The reasons that led to the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902.

In January 1902, Britain and Japan signed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. The reasons for this were numerous.

Amicable Anglo-Japanese relations - several factors were favourable for a mutual agreement between the two countries. For example, Britain’s role as a tutor in Japan’s modernization had helped to create a group in Tokyo that favoured closer ties. A number of propagandists had openly advocated the case for alliance. Two important figures were Captain Frank Brinkley who was the owner of the Japan Mail and the Tokyo correspondent of the Times; as well as Okuma Shigenobu who approved favourable comments in the Mainichi and Yomiuri. Britain’s refusal to join the Triple Intervention in 1895 had done something to wipe out the memory of her earlier opposition to treaty revision. In fact, Britain was the first country to give up extraterritoriality in Japan. More effective cooperation between the two nations took place during the Boxer Expedition in 1900.

A common enemy - that the two nations did ally with each other was mainly due to the existence of a common enemy - Russia. During the late 19th century, the Russian advance in the Far East intensified. In 1895, Russia championed the Triple Intervention to force Japan to return the Liaotung Peninsula to China, only to make the region her sphere of influence three years later during the Scramble for Concessions. In 1900, Russia occupied Manchuria during the Boxer Uprising, and refused to withdraw in spite of international protest. In the meantime, Russia was also active in Korea. (for details, see section on Russo-Japanese War below)

Such Russian expansion in the Far East alarmed both Britain and Japan. The former feared that her interests in China might be jeopardised if the Russian occupation of Manchuria were proved to be permanent. The latter saw it blocking her best route to the mainland and also a threat to Korea, especially with the Russian activities in Korea. Official negotiations took place in mid-1901 between Hayashi, Japan’s London Minister, and Lansdowne, Britain’s Foreign Secretary. The former stated very clearly that “My country (Japan) considers as its first and last wish the protection of its interests in Korea, and the prevention of interference by any other country in Korea.”

Japan’s considerations - Japan had her own reasons to sign an alliance with Britain. A major consideration was to gain an ally to neutralize the Franco-Russian Alliance in the event of a showdown with Russia. Japan’s resentment on Russia was intense ever since the Triple Intervention and the threatening Russian activities in Korea. But in case of war, Japan would need an ally to checkmate Russia’s ally - France.

A second consideration was that of prestige. Japan’s position in the family of nations had risen with her defeat of China in 1895 and with her partial success in treaty revision. If she could enter into an alliance with Britain, a major western power, her prestige would be further increased. Such a sentiment persuaded many Japanese to favour an Anglo-Japanese Alliance.

A third consideration was the failure of Ito to reach an agreement with Russia. In late 1901, Ito paid a private visit to St. Petersburg, but he failed to secure meaningful concessions from Russia over disputes in Manchuria and Korea. He had wished to recognize Russia’s hegemony in south Manchuria in return for Russian acceptance of Japan’s dominant position in Korea. This being the case, war seemed inevitable and imminent, and an alliance with Britain the more demanding.

Finally, powerful personalities in the official circle desired an ally with Britain. They included Yamagata and Katsura. Both military men were strongly anti-Russia and they disagreed with Ito’s search for a local compromise with Russia over Manchuria and Korea. They were determined to secure the British alliance.

Britain’s considerations - Britain, on her part, needed an ally in the Far East to counter Russian expansion without violating her splendid isolation in Europe. Moreover, the Admiralty prepared the Selbourne’s Memorandum in September 1901 which stressed the impossibility of maintaining a “two-power standard” without an alliance with Japan in Asia. As such, the Japanese alliance grew out of arguments and facts which emanted from the Naval Department. Finally, Britain was apprenhensive of a possible Russo-Japanese agreement in the Far East as witnessed from Ito’s visit to Russia. Should this be the case, Britain’s position in the Far East would be gravely jeopardised.

Successful negotiations - given these favourable factors, negotiations for an Anglo-Japanese alliance took place since mid-1901. In the process, difficulties and divergent views had to be overcome. Themain disagreement rested with the scope of the alliance. Britain wanted it applicable to the defense of India, but Japan objected since this would make the alliance weigh heavily in British favour. On the other hand, Japan wanted Britain to give her full support in Korea, but Britain was hesitant since this would involve her in an exclusively Russo-Japanese quarrel.

Nonetheless, their common interest in guaranteeing the status quo in China and in preventing Russian annexation of Manchuria proved more decisive. Finally, in early 1902, the terms of the alliance were dicussed and agreed upon. On January 30, 1902, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was signed.