Russo-Japanese Provisional Treaty of Karafuto Island (1867)
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Long name:
| |
|---|---|
| Signed | 1867 |
| Location | Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| Signatories |  Russia
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| Parties | Pyotr Stremoukhov |
| Language | Japanese |
The Russo-Japanese Provisional Treaty of Karafuto Island (Japanese: 日露間樺太島仮規則, Nichirokankarafutotōkarikisoku) (Russian: Временные правила относительно острова Сахалин), between the Empire of Japan and Empire of Russia, was an unsuccessful negotiating treaty in 1867. It was also called the Provisional Sakhalin Convention (仮樺太規約), Sakhalin Multi-Tenant Treaty (樺太雑居条約), Provisional Regulations of Sakhalin Island (日露間サハリン島仮規則), among other names.
It was tentatively signed in St. Petersburg on March 30, but Japan refused some of the terms and notified the Russian consulate. In the end, it was not possible to demarcate the border with Sakhalin, and Sakhalin remained a condominium in both territories.
Background[edit]
Although the Treaty of Shimoda led to distinct borders between Japan and Russia on the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin remained an unclear territory, one which both Russia and Japan sent migrants to. The government dispatched the Ongoku bugyō (Magistrate of Distant Lands) to aggressive cultivate Sakhalin, but Japanese immigrants did not go beyond the ranks of seasonal immigrants. On the other hand, Russia steadily gained control of North Sakhalin by sending exiles and troops to Sakhalin. In 1862, ambassador of the Magistrate Takeuchi Yasunori was dispatched to Russia to negotiate the official border of Sakhalin. The Japanese side argued that 50 degrees north latitude be the border, but Russia refused due to a Russian camp being stationed at 48 degrees north. In the end, no agreement was reached.
The Hakodate magistrate, Hidemi Koide, believed the demarcation of Sakhalin to be an urgent task and proposed the 48 degree latitude border. In April 1866, a Japanese official near Ilyinskoye was arrested by Russian soldiers on patrol. Although the incident was safely diffused early on, Koide then suggested that Sakhalin be given to Russia in exchange for the Kuril Islands, citing the incident as proof that border demarcation must be accomplished as fast as possible. The government thus decided to follow Koide's 48 degree proposal, establishing the border near Kusunai (now Ilyinskoye), along with appointing Koide as a foreign delegation on August 26, 1866. A negotiating delegation was dispatched shortly after, with Koide and Toshimasa Ishikawa as main and deputy ambassador, respectively.
Negotiations[edit]
From February 6, 1867, Koide, Ishikawa, and others negotiated with Pyotr Stremoukhov, ambassador of the Russian Empire's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asian department. The Japanese delegation insisted the border be 50 latitude, and the Russian side insists the entirety of Sakhalin Island ought to be Russian territory. If this was inconvenient to the Japanese, the Russians would then settle on granting Sakhalin sovereignty instead. Upon hearing this, Koide and Ishikawa requested Stremoukhov to request Alexander II to change Russia's claim. In the end, Stremoukhov reported to Alexander II, but Russia's claims remained unchanged. On the other hand, Stremoukhov requested for the Japanese government to consider Russia's plan, and the talks were stalled. After asking Alexander II to again consider changing Russia's claims, this request remained unheeded.
With no side budging, Koide submitted a proposal with Kusunai as an unset boundary, and in January 24, both side reconvened to consider the Japanese plan, but Russia did not agree either. In February 7, the Russians submitted a compromise option with temporary rules, which would give Japan the opportunity to cede Sakhalin to Russia or leave it in joint possession without division. This counter-proposal was sent back to Japan, and the tentative signing was done on March 30, 1867.[1]
Koide returned to Japan in May 1867, but by that time the government had turned and refused to cede Sakhalin per the Provisional Treaty's rules. In June, Koide notified the Russian Consul, and on July 2, he made a similar report to the ministers of both countries. The demarcation of the Sakhalin border ended in a slump again, and Sakhalin was made a place of mixed residence between Japan and Russia.
Later, in accordance with the terms of the St. Petersburg Treaty of 1875, Sakhalin Island passed into full possession of Russia and Japan received all the Kuril Islands. Japanese subjects on Sakhalin were resettled on the island of Hokkaido.[2]
General Terms and Provisions[edit]
Signed at St. Petersburg March 18, 1867 ( Keito ) 3rd year 2nd month 25th day)
Arriving in St. Petersburg, messengers of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan informed the Foreign Ministry that the Japanese government, for fear of misunderstandings that may arise in Sakhalin because of community ownership of this island, and for the purpose of further friendship continuing between Russia and Japan friendship, wishes to determine the border on Sakhalin, taking as the basis any natural boundary, mountain or river. In the reports received on this occasion, the Director of the Asian Department, Privy Councilor Stremoukhov, stated that the Russian government did not agree to draw the border on Sakhalin itself for reasons the content of which was detailed to the envoys of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. At the same time, driven by the desire to come to a mutual friendly agreement on the Sakhalin issue, the Russian government made the following proposals:
First, to recognize the bay, called "Aniva", the border between Russia and Japan as the most natural border, so that the entire island of Sakhalin remains in the possession of Russia.
Secondly, all the fisheries currently owned by the Japanese should be left in their use in the future.
Thirdly, to cede to Japan in its complete and unconditional possession of the island of Urup with three neighboring islands bearing the names: Chirpoy, Brat-Chirpoev and Broughton's island .
Fourthly, if it is impossible to come to an agreement on these articles, still leave Sakhalin in common possession.
Since both sides failed to come to an agreement between themselves on the above issues, they continue to leave Sakhalin Island in common possession, now deciding, for the sake of peace and harmony between the subjects of both countries, to accept the following rules:
Article 1. The Russians and the Japanese must maintain a relationship of peace and harmony on Sakhalin. Resolving any disputes and misunderstandings that may arise is entrusted to the local authorities. If they cannot understand the issue, then the nearest Russian and Japanese governors will resolve it.
Article 2. Due to the common ownership, Russians and Japanese can freely walk and travel throughout the island, settle and erect buildings in all areas not yet occupied by buildings, industrial facilities and gardens.
Article 3. The indigenous people on the island are given complete freedom, both in terms of personal rights and property. They can be hired by Russians and Japanese under a free contract. If the native owes money or goods to a Russian or Japanese, or if he already has a debt, he can cancel it by joining the service of the holder of the debt for a predetermined time, if he would liie.
Article 4. If, over time, the Japanese government agrees to the above proposals of the Russian government, then local governors will be appointed to negotiate the final agreement.
Article 5. The above rules will have to enter into force as soon as they are received by the local authorities of Sakhalin Island, that is, no later than six months after their signing; all other minor issues not covered in these rules will be resolved by local authorities on both sides on the same basis as before.
In witness to all of the above, the authorized representatives of both parties sign these provisional rules with seals attached.
— Russo-Japanese Provisional Treaty of Karafuto Island
References[edit]
- ↑ Sakhalin-Chishima Exchange Case. Japanese Center for Asian Historical Records. 1945. Search this book on
- ↑ Elizariev, V. (2007). Russia and the Asia-Pacific Region. https://www.webcitation.org/6npM7Ve89?url=http://www.riatr.ru/2007/ATR2007-1-WEB/12p107-116.pdf: Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Peoples of the Far East of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. pp. 107–116. Search this book on
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