Why did Niicholas want the Japan - Russia war?

[Alexander1917]

Coincidentally there are ‘warm water port’ issues for present day Russia.  They currently lease a Ukrainian port, however this is due to expire soon and it is unlikely to be renewed due to Ukraines NATO ambitions. DRAMA!

Imperial Russia got also some ports in the bLack Sea. But a danger of closing the Bosporus Street (Istanbul/Turkey) should not be forgotten. As Russia- Turkey was some times in war against. So I think, Post Arthur would be very important.

I think that's also the point later to let Turkey into NATO ( you remember "Atlantic")....to keep the Black Sea Flottilla out of the Mediterian/Atlantic

[Sergei Witte]

Port Arthur wasn't the exact reason for the R-J war.

In 1903 S Witte was sacked because of a conspiracy-rumour spread by Reactionary politics (Plehwe). Plehwe wanted to appease the public by a short and victorious war. So they took war for granted. They could have avoided war by sharing th spheres of influence with Japan. Japan proposed exactly this to Russia but they wouldn't listen.

So why wanted Nicholas II the R-J war?

Because he was manipulated by reactionary politicians who thought they would gain from it.

[Ausmanov]

I 100% agree with you Sergei, ive been reading a book of late that goes into detail about these conspirators. The Russo-Japanese war was a disaster for Russia, a diplomatic alternative would have been far better. Is it true that some of these conspirators wanted to replace Nicholas wth Nicholas Nicholaevitch? I personally have doubts about this and would like to hear your opinion on it.

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

Link for a very interesting article entitled Finding sparks rethink of Russo-Japan War, Document from 1904 indicates Russia wanted to avoid conflict, forge alliance posted by Sarai.

Here you go:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20091209a9.html

[hikaru]

Nikolay did not want a  war.
He wanted the peace.
He was keeeping to insist for such position since Haague Conference at 1899 .

[Constantinople]

One of the reasons that I havent heard discussed is that Nicholas considerred Korea to be personal property.  He was already harvesting the forests prior to 1905.  Japan saw Korea as its historical colony.  The government's main source of income was the sale of vodka and this meant that Nicholas' income was limited. Income from Korea would have been substantial.

[Constantinople]

The Hague Conference was not Nicholas' idea.  He had was the sponsor but did not generate the idea.