Before the summit meeting between then Prime Minister Tanaka and Soviet General Secretary Brezinev in 1973, if the Soviet government does not accept the delivery of the Habomai Islands and Shikotan Island based on the Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration, this will be the case. In addition, the Soviet Union's confidential diplomatic documents revealed that it was also considering a proposal to allow Japanese fishing boats to call at Kunashiri Island and Shikotan Island.
In 1973, then Prime Minister Tanaka and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev held a summit meeting in Moscow, but the Soviet side did not go into the issue of belonging to the Northern Territories, and it was said that it was a tough negotiation for the Japanese side. I am.
However, a Soviet diplomatic secret document found at the National Archives of Russia revealed that the Soviet government had been considering specific proposals on the Northern Territories issue prior to the talks.
According to it, the Soviet Union stated that it could "implement the provisions of the 1956 Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration and agree to include items that stipulate the delivery of the Habomai Islands and Shikotan Island in the treaty," and called the delivery of the two islands "first position." ".
Furthermore, assuming that Japan does not accept this, in addition to handing over the two islands as a "preliminary position", granting the right for Japanese fishing boats to call at Kunashiri Island and Etorofu Island, and granting fishing rights in multiple sea areas It is written that it will be provided to Japanese people at an appropriate price.
On the other hand, if even this proposal could not be agreed, it became clear that it had switched to the third proposal and "proposed to consider concluding a good neighbor cooperation treaty that does not touch on the issue of territorial demarcation."
Regarding this treaty, another document kept together clearly states the intention to end the territorial dispute, saying that "it means virtually eliminating this issue."
Russian historians have pointed out that the three proposals are almost the same in the directive signed by then-General Secretary Brezhnev two months before the meeting, and this document is this. It seems that it was created based on the directive.
However, in the end, these proposals were not proposed to the Japanese side in detail at the actual talks.
At the time of the meeting, Ambassador to Japan Troyanovsky wrote in his memoir that "there was an event that cast a shadow over the preparations for Mr. Tanaka's visit," and the Fourth Middle East War broke out just before the meeting. He points out that he could not concentrate on the meeting with Japan because of what happened.
In addition, Professor Dmitry Streltsov of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, who is familiar with Russia's policy toward Japan, said, "I had the opinion that the military and others should not make concessions to Japan," and final adjustments are being made within the Soviet Union. He pointed out that there was also a background.
On the other hand, Nobuo Shimotomai, a specially invited professor at Kanagawa University who is familiar with Japan-Russia relations about a series of documents, said, "It was a time when there could be some options in terms of what to do with Japan as a consensus of the system. There is" 2 islands plus alpha ". It means that there was a bottom line of "Uru" from that time. "
Contents of diplomatic documents
Among the materials prepared by the Soviet government before the summit meeting between Prime Minister Tanaka and General Secretary Brezhnev in October 1973, the document entitled "Problems of Soviet-Japanese Relations" covers 26 pages of Mr. Brezhnev. The draft remarks and the aims of the Soviet side are described.
1 "First position" is 2 island delivery
Among them, in the item of the peace treaty, Mr. Brezhnev emphasized the necessity of concluding a peace treaty, saying, "The legacy of World War II must continue to weigh heavily on us and overcome it." It is written.
In addition to security items, the peace treaty is said to include promoting the expansion of economic, science and technology, and cultural cooperation.
Regarding the territorial dispute, it was stated that "it is possible to implement the provisions of the 1956 Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration and to include in the treaty the items that stipulate the delivery of the Habomai Islands and Shikotan Island" as the "first position". We will accept the delivery of the two islands.
However, he said, "This is not an easy decision but a big concession because it is related to the outcome of World War II." However, it should be included in the treaty. "
2 "Reserve position" is 2 islands + α
Furthermore, "The Japanese side seems to want to achieve the delivery of Kunashiri Island and Etorofu Island," he said. "It is okay to express a preliminary position in line with the flow of negotiations."
