SDHF Newsletter No.412 The Road to the Greater East Asian War No. 30 Ch.9-2

THE ROAD TO THE GREATER EAST ASIAN WAR
Nakamura Akira, Dokkyo University Professor Emeritus
(English Translation: Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact)
Part 30, Chapter 9: Contending with Attempts to Communize China-II

September 27, 2024

Diplomacy, as exercised by Foreign Minister Shidehara Kijūrō, associated with non-intervention in China and international cooperation, tends to be widely described as representative of 1920s pacifism in Japan. Here is how Shidehara himself described the basis of his foreign policy:

Today we may acknowledge that, in general, the hearts and minds of the people of the world are rejecting narrow-minded, exclusionist, and self-serving policies. They are opposed to the abuse of military might. They repudiate aggression, preferring that international problems be resolved through understanding and cooperation among the relevant nations. (…) I am confident that the age of international strife has finally come to an end, and that it shall be superseded by an age of international cooperation. (…) The genuine and permanent interests of a nation can be ensured through equitable harmony between the positions of the relevant nations. Our diplomatic relations with all nations shall be governed by this conviction.

This could be interpreted as confidence in human goodwill and rationalism. When it takes the form of a specific foreign policy involving China, this conviction becomes, “We shall respect China’s rational stance and we have no intention of interfering in any way whatsoever with Chinese domestic policy. About the threat posed by communism, Shidehara said, “There seems to be some speculation in the world about China’s becoming a communist nation, and that the Chinese are planning to abrogate international treaties that they believe are disadvantageous to China. But I place no faith in such conjecture.” Nevertheless, every single one of Shidehara’s predictions missed its mark, and his trust in China was completely betrayed.

Shidehara’s installation as foreign minister coincided with the enactment of the anti-Japanese immigration law in the US. His comment at that time was, “When all is said and done, we have no choice but to wait for the people of the United States to arrive at a reasonable understanding of our people and our assertions. (…) I am convinced that the love of justice, the very spirit that resided in the hearts of Americans when the United States was founded, remains within them. It is my hope that the time will come when this fact is proven.”

The Four Power Treaty, a product of the Washington Naval Conference, sounded the death knell of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. A few more years brought the threat of communism to the fore, and with it, advocacy of a strong need for a new Anglo-Japanese partnership. In December 1925, British officials expressed an interest in cooperating with Japan in China. Though the Japanese Army was of the same mind, Shidehara seemed indifferent to the idea. Finding Shidehara’s stance formidable and dangerous, Sir Charles Eliot, British ambassador to Japan was more perplexed than surprised.

Suppose that it was indeed Shidehara diplomacy that prevented the revival of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance at a time when both nations hoped for it, even though neither actually proposed it. And suppose Shidehara diplomacy itself lacked the forcefulness to resolve China problem. Where, then, should we expect to find the raison d’être of Shidehara diplomacy?

URL: 　 https://www.sdh-fact.com/book-article/2235/
　PDF: 　https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/Road30E.pdf

MOTEKI Hiromichi, Chairman
Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact
Phone: 81-3-3519-4366
Fax: 81-3-3519-4267
Email: moteki-sdh-fact.com
URL: http//www.sdh-fact.com
Note: Japanese names are rendered surname first in accordance with Japanese custom.