Passage of the Black Sea Volunteer Fleet Through the Turkish Straits During the Russo-Japanese War (1904)

Abstract

The regime of the Turkish Straits being internationally secured with the London Straits Treaty signed in 1841failed to satisfy Russia that also wanted warships belonging to Black Sea riparian states to have the right of passage through the Straits. Russians tried to change this regime, however, the 1856 Paris and 1878 Berlin Treaties revealed that this status quo was to be preserved. In the meantime, the Russians that planned to take advantage of the changes in the world balance, realized that objectives regarding the Turkish Straits was related to the navel fleets in the Black Sea gaining strength. After the Berlin Treaty, Russians appealed for the warships they built in the Baltic Ports or purchased to be able to pass through the Turkish Straits unarmed, carrying civil personnel. Despite Britain’s reaction, the Ottoman State issued permission for a limited number of warships to pass through its Straits on the condition that they abided by the trade regulations. In parallel with this, the Russians formed a “Volunteer Fleet” in the Black Sea with donation campaigns. The Black Sea Volunteer Fleet that consisted of vessels that could also be converted into warships when required, managed to pass through the Straits by concealing its mission until the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War. However, when ships that were a part of this fleet passed through the Straits, and inspected merchant vessels in and around the Red Sea during the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War, this attracted a strong reaction from Britain. Russians that did not have the power to confront the English were forced to withdraw and were unable to make such an attempt again. British Archive documents published under the title British Documents of the Origins of the War (1898-1914) and records of the House of Commons that will constitute the framework of this study that aims to examine international developments that occurred after these light warships, that were a part of the Black Sea Volunteer Fleet, passed through the Turkish Straits during the 1904- 1905 Russo-Japanese War.