Японские исследования (Mar 2021)
The experience of the work of Russian financial intelligence in Japan (based on the materials of a visit of Lev V. von Goyer in 1909)
Abstract
This article is based on a large body of unpublished documents from the State Archive of Russian Federation (SARF). The author analyzes the history of the work of the Russian financial intelligence in Japan in 1909. The position concerning the impossibility for Japan to fight with Russia for the financial reasons was very popular in Russia before the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, but was wrong. It caused the special interest in Russia to the Japanese financial system after the war. The conclusive series of Russo-Japanese agreements in 1907 just augment this interest. The Russian military attaché in Japan Colonel Vladimir K. Samoylov recommenced his service in Japan in 1906, and found in Japan a systematic realization of the postwar military program and reforms. Consequently, the Russian financial agent in China Lev W. von Goyer was delivered to Japan to investigate the possibilities of its realization in time and a Japanese capability to participate in new war. He worked in close coordination with Vladimir K. Samoylov and had access to whole his military information. The article explored how von Goyer investigated the Japanese budget and other financial documents. The analyses of his report gave a possibility to conclude his high level of knowledge about Japanese economy, financial system and society. The top quality of his researches determined the accuracy of the conclusions. Two of them had a great importance for the Russian defense policy and the Empire preparation to the World War I. He reported to the Minister of Finance and future Prime Minister Vladimir N. Kokovtsov, that the opinion of reduction funding the Japanese military and naval program is wrong with a high probability. However, Japan will not enter in a new war before it will be finished in 1914-1915. This information let Russian War Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to balance the defense policy of the Empire on west and east borders.
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