The World War gave Japan her great opportunity, which her leaders were
quick to seize. The conditions created by World War No. 1 might have
been made to order for Japan. They brought all her strategic advantages
into play, and were ideally adapted to meet her economic necessities.
Japan was not compelled to fight a full-dress war. The Western powers
were more than occupied on the European battlefields, so Japan was
given pretty much of a free hand in the Far East. And the line-up of
powers in 1914-18 added greatly to the strategic advantage of her
geographic location. Britain and Russia were Japan’s allies from the
outset, while the United States could not offer firm opposition to
Japanese expansion. Thus Japan was able to achieve a great deal with
very little effort.
Conditions on the economic side were no less favorable. As Japan’s
military and naval operations during the war were relatively slight,
the costs were small. On the other hand, her economic gains were
exceedingly large. For next to the United States, Japan was the
greatest supplier of the warring nations.