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

Part 6: Detailed Correspondence for 1934-1940 (PRO Class FO 262/1861-1988, 2004-2032 & 2036-2039)

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Part 6 concentrates on the period 1934-1940 with particularly strong files on such key subjects as:

• The Japanese Army
• The European Crisis, 1938
• Japanese Activities in Manchuria
• The League of Nations
• Espionage
• Manchuria: The Recognition Question
• Naval Disarmament
• Far East: ‘Open Door’
• Japan: Political
• Japan and Great Britain: Political
• Formosa: General Situation
• The North China Incident
• Far Eastern Problems
• Japan and America
• Communism
• Japan and Germany: Political and Economic Relations
• Netherlands East Indies: Japanese Activities
• Japan and China: Political relations

This microfilm edition, follows on from Part 5, providing scholars with all the FO 262 files for the years 1934-1940.  Comprising Detailed Correspondence and Background Papers, there is little doubt from their contents that the main issues of the day lay with Japan’s intended foreign policy, particularly in relation to China, Manchuria and the threat to British, American and Dutch interests in the Far East

This was a time of great upheaval in Japan, with the military enjoying great influence in politics and a general atmosphere of patriotic fervour contributing to the uncertainty.  A consensus of opinion throughout the country called for territorial expansion in order to gain raw materials the burgeoning economy, and to shield Japan from any Soviet threat.  Internally, there were few opponents of an expansionist policy with most communist leaders imprisoned or exiled, and schools and colleges purged of leftist sympathisers, leaving a clear field for those propounding an imperialist future for Japan.

Following the Tangku Truce of 1933 which left Japan in control of much of North China, hostilities were renewed in 1937, but even an alliance between Communist and Nationalist Chinese forces could not make progress against the Japanese.  By the beginning of 1938 Nanking had fallen and Japan was announcing her ‘immutable policy’ of establishing a New Order in North East Asia, claiming a dominant position in Chinese affairs and justifying her military intervention as self defence aimed at restoring stability to the region. 

These important events are well covered in the FO 262 files.  Britain considered that she had a strong sphere of influence in China and accordingly the British diplomats and consular staff covering the region kept a meticulous watch on developments.  The files are full of well recorded observations and Foreign Office analyses.  The following extracts give a good flavour of the type of information gathered and the conclusions drawn:

"Chancery British Embassy, Tokyo, 25 June, 1935

I had a talk yesterday with a reliable Japanese friend who travelled from Shanghai to Hong Kong with Major-General Doihara last March and who had frequent opportunities of discussing Sino-Japanese questions with him.

According to my informant Major-General Doihara stated that the Army were convinced that Chiang Kai-shek was playing a double game.  While he was toying with the idea of coming to some kind of arrangement with the Japanese, he was believed to be planning anti-Japanese activities  the North which would ultimately develop to Japan’s disadvantage.  Even the Japanese Army were not sure what steps Chiang ultimately contemplated, but, in order to forestall serious anti-Japanese movement, it was desirable to weaken Chiang Kai-shek and the central Government by cultivating friendly relations between Japan and the Cantonese authorities, and Major-General Doihara’s visit to Canton had this as its object.

E.A.H. James, Colonel, Military Attaché”

"Memorandum.The Nationalist Movement in Japan

Various other military organisations, too, have of late combined from time to time with rightist societies, e.g., in the organisation of mass meetings, with the object of bringing about what is styled a “Showa restoration”, by which is apparently meant a return to the “spirit of old Japan” as the guiding principle by which the nation should be governed.  This movement which has undoubtedly much latent force, is at the moment of greater import than the more reactionary movement of the earlier part of the century.  The force of the latter seems for the moment to be spent; and though it would be unwise to claim that the days of direct action on the part of members of such bodies as the Kokuryukai are past the indications are that it is rather along fascist or quasi-fascist lines that the nationalist movement in Japan may be expected to develop.

British Embassy, Tokyo

December, 1935”

"British Embassy, Tokyo, 2 March, 1938

Liberalism in Japan

From conversations which I have lately had with Japanese friends in academic circles, I gather that the Ministry of Education is now strongly “Totalitarian”.  In the past three or four years the Ministry have been appointing as principals of schools and colleges persons whom they know not to be of independent character and liberal opinions; and in many cases have passed over men with superior qualifications as educationalists.  The attempted “purge” of the Imperial University has the sympathy of the Ministry of Education, and may even have been encouraged by them.

Two members of the editorial staff of the Asahi who are regarded as “liberals”, have been given an indefinite holiday; and one of them tells me that his colleagues have hinted to him that he had better retire.”

[Hand-written annotation] “Interesting - and ominous.I think we should report by dispatch.”

"18 January, 1938

To: Foreign Office

In the course of my conversation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs I asked whether there was anything he could tell me in regard to recent declaration of policy issued by the Japanese Government.  He said that Chiang Kai-shek’s response to Japanese peace terms had been a curt request for further elucidation.  As terms had been stated clearly and fully, there was no need for further elucidation and the Japanese Government, considering that Chiang Kai-shek had no serious intention of discussing peace terms, decided to have no further relations with him.  The German Government had similarly informed Chiang Kai-shek that they were not prepared to act further as intermediary.  Intention of the Japanese government was to accord their recognition to a Government of China which would win the confidence not only of the Chinese but also the Japanese people.

In reply to further inquires Mr. Hirota admitted that no such Government was at the moment in sight.  He added that the hope of Japanese Government was to see emergence of a single strong Government and that they had no desire to encourage creation of number of “Autonomous” Governments.

I found the Minister for Foreign Affairs more than ever impressed with the necessity of preventing incidents and disputes with third powers now that considerable prolongation of conflict was to be anticipated.

[Sir Robert L.] CRAIGIE”

"Confidential

British Embassy, Tokyo

23 March, 1938

My Lord,

There is no doubt that the tendency towards a Southward expansion continues to exist in Japan and that any slackening of this tendency at present is attributable to the China “Incident” rather than any intrinsic decline in interest.  It is also to be expected that this desire for expansion will again find expression in some form after the “incident” is over in spite of the probability that China will considerably absorb Japanese economic and financial resources and enterprises for many years to come.  But as regards the precise object of this expansion and the length to which the Japanese would go to achieve them, there is inevitably much less certainty.

I do not consider that any immediate plan exists at present for forcible military and territorial expansion in the southward direction...economically, however, in view of the importance of the raw materials which Japan draws from the South Seas, she is likely to display a steadily increasing interest in this part of the world.”

The outbreak of the Second World War and the ensuing conflict in the Far East between Japan and Great Britain ensured that diplomatic contacts between the two countries were suspended for the duration of hostilities.  As a result of the closure of the British Embassy and consulates in Japan, there is no FO 262 material for Japan for the years 1941-1945.  The class resumes after the War when day-to-day diplomatic representation was resumed.

As Dr. Kaoru Sugihara, Chairman of the Japan Research Centre, SOAS, at the University of London, states “The Japanese and Asian Studies materials offered by Adam Matthew Publications will be welcomed by scholars working in the area.”

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