ABSTRACT
The problems of Korea and Manchuria were matters of primary concern in Japan. But the Katsura cabinet which had been formed to counter the activities of the political parties was in serious political difficulties and faced bitter opposition whenever the Diet was in session. We are not arguing that Japan in her stiff resistance to Russia was puffing up an artificial issue in order to divert the attention of politicians and people from domestic, and especially parliamentary, disputes. But domestic politics did put pressures on the government as it considered whether to embark on negotiations with Russia — the subject of the present chapter.