As a "preliminary position", we will provide Japanese with fishing rights in multiple waters of Kunashiri Island and Etorofu Island at an appropriate rate, and Japan will provide Soviet fishing vessels with the right to stop at the port of Hokkaido. Given that, give Japanese fishing vessels the right to call at these islands.
In addition, there are three points that allow Japanese people to visit the grave.
3 If you cannot agree, a treaty without territorial issues
On the other hand, if it becomes clear that even this proposal cannot be agreed, it is stated that "we propose to consider the conclusion of a good neighbor cooperation treaty that does not touch on the issue of territorial demarcation," and proposes the conclusion of a treaty that does not include the territorial issue. It has been.
Regarding this treaty, another top secret document of the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee signed by then Foreign Minister Gromyko and others in July 1973, ahead of the summit meeting, stated that "there is virtually no mention of territorial issues in the treaty. It means eliminating this issue and will make it very difficult for Japan to challenge the Soviet Union about the territorial dispute, "clearly states its intention to end the territorial dispute.
The Soviet Union continued to stick to treaties that did not touch on territorial issues, and in February 1975, the then General Secretary Brezhnev wrote to Prime Minister Miki, "It is useful to discuss the issue of concluding a good neighbor cooperation treaty, and good neighbors. The conclusion of the cooperation treaty will qualitatively raise the relationship between the two countries to a new stage. "
Regarding the series of documents, Professor Dmitry Streltsov of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations said, "It is very valuable because it shows secrets such as the process of preparation for the Soviet Union to decide foreign policy."
Expert "I think I wanted to break the relationship between Japan and the Soviet Union."
The Tanaka-Brezhnev meeting was held in October 1973 by General Secretary Brezhnev inviting Prime Minister Tanaka to Moscow.
The Japanese Prime Minister visited the Soviet Union for the first time in 17 years since then Prime Minister Hatoyama visited the site to sign the Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration.
Nobuo Shimotomai, a specially invited professor at Kanagawa University who is familiar with Japan-Russia relations about a series of documents, told NHK that "It was a time when there could be some options in terms of what to do with Japan as a consensus of the system." There was a bottom line that "Alpha" is possible from that time. "
He also said that the Soviet side was considering concluding a good neighbor cooperation treaty that did not touch on the territorial dispute, saying, "I wanted to keep Japan together by concluding a treaty without going to the territorial dispute." The Soviet side said that there was a situation in which it wanted to hurry to improve relations with Japan.
In the 1970s, when the Tanaka-Brezinev talks were held, relations between the Soviet Union and China deteriorated, while President Nixon of the United States visited China in 1972, showing signs of improvement in relations between the United States and China.
Professor Shimoto Yone analyzes, "It seems that the Soviet side was in a hurry at the time when not only the Sino-Soviet conflict but also the process of the US neutralization solution began to move, and I think I wanted to somehow break the relationship between Japan and the Soviet Union."
What is the current state of territorial negotiations?
Former Prime Minister Abe and President Vladimir Putin have agreed to accelerate negotiations on the peace treaty negotiations between Japan and Russia based on the November 2018 Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration.
However, the Russian side insisted that "Japan should first admit that the islands became Russian territory as a result of World War II," or if the Northern Territories were handed over, the U.S. military would deploy. No progress has been made in territorial negotiations, including expressing concern.
On the other hand, the Putin administration seems to be focusing on the conclusion of the Treaty of Friendship, Goodwill and Neighbors, which does not touch on the territorial dispute that the Soviet government considered the proposal before the 1973 meeting between Tanaka and Brezhnev.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in July last year that the treaty "must be comprehensive on peace, friendship, good neighbors, etc. We have proposed the conceptual basis of such a treaty, but the Japanese side has concretely. No reaction has been shown, "he said, suggesting that he had already presented the Japanese side with a draft treaty that did not touch on territorial disputes.
In February, Putin also said that in February, he would not negotiate the delivery of the Northern Territories in accordance with the new constitution, which banned the ceding of territories, saying that it would not contradict the constitution. It shows a stronger attitude, such as emphasizing it.
The Government of Japan will continue to work persistently on these movements on the Russian side under the basic policy of resolving territorial disputes and concluding a peace treaty.