JAPAN
The awakening of modern Japan may be said to be coincident with
Commodore Perry's mission to the Far East in 1859. His was not only
the first of a long series of foreign embassies, but it resulted in
a treaty between Japan and the United States, and aroused the
curiosity of the Japanese sufficiently to send special ambassadors
of their own to the United States, and later to other countries.
This interest in western affairs at first found considerable
opposition at home on the part of the conservative element,
opposition which even resulted in civil war. The more liberal
attitude, however, carried the day. By 1879 Tokyo had been made the
capital and western laws had been introduced. At the same time that
Tokyo was made the capital the present form of imperial government
was adopted and the new emperor promised on his oath to give to his
people a constitution. This latter was proclaimed in 1889 and the
diet met for the first time in 1891.
Only three years later the Chino-Japanese War began. Its cause was
Chinese oppression of Korea. In one short year the ancient empire of
China was thoroughly beaten by its new rival for supremacy in the
Far East. As a result Japan received at the conclusion of peace in
1895 Formosa, a huge indemnity, and independence was granted to
Korea. This was a wonderful achievement for the young empire, and
the entire world's attention was centered on Japan. Some of the
European powers interested in China began to fear for their
interests and Germany, Russia, and France combined to restrain Japan
and moderate its terms to China. This aroused considerable ill
feeling in Japan against the three powers whose influences were said
to have deprived Japan of some of the fruits of its dearly bought
victory. Especially was this feeling directed against Russia whose
interests in China clashed directly with those of Japan. However, in
1898, these two countries concluded a treaty in which they both
acknowledged Korea's independence and promised to respect it.
As soon as commercial interests of the various foreign countries had
grown, Japan had to suffer the installment of consular courts of the
more important European nations. This soon was felt by the Japanese
as an intrusion on their sovereignty. In 1899 treaties which had
been arranged during the preceding years between Japan and these
countries abolishing the consular courts went into effect. Greater
and greater became Japan's influence in the Far East. The
superiority of its armies over the Chinese forces during the short
war of 1894-1895, the apparently wonderful adaptability of the
Japanese, their equally wonderfully rapid progress along commercial
and scientific lines soon made Japan a desirable ally.
As many times before in history Great Britain's statesmen showed
greater foresight than those of other countries. In 1902 they
arranged an alliance between their country and Japan which more than
offset the Franco-Russo-German bloc of 1895. It was signed at London
in August, 1905, by Lord Lansdowne and Count Hayastu and provided
for: (a) The consolidation and maintenance of the general peace in
the regions of eastern Asia and of India; (b) The preservation of
the common interests of all powers in China by insuring the
independence and integrity of the Chinese Empire and the principle
of equal opportunities for the commerce and industry of all nations
in China; (c) The maintenance of the territorial rights of the high
contracting parties in the regions of eastern Asia and of India, and
the defense of their special interests in the said regions. If the
rights and interests referred to above are in jeopardy, the two
governments will communicate with one another fully and frankly as
to the measures which should be taken to safeguard those menaced
rights or interests, and will act in common in case of unprovoked
attack or aggressive action, wherever arising, or the attack or
aggressive action, whenever arising, on the part of any other power
or powers.
This agreement was modified in 1911 to fit the changed conditions in
China and a new article was added which provided that "should
either high contracting party conclude a treaty of general
arbitration with a third power, it is agreed that nothing in this
agreement shall entail upon such contracting party an obligation to
go to war with the power with whom such treaty of arbitration is in
force." At the same time it was arranged that the alliance should
remain in force for ten years and "unless denounced twelve months
before the expiration of the said ten years, it will remain binding
until the expiration of one year from the day on which either of the
high contracting parties shall have denounced it. But if, when the
date fixed for its expiration arrives, either ally is actually
engaged in war, the alliance shall, _ipso facto_, continue until
peace is concluded."
In the meantime, however, difficulties had arisen between Russia and
Japan, over the former country's refusal to evacuate certain parts
of Manchuria, occupied as a result of the Boxer uprising in the
suppression of which Japanese troops had participated successfully
with those of the other great nations. Japan sent an ultimatum to
Russia which did not receive prompt enough attention and war was
declared in 1904. For the second time the world's attention was
centered on Japan, and to the amazement of the western world the
eastern empire defeated the Russian Colossus most severely and
consistently both on land and on sea. The financial burden of the
war, however, was a severe strain on the limited resources of the
young world power and it was forced to accept mediation proffered by
the United States at a time when not all its objects had been
accomplished. Peace was concluded at Portsmouth in the United
States. Japan was very moderate in the consideration of the terms as
we have already seen during the review of the history of Russia.
In 1907 both France and Russia signed agreements with Japan in
regard to the independence and integrity of China and acknowledging
the "open door" policy in commercial matters for all nations alike.
In 1910 Korea was annexed, much against the desire of the natives
who made Japan's task a difficult one by means of many uprisings and
conspiracies. Internal affairs during the last ten years also have
given cause for anxiety. The two great wars in rapid succession have
put a heavy financial burden on the shoulders of the great masses
and socialistic tendencies have found a fertile soil in Japan. Labor
disturbances have sometimes assumed serious proportions and so have
demonstrations against other nations who had aroused the animosity
of the Japanese people by some acts. In general, however, the
progress of the country continues.
Japan's attitude in the Great European War was, of course,
influenced chiefly by its alliance with Great Britain. Its general
attitude toward Germany had always been a friendly one. For as
Germany has played the successful schoolmaster along military and
scientific lines for many nations, it has also done for Japan. The
efficiency of the Japanese army is due chiefly to what Japanese
officers have learned in German regiments and military schools.