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Tentative Steps for an Anglo-Japanese Rapprochement in 1934

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

Ann Trotter
Ann Trotter
Affiliation:
University of Otago, New Zealand
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Extract

For Japan and Britain, 1934 was a year when naval policy was a major issue. During that year, decisions had to be made on the future of the Washington and London naval disarmament treaties, and, for both Tokyo and London, the political implications of the abrogation or renewal of these treaties were at least as important as the technical. The Japanese Government could not afford to renew the treaties, the British Government could not afford to see them go. In this situation, the feasibility of an Anglo-Japanese non-aggression pact, one of the purposes of which would be to check the demands of the Japanese navy, was seriously considered by the British.

Type
Articles
Information
Modern Asian Studies , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , January 1974 , pp. 59 - 83
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

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References

1 The Washington treaty could be terminated at the end of 1936 if notice was given by one of the parties before 31 December 1934. The London treaty expired in September 1936.

2 Mamoru, Shigemitsu, Japan and her Destiny (London, 1958), pp. 89–90.Google Scholar

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4 Morris, I., Nationalism and the Right Wing in Japan (London, 1960), introduction by Maruyama, p. xxv.Google Scholar

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6 Saionji-Harada Memoirs, Pt. vi, Ch. 107 (18 November 1933). Admiral Okada (to Harada): ‘We are annoyed with the young officers who are trying to entice the navy…’ Quoted in Ibid., p. 151 n.

7 Taiheiyō sensō e no nichi (Road to the Pacific War), 8 volumes (Tokyo, 1963), Vol. I, p. 156 (hereafter cited as TSM). I am grateful to Miss T. Tani for assistance with Japanese sources.Google Scholar

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9 Potter, J. D., Admiral of the Pacific (London, 1965), p. 25.Google Scholar

10 The ships under construction in Japan in 1934 could not be launched on schedule in 1937 unless the Washington treaty was denounced. A naval air force might, however, have been developed under cover of the treaty.

11 CAB 24/247 CP 64(34), Report of the Defence Requirements Committee. Appointed on 15 November 1933, the committee consisted of the three chiefs of staff, Sir Maurice Hankey, secretary to the cabinet, Sir Warren Fisher, permanent secretary to the Treasury, Sir Robert Vansittart, permanent secretary to the Foreign Office.

12 CAB 24/148 NC(M) 35 (9), Telegrams to Tokyo and Washington, 18 May 1934.

13 F.O. 371/18181 F138, Lindley to Simon, 6 February 1934.

14 Ultra nationalist political group led by Tōyama Mitsuru.

15 F.O. 371/18184 F677, Lindley to Simon, 27 December 1933.

16 F.O. 371/18180 F411. His speech to the Diet on 23 January 1934 illustrates these qualities admirably.

17 CAB 24/247 CP 64(34), above.

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27 CAB 24/247, CP 64(34), above.

28 Cabinet 9, 14 March 1934, conclusion 13.

29 Ibid.

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35 F.O. 371/18184, F3960, Barnes (Admiralty) to Orde, 28 June 1934.

36 Ministerial Committee on the Naval Conference 1935, referred to as NC(M) 35, first meeting, 16 April 1934.

37 TSM, Vol. I, p. 156, cites a number of pamphlets; speeches by Osumi (22 January 1934) and Yoshizawa (31 January 1934) were also regarded as significant. F.O. 371/18168, F1142 Lindsay to Simon, 15 February 1934.Google Scholar

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45 CAB 27/507, DC(M) (32), 41st meeting, 3 May 1934.

46 CAB 29/148 NC(M) 35, 1, Memorandum by the Chief of Naval Staff in preparation for the 1935 naval conference, 23 March 1934.

47 CAB 27/511, DC(M) (32), Note by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the report of the Defence Requirements Committee, 20 June 1934. See also CAB 29/148, NC(M) 35, 3, for Memorandum by Sir Warren Fisher, 19 April 1934, which Chamberlain cited in support.

48 CAB 21/398, Hankey to Prime Minister, 3 August 1934.

49 CAB 16/110 DC(M) (32), 51st meeting, 26 June 1934.

50 Cabinet 31, 31 July 1934, conclusion 1.

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55 F.O. 371/18169 F4270, Osborne to Simon, 27 June 1934.

