The Seven Doctors' Petition Incident

A movement in favor of war between Japan and Russia was started by seven doctors, mainly professors at Tokyo Imperial University. The six doctors, professors at Tokyo Imperial University Tomizu Hiroto, Tomii Masaaki, Kanai Noburu, Matsuzaki Kuranosuke, and Terao Toru, and professor at Gakushuin and Tokyo Higher School of Commerce Nakamura Shingo, worked to stir up public support for a strong stance against Russia in response to the hardline foreign policy faction of the former National Alliance Association, and in the summer of 1903 (Meiji 36), their views became more radicalized over the issue of Russia's withdrawal of troops from Manchuria. During this time, Matsuzaki retired and was joined by two professors at Tokyo Imperial University, Takahashi Sakue and Onozuka Kiheiji. The seven doctors criticized Prime Minister Katsura Taro's foreign policy as weak, developed an argument for war, and submitted a joint petition calling for war on June 10 of the same year. This was published in the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun on the 24th, the day after the Imperial Conference on negotiations with Russia, and their insistence on hard-line diplomacy and immediate war with Russia shocked the public. The active actions of this group of scholars through newspapers, magazines and lectures sparked discussions of war between Japan and Russia. After Onozuka left and Professor Tatebe Tongo of Tokyo Imperial University joined, the Seven Doctors' movement led to an argument against the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese Peace Treaty, which led to the Tomizu Incident in 1905.

[Nomaru Sato]

"Compiled and published by Kurahara Koreakira: 'Anthology of Essays on the Russo-Japanese War' (1903)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東京帝国大学教授を中心とする7人の博士による日露開戦論運動。東京帝大教授戸水寛人(とみずひろんど)、富井政章(とみいまさあきら)、金井延(かないのぶる)、松崎蔵之助、寺尾亨(とおる)と学習院兼東京高等商業学校教授中村進午(しんご)の六博士は、旧国民同盟会系の対外硬派に呼応して対露強硬の世論喚起に努め、1903年（明治36）夏にはロシアの満州撤兵問題をめぐって急進化した。この間、松崎が退いて高橋作衛(さくえ)、小野塚喜平次(おのづかきへいじ)両東京帝大教授が加わり、この7人の博士は桂(かつら)太郎首相の外交政策を軟弱として批判し、主戦論を展開、同年6月10日連名で開戦の建白書を提出した。これが、対露交渉をめぐって行われた御前会議翌日の24日『東京朝日新聞』に公表され、その対露強硬外交・即時開戦の主張は世間に衝撃を与えた。この学者グループの新聞・雑誌や講演による積極的な行動は、日露開戦論の火付け役を果たすものとなった。また小野塚が抜けて建部遯吾(たてべとんご)東京帝大教授が加わったのちの七博士の運動は、日露講和条約締結反対の主張に至って、05年戸水事件を引き起こした。

［佐藤能丸］

『蔵原惟昶編・刊『日露開戦論纂』（1903）』

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