May 1921
For the Legitimate Russian Imperial Government to gain recognition from the world, it was crucial to inherit the treaties and debts that the Russian Empire had established with other nations. Particularly, the revolutionary government had officially announced that it would not inherit the massive debts (essentially defaulting on them), which had provoked strong backlash from the great powers.
"The Russo-Japanese Border Treaty and the Russo-Japanese Security Treaty have been ratified."
In the first session of the Russian Imperial Parliament following the general election, two treaties with Japan were ratified: the Russo-Japanese Border Treaty and the Russo-Japanese Security Treaty.
The Russo-Japanese Border Treaty stipulated that Japan would assume all of Russia's foreign debts and, in exchange, Russia would cede all territory east of 68 degrees longitude (essentially most of Siberia) to Japan, excluding Northern Karafuto. While many parliamentarians opposed the cession of territory, the reality was that most of Russia's land was already under the control of the revolutionary government, making it impossible for Russia to reclaim it alone. Additionally, repaying the foreign debts was an insurmountable task, so the treaty was eventually ratified. As a result, Siberia became Japanese territory, and Japan demanded the revolutionary government withdraw from the region.
Japan then negotiated with Britain, France, the United States, and other nations to recognize the Legitimate Russian Imperial Government and Japan's ownership of Siberia, on the condition that Japan would repay Russia's debts and protect their interests. Britain and France, exhausted from the Great War, largely accepted Japan's terms. However, the United States, while holding significant claims against Russia, was more interested in securing its own interests in Siberia and strongly opposed Japan's monopolization of the region.
In response, Japan cited the 1867 purchase of Alaska from Russia by the United States as a precedent, arguing that this was a similar transaction. Japan further pressured the U.S. by offering to grant American companies exploration and drilling rights in Alaska if they recognized Japan's interests in Siberia.
The U.S., unwilling to grant Japan rights in Alaska, proposed an alternative: the incorporation of the Trans-Siberian Railway into a joint-stock company, with the U.S. purchasing 49% of the shares. Additionally, American companies would be granted most-favored-nation treatment in Siberia. Naturally, this would only take effect after the Red Army was expelled from Siberia, making it largely a symbolic gesture. However, it was enough to placate American public opinion.
With the U.S. on board, the Legitimate Russian Imperial Government finally gained recognition from the world's great powers.
Japan also secured oil drilling rights in Okha and the Sea of Okhotsk in Northern Karafuto in exchange for providing 120 kg of rice or wheat annually per Russian citizen living in Karafuto for 30 years. A 30% tax on the extracted oil ensured that Russia would also benefit.
The Russo-Japanese Security Treaty was a one-sided agreement obligating Japan to defend the Legitimate Russian Imperial Government if its territories were threatened by another nation or armed group. It also stipulated that Japan and Russia would jointly expel revolutionary forces and reclaim Russian territories west of 68 degrees longitude by 1945. If this goal was not achieved, Siberia would be returned to Russia. However, the independence of Belarus, Ukraine, the Baltic States, and Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan was recognized, even though these regions were currently under Red Army control.
With these agreements, the Legitimate Russian Imperial Government secured both international recognition and security.
Russia then quickly implemented measures to achieve self-sufficiency.
Tax-Free Registration for Ships Over 2,000 Tons
In the 21st-century shipping industry, many vessels are registered in Panama or Liberia due to lower taxes. Shipowners seek to minimize taxes by registering in countries with favorable rates.
The Legitimate Russian Imperial Government announced that ships over 2,000 tons would be tax-free, provided they docked in Northern Karafuto every two years for registration renewal and subscribed to a designated Russian marine insurance policy.
This policy led to 15% of the world's shipping tonnage being registered under the Russian flag.
Tax Haven Implementation
The government established a tax haven in Northern Karafuto, allowing international corporations and wealthy individuals to relocate their headquarters or residences there. Under certain conditions, they would be exempt from corporate and personal income taxes. However, this did not apply to Russians or Japanese citizens, as it would disproportionately benefit wealthy Russians and reduce Japan's tax revenue.
