo - Japanese war 1904-5

Question 1

Expansionist Policy

Answer 1

• Russia should not be left out of the “ European scramble for colonies” caused expansionist policy
• Long economic interest in east shown by Trans-Siberian (1891) and across Manchuria railway (1897)

Question 2

Port Arthur 1889 ( caused friction w/Japan)

Answer 2

• Growth of Russian presence in Korea
• Friction caused after 25Y lease of ice free

Question 3

Tension between Russia and Japan

Answer 3

Increased when Russia never removed “temp troops” from Manchurian in 1903

• Failure to come to an agreement about spheres of inclfuence b/c of russia’s apathy
• Japan launched surprise naval attack on port arthur feb 1904 (Korea)

Question 4

War followed over trade and territory in Korea

Answer 4

nich was encouraged to attack Japan by Kaiser of germany ( pleased to see russia distracted by events in the east)

Question 5

Disastrous Economic situation Russia 1904

Answer 5

• Bad harvest, high food prices, economic debt = High unemployement for industrial workers
• Minister of interior phleve though those can be countered by ‘ short victoius war’, used as distractions from domestic problems ‘ to stem the tide of revolution, we need a succesful little war’, is what the minsters reposnse to war was