American President Theodore Roosevelt’s offer of mediation led to the Treaty of Portsmouth (New Hampshire). Russia ceded to Japan the southern half of Sakhalin Island, which had until then been under Russian rule (the island would return to Russia in 1952 with the Treaty of San Francisco after World War II). Furthermore, the Russians were forced to relinquish control of the naval base at Port Arthur and the surrounding peninsula. They also withdrew from Manchuria and recognized Korea as a zone of Japanese influence. Japan annexed Korea in 1910, sparking international protests. This was one of the first victories of an Asian nation over a European one in the modern era: Japan strengthened its prestige and began to be considered a modern great power. Russian casualties were 47,000 dead, 146,032 wounded, and 12,128 deaths from disease. Japanese casualties were 106,300 dead, 173,425 wounded, and 27,192 deaths from disease.
