FOREIGN OFFICE FILES FOR JAPAN AND THE FAR EAST
Series One: Embassy & Consular Archives - Japan (1905-1940)
(Public Record Office Class FO 262)

Part 1: Correspondence to and from Japan, 1905-1920 (PRO Class FO 262/1466-1511 & 2033-2034)

Part 2: Detailed Correspondence for 1921-1923 (PRO Class FO 262/1512-1601)

CHRONOLOGY: JAPAN, 1900-1923

1900

Boxer Rising. Japanese troops play an important part in rescuing the legations at Peking. Japanese gain much credit amongst the Western owners for their responsible actions.

1902

Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902-1905, renewed twice to 1921)

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). Japan emerged victorious and acquired Formosa, Korea and special interests in Manchuria. She regained Shout Sakhalin which had been cede to Russia in 1875 in exchange for the Kurile Islands. Siege of Port Arthur.

Highly disciplined five month defence by the Third Army commended by General Nogi Maresuke.

Battle of Mukden (23 February-16 March). Battle of Tsushima (27 May). Forces under Admiral Togo destroy the Russian Baltic Fleet. Theodore Roosevelt conducts Peace Treaty at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA (5 September). Anglo-Japanese Alliance renewed and revised.  Sir Claude M MacDonald appointed as first  British Ambassador in Tokyo (November).

At the end of the Russo-Japanese War, Japanese legations in London, Washington, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Rome and St Petersburg were raised to the status of embassies.

Russo-Japanese Convention signed. Secret clauses divide Manchuria into Russian and Japanese spheres of influence.

Ito Hirobumi assassinated in Manchuria by a Korean nationalist fanatic.

1910

Japan annexes Korea, Rise of socialism in Japan, Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Japan, and Great Britain.

Renewal of Anglo-Japanese Alliance for a further ten years. Repression of socialist movement in Japan. Death of Komura Jútaró. Chinese Revolution.

1912

Death of the Emperor of Japan. He is succeeded by his son. Start of the Taisho Period. 'Nanking Constitution', aims at the establishment of a 'democratic republic' in China. Sir W Conyngham Green replaces Sir Claude M MacDonald as British Ambassador in Tokyo.

1913

Abolition of the import duty on rice and paddy produced in Korea. Adhesion of British Crown Colonies to the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Japan and Great Britain. Reorganisation of Foreign Settlements in Korea. Proposed extension of the Peking-Mukden Railway.

1914

Outbreak of World War 1. Japan declares war on Germany. Death of the Empress Dowager. Japanese capture the port of Tsingtao.

1915

The "Twenty One Demands" diplomatic offensive against China "to settle outstanding questions".

Japanese are determined to take advantage of the favour with which they are regarded by their Western Allies. Japan succeeds to the German concessions around Kiachow and Shantung becomes a Japanese sphere of influence. The leases acquired in Manchuria by Japan from Russia in 1905 are extended for 99 years. Japan also secures a substantial interest in valuable iron and steel concerns and an assurance that China will not cede any further coastal regions to another foreign power. Japanese-American relations suffer as a result of Japanese policy towards China. Discussions concerning the possibility of a closer Russo-Japanese Rapprochement.

1916

Increased export restrictions to help blockade against Germany and enemy trade. Discussions on the Chinese Reorganisation loan.

1917

Allies place increasing demands on Japanese shipping and shipyards. Japanese financial and industrial concerns and a host of new entrepreneurs reap the benefits of continued demands of the Allied war effort. British very concerned to block activities of intermediaries operating on behalf of enemy firms in the Far East. Russian Revolution.

1918

Japanese troops involved in Allied intervention in Siberia, Rice riots in Japan due to inflation. End of World War 1.

1919

Japanese send delegation of sixty members to Paris Peace Conference. Demonstrations against Paris Peace Conference in China. Discussions on the future of India. Continued Japanese involvement in Siberia. Japanese investigations of America and British business, economics and social organisation.

Peace Conference at Shanghai.

1920

Political Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry split into Bureau of Asian Affairs and separate Bureau of European-American Affairs. Change in emphasis becomes evident with promising new Foreign Ministry recruits now being sent to consular posts in China rather than to Washington, London or some other European capital. Creation of the League of nations. Japan if given a permanent seat on the Council. This amounts o full recognition of Japan's status as a world power.

'Four Power' discussions on loans to China (Britain, United States, France and Japan). Discussions on the organisation of the Siberian Railways.

1921

Increasing industrial unrest in Japan curbed by the police. Washington Conference (21 November 1921-6 February 1922). Anglo-Japanese Alliance replaced by 'Four Power Treaty ' Britain, the United States, France and Japan - mutual guarantees for each other's Pacific territories; collective guarantee of China's independence; undertaking by Japan to restore Kiachow to China; discussions for Naval Treaty.

1922

Naval Treaty limits the replacement of capital ships by Britain, America and Japan and establishes a 5:5:3 ratio.

1923

Japanese Cultural Work Division established, the Great Earthquake in the Yokohama-Tokyo area.

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