The conditions were as follows:
*Deposit a specified amount of dollars or pounds in a Russian bank.
*Conduct international transactions exceeding a set amount through Russian banks.
Complete Secrecy of Russian Bank Accounts
Russian banks announced that account information would not be disclosed to anyone, a policy long practiced by Swiss banks. While this facilitated money laundering and tax evasion, it significantly increased the current account balances of Russian banks.
Full Protection of Russian Bank Accounts
In the event that the Legitimate Russian Imperial Government was occupied by the Red Army, Japan guaranteed the full protection of deposits in Russian banks. Japan would receive insurance premiums from Russian banks, and the risk would be distributed through international insurance syndicates like Lloyd's. This ensured complete security for customer assets, further accelerating the inflow of funds.
These measures attracted a flood of opaque funds from around the world, but many Russians found employment in the financial sector. These funds would later be used to exert global influence through companies established by the Space Force in the U.S. and Europe.
Unexpected Domestic Backlash in Japan
However, the signing of the Russo-Japanese Border Treaty and the Russo-Japanese Security Treaty sparked unexpected unrest in Japan.
"Take back Siberia!"
"Drive out the Bolsheviks!"
Protests erupted, led by opposition politicians and nationalists. They argued that Japan's acquisition of Siberia was merely symbolic and that assuming Russia's debts was a betrayal of the Japanese people. They demanded that the government immediately send troops to Siberia to expel the Bolsheviks.
The protests coincided with a period of post-war economic depression and rising unemployment, fueling public discontent. The demonstrations grew increasingly violent, culminating in the Second Hibiya Incendiary Incident.
Women's rights groups also joined the protests, criticizing the government for welcoming a female Russian Emperor while suppressing women's political participation in Japan under the Public Order and Police Law. They highlighted the hypocrisy of Japan advocating for racial equality in the League of Nations while discriminating against women domestically.
Although these women's groups participated in the initial protests, they did not engage in the riots. Despite this, some argued that allowing women political participation would lead to more unrest, even though the rioters were exclusively male.
A Conversation Between Angels
"Hey, are Japanese people stupid? Rioting and setting fires—what kind of primitive behavior is that? And the sexism? It's just appalling!"
"Don't be so harsh, Liriel. This isn't the 21st century. Riots were common in this era, and sexism wasn't unique to Japan. Besides, the troublemakers are just a noisy minority. You remember how many of them were on 5ch, right? They're a small group, but they make it seem like their opinions are mainstream by spamming copy-paste posts. Both the far left and far right are like that—people who blame others for their own misfortunes. They always see themselves as victims."
"I guess so. Humans are so immature. Maybe it's because their lifespans are so short?"
"Do angels feel envy?"
"Hmm, not envy, but there is such a thing as falling. Angelic energy is immense, and it's constantly trying to condense. The core at the center of an angel sustains it, and that core is said to be a terminal of God's blessing. If an angel begins to doubt that blessing, the core weakens, and the angel's energy collapses inward. This causes an implosion of light energy, reversing its attributes. That's how an angel becomes a fallen angel—a demon."
"Wow, so that's how falling works. Is that what happened to Lucifer?"
"Exactly. The angel I mentioned earlier, the one researching time-manipulation magic circles, was Lucifer. He had dark hair and a mysterious aura—so captivating. He made some groundbreaking discoveries in his research, but he fell before sharing them with anyone."
Aftermath of the Second Hibiya Incident
Following the Second Hibiya Incident, several soldiers and officers from the Imperial Japanese Army were arrested. All of them were veterans of the Siberian Intervention.
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A/N: Thank you for reading Chapter 33!
Public discontent is always present, and in those days, people were more prone to resorting to violence.
Is the decline of such behavior in modern times due to education or economic development?
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