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Bezobrazov's Far East Policy and Russo-Japanese Negotiations before the Russo-Japanese War

Lee, Hang-Jun 1

1서울여자대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Bezobrazov formed shareholders of Yalu River Forestry Company centered on people who served in the Guards Corps or related to the imperial family to defend the interests of the imperial family, and he promoted Russia's Far East policy through the imperial family with the patronage of Nicholas II. while gaining political influence. Tsar Nicholas II also actively supported Bezobrazov to strengthen the autocracy. Bezobrazov supported the tyranny of the emperor and the governorship of the borders as the basic political system. Bezobrazov thought that an emperor-centered autocracy was the most suitable political system for Russia. Ultimately, Bezobrazov supported the long-term plan for Russia to occupy Manchuria and make Korea a protectorate. Bezobrazov believed that Russia should build up its military presence in the Far East and then protect individual Russian companies with foreign participation. By the way, Bezobrazov argued that no company could actively operate in the Far East if the management system of the Ministry of Finance remained as it is today. Bezobrazov criticized Russia's bureaucracy and tried to carry out the Far East policy of the imperial family by directly negotiating with the finance minister, the military minister, and the foreign minister. As a result, Bezobrazov directly intervened in the establishment of the Far East Government-General, drafted the Special Committee for the Far East organizational structure and the Far East's economic plan, and even prepared a plan for the formation of a plenipotentiary committee in Manchuria. However, at the last minute of the Russo-Japanese negotiations, Bezovzazov proposed a plan to maintain Korea's independence without Russia militarily occupying Manchuria in order to realize the 'Russian-Japanese alliance'. This was different from the basic policy of Bezovzazov's Far East policy, which was 'the occupation of Manchuria and the protectorate of Korea'. He intended to realize their own interests by establishing a 'stock company' while Russia occupied an economic advantage in Manchuria and Japan in Korea. In late December 1903 and early January 1904, Bezobrazov conveyed his idea to Kurino, the Japanese minister to Russia, to promote the actual 'Russian-Japanese alliance', and he suggested Russia's adherence to Manchurian interests and concessions on the Korean issue. Bezobrazov accurately grasped the intentions of the political opposition in order to seize political leadership in Russia, but he failed to grasp the decision-making process of Japan's most important enemy, Korea and Manchuria policy, especially the Japanese military's preparations for the Russo-Japanese War. He was preoccupied with internal enemies and neglected to grasp information about external enemies. As a result, Russia suffered a series of defeats against Japan in the early days of the Russo-Japanese War.

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