Some individuals contended that Russia's loss to Japan was orchestrated by a Jewish conspiracy. S. A. Nilus claimed a covert Jewish body, the Sanhedrin, had manipulated the Japanese through hypnosis, convincing them of their supposed Israeli roots. Nilus argued that this was part of a broader Jewish plot to destabilize Russia, leading to chaos and violence, which would ultimately spread to Europe with a resurgence of China facilitated by Japan.

These conspiracy theories reflect a deep-seated anti-Semitic sentiment, suggesting that Jewish influence was responsible for geopolitical events. The narrative presented by Nilus sought to blame Jewish communities for Russia's failures, showcasing the lengths to which some would go to attribute complex social and political issues to a single group, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and fostering divisions during a volatile historical period.