13, 1904, the
Japanese Government, therefore, sent what amounted practically to an
ultimatum in regard to Manchuria and Corea. This step was followed
immediately by warlike preparations on the part of both nations.
Three weeks later on February 6, 1904, diplomatic relations between
the two countries were broken off and the Russo-Japanese War was on.
The Japanese showed themselves superior to their European
adversaries in every respect, and, after inflicting severe defeats
on land and sea, peace was concluded on September 5, 1905, at
Portsmouth, U. S. A. The Japanese were very moderate in their terms,
waiving their demand for an indemnity, returning to Russia all
interned warships and not insisting on any restriction to Russian
power in the Far East.

In the meanwhile affairs at home had progressed rapidly toward
revolution. The defeat of the Russian army and fleet, the discovery
of immense peculations in connection with their equipment and an
increase of economic pressure, all combined to hasten the outbreak
which had been preparing for years. Strikes, riots, assassination of
officials and general bloodshed were the common order of the day. At
the very beginning of these outbreaks a manifest of the czar
promised some reforms. However, he made it clear that in a general
way the Government was resolved to retain its autocratic form. In a
way this manifest is a true picture of the cool attitude which the
Government took throughout these troublous times. Whenever the
Government was forced by especially violent outbreaks to fear the
worst, it would announce the introduction of some slight reforms.
This usually had the desired result of calming down, at least
temporarily, the excited masses, which condition would be followed
almost immediately either by a withdrawal of the reforms instituted
or by some reactionary laws offsetting their influence. In a general
way the revolution, however, improved somewhat internal conditions
in Russia. It led to the establishment of a representative form of
government by the creation of the Duma, although the limits within
which the people were allowed to participate in governmental affairs
were and are even now very narrow. In fact it was not an unusual
procedure for the Government to imprison members of the Duma and to
accuse them of treason whenever they promulgated or supported
measures of which the Government did not approve, and throughout the
following years up to the present time th