A Political History of Japan during the Meiji Era 1867-1912

by Walter Wallace McLaren

Pyrrhus Press specializes in bringing books long out of date back to life, allowing today’s readers access to yesterday’s treasures. This book looks at the reforms undertaken by the Meiji emperor in Japan from the late 19th century up until the Russo-Japanese War and the dawning of World War I. From the “At no time since the Russo-Japanese War has the interest in Japan’s foreign policy been so widespread as at present, and seldom, if ever, has it been more difficult to comprehend Far Eastern affairs. In 1904 and 1905 the sympathy of the whole Anglo-Saxon world was given unreservedly to the Japanese in their struggle with Russia, mainly because it was popularly, though erroneously, believed that they were engaged in a quixotic enterprise, the aim of which was to defend the integrity of China and preserve the independence of Korea against the aggressive designs of the Colossus of Northern Europe. But during the past decade that judgment has been reversed, and the combat is now regarded as having been a war of expansion upon the part of Japan no less than that of Russia. Korea and the three Eastern provinces had been the prey of Russia, but as a result of the war they became the quarry of Japan. In what other light are subsequent events—the annexation of Korea and the consolidation of Japan’s interests in Manchuria—to be interpreted?Ever since September 1914 Japan’s action as a member of the Entente Allies group has been shrouded in mystery. The military expedition against Kiaochau obviously was undertaken by the Japanese in order to rid themselves and their allies of the menace of a German naval base in the Pacific. But why was the successful issue of that exploit followed almost immediately by an attempt to settle their differences with China? And why were the Japanese terms presented at Peking so ambiguously worded that for the time being it was impossible to tell exactly what they were? Why was an ultimatum forwarded, and backed up by a display of force? And why did the Japanese Government at the very last moment withdraw the most objectionable group of its demands? These questions and many others of similar import were asked in almost every capital of the Western world, but no satisfactory answers were forthcoming from responsible authorities. In the House of Commons Sir Edward Grey said no more than that to the best of his knowledge no accurate version of the Japanese demands had been published. Was it that he did not know what they were at the time he spoke and had not been consulted or informed by the Japanese Foreign Office before the drive against China had been initiated? The State Department at Washington issued a brief statement to the effect that Japan’s action involved no breach of the existing treaties, a note which if not particularly informing was at least reassuring. Why was the British Foreign Secretary even less ex­plicit? Had the Japanese Government violated the spirit of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance? If not, then the British Government must have approved all of Japan’s demands, Group V as well as the others.”

Genres: History

394 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Chloé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voici quelques livres intéressants, si le Japon vous passionne et que vous désirez en savoir plus sur les événements qui ont mené à la création de la Constitution de Meiji. Vous êtes curieux de savoir en quoi l’arrivée de l’amiral Perry au Japon a poussé celui-ci à instaurer une monarchie parlementaire. plus

Here’s some interesting books, if you’re passionate about Japan and want to know more about the events that lead to the creation of Meiji Constitution. You’re curious to know how Admiral Perry’s arrival pushed Japan to establish a parliamentary monarchy. more