56 F.O. 371/17559 A7695, Simon to Vansittart, 20 August 1934.

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63 F.O. Cornwall House, F6189, Memorandum on the Naval Conference and our Relations with Japan, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

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65 The Times, 30 August 1934.

66 Chamberlain to Simon, above.

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68 The Amau statement of 18 April 1934.

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70 Cabinet 32, 25 September 1934, conclusion 4.

71 Cabinet 32 above.

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73 F.O. 371/18184 F5846, Clive to Simon, 29 September 1934.

74 Saionji-Harada Memoirs, 7 September 1934, quoted by Crowley, op. cit., p. 199.

75 Talks with the Americans had already taken place in June. The British had been disappointed by American lack of appreciation of British requirements.

76 F.O. Cornwall House, F6190, Memorandum, Far East department, 1 October 1934.

77 F.O. Cornwall House, F6191, China policy and the proposed Anglo-Japanese pact (Sir John Pratt), 3 October 1934.

78 F.O. Cornwall House, F6191, Proposed non-aggression pact with Japan, memorandum by Craigie, 3 October 1934.

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80 CAB 29/148 NC(M) 35, A7691, Simon to Clive, 8 October 1934.

81 Matsudaira's father, Marquis Katamori Matsudaira, had been the lord of Aizu. His daughter was married to Prince Chichibu, younger brother of Emperor Hirohito.

82 F.O. 371/18184 F5996, Clive to Simon, 5 October 1934.

83 F.O. 371/18195 F6101, Clive to Simon, 12 October 1934.

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85 Cabinet 35, 17 October 1934.

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88 In 1933, the Four Power treaty of 1922 had become terminable at a year's notice by any one of the parties to the treaty.

89 The Times, 17 November 1934, announcing the arrival of Yoshida, described him as ‘Japanese ambassador at large’ making a personal visit to the Japanese ambassador in London. Yoshida does not appear to have been officially entertained and was not among the guests at the functions associated with the naval talks.

90 Cabinet 41, 21 November 1934, conclusion 5.

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92 FO 317/17602 A9682, Foreign Office minute, Craigie, 28 November 1934.

93 TSM, Vol. I, p. 157.Google Scholar

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95 TSM, Vol. I, p. 158.Google Scholar

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97 F.O. 371/18732 A1478, Telegram to Washington, 5 February 1935 drafted by Craigie.

98 CAB 29/149 NC(J) 10th meeting, 28 December 1934.

99 CAB 29/148 NC(M) 35, 46, Survey of the present position of naval conversations and recommendations as to future procedure, 17 January 1935.

100 Cabinet 12, 27 February 1935, conclusion 3.

101 F.O. 371/18732 A2968, Foreign Office minute, Craigie, 4 March 1935.

102 F.O. 371/18732 A2932, Clive to Eden, 28 March 1935.

103 F.O. 371/18732 A3190, minute, Craigie, 29 March 1935. Since an agreement with Germany was not reached on the basis of a programme arrangement, Britain's position at the conference was ultimately weaker.

104 F.O. 371/18737 A6788, Clive to Hoare, 31 July 1935.

105 F.O. 371/18739 A8587, Hoare to Clive, 8 October 1935.

106 F.O. 371/18744 A10617, Clive to Hoare, 17 12 1935.

107 Ibid., minute, Craigie, 20 December 1935.

108 F.O. 371/18744 A10895, minute, Craigie, 1 January 1936.

109 F.O. 371/19804 A278, Foreign Office memorandum, 6 January 1936.

110 F.O. 371/19804 A279, minute, Eden, 13 January 1936. Eden had become Foreign Secretary on 22 December after the resignation of Hoare.

111 F.O. 371/19804 A415, minute, Craigie, 18 January 1936.

112 F.O. 371/20279 F5842, Japanese ambassador (conversation with Vansittart), 23 September 1935. The new ambassador was the same Yoshida whose ‘mission’ in 1934 had proved a disappointment to the British.

113 F.O. 371/20279 F7660, minute, Cadogan, 8 December 1936.

114 F.O. 371/20279 F7963, Eden to Clive, 4 January 1937. The pact was the anticomintern pact signed by Germany and Japan in December 1936.