The Treaty of Shimonoseki (Japanese: 下関条約, "— Jōyaku"), known as the Treaty of Maguan (T. Chinese: 馬關條約, S. Chinese: 马关条约;) in China, was signed at the Shunpanrou on April 17, 1895 between the Empire of Japan and the Qing Empire. The peace conference took place from March 20th to April 17, 1895.
The Treaty ended the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) in favour of Japan, the clear victor. In the treaty China recognized the independence of Korea and renounced any claims to that country, ceded the Liaotung peninsula (the southern portion of Fengtian, modern Liaoning province), the islands of Taiwan (Formosa) and the Pescadores to Japan. China also paid Japan a war indemnity of 200 million Kuping taels, and opened various ports and rivers to international entry and trade.
The treaty was drafted with John A. Foster, former American Secretary of State, advising the Qing Dynasty. It was signed by Count Ito Hirobumi and Viscount Mutsu Munemitsu for the Emperor of Japan and Li Hung-Chang and Li Ching-Fong on behalf of the Emperor of China. Before the treaty was signed, Li Hung-chang was attacked by a right-wing Japanese extremist on March 24th: he was fired at and wounded on his way back to his lodgings at Injoji temple. The conference was temporarily adjourned and resumed on April 10th.
The conditions imposed by Japan on China led to the Triple Intervention of Russia, France, and Germany. They demanded that Japan withdraw its claim on the Liaotung peninsula, concerned that Port Arthur would fall under Japanese control.
In November 1895 Japan withdrew its claim on the Liaotung peninsula in return for an increased war indemnity from China. The European powers were not concerned with any of the other conditions, or the 'free hand' Japan had been granted in Korea. Port Arthur was later granted to Russia as a concession in 1898 - which is what Russia had been wanting all along.
Japanese popular resentment at Russia's deviousness and the perceived weakness of their own government caving in to foreign pressure led to riots in Tokyo which almost brought down the government, and the ensuing struggle with Russia for dominance in Korea and Manchuria led eventually to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05.
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Last updated: 08-27-2005 08:11:38
