The contents and significance of the 1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance, with special reference on the external relations of Japan.

The Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902 was for five years in the first instance. It was revised and renewed in 1905 after the Russo-Japanese War, and renewed again for a further ten years in 1911. It came to an end by 1922 when the Washington Conference took place.

Treaty terms of 1902 Alliance - Britain recognized that Japan was “interested in a peculiar degree” in Korea in return for Japan’s recognition of British rights in China. Each signatory nation agreed to be neutral if the other nation became engaged in war in the Far East with a third power. The military provisions of the Alliance would be effective if either were attacked by two powers or more in the Far East.

General significance - the Alliance had three characteristics. It was “temporary” in the sense that it was for five years, but it was twice renewed in 1905 and 1911. It was “limited” to the Far East. But this geographical limitation did not give complete satisfaction even at the time of signing and revision was called for. In the 1905 Alliance, the scope was widened to cover Asia in general. It was also “defensive” because one party would help the other only if she were attacked by two or more enemies. As such, it served to limit the scope of a future war in the Far East because France was warned to stay aloof of her ally, Russia. At the same time, though a warning to Russia, the Alliance did not rule out the possibility of negotiations between Britain and Japan with Russia.
The Alliance was satisfactory to both powers. It recognized each other’s sphere of influence in the Far East:
Britain in China, and Japan in Korea. To Britain, the Alliance was valuable as a counterweight to Russian power in the Far East, and during the First World War, Japanese help, especially at sea, was very useful. Yet it is certainly true that the Alliance meant a great deal more to the Japanese. In point of fact, the Alliance had great significance on the external relations of Japan.

Raising the status of Japan - the conclusion of the Alliance served to raise the international status of Japan. Having become the leading Asian power after defeating China in 1895, Japan now rank equal with a major western power. The Alliance indicated that Japanese strength now became an essential element in the maintenance of naval balance in the Far East. In addition, Japan should be regarded as a sovereign nation. As such, the Alliance indirectly helped Japan in her negotiations for the recovery of tariff autonomy by 1911.

Strengthening Anglo-Japanese ties - Britain had long been a tutor of Japan in the latter’s modernization. With the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the relation between Britain and Japan changed from that of paternalistic relationship to that of equal partnership. This change gave back to the Japanese their inner pride that they had lost when Perry and his successors forcefully opened Japan to the West. The sense of grateful friendship towards Britain was sincere and widespread.

Special interest over Korea - as we have seen in earlier section, Korea was important to Japan in various aspects. This being the case, Japan fought a war with China to gain control of Korea. When Russia intensified her activities in Korea, Japan, alarmed, was determined to solicit British support in this respect. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance specifically recognized Japan’s special interest in Korea. This meant that Britain quietly endorsed Japan’s claim to be the only arbiter of Korea’s fate. Thus encouraged, Japan first made Korea her protectorate and then annexed it in 1910.

Confrontation with Russia - the Alliance at its outset was an anti-Russian agreement. Britain saw it as a warning to Russia, not a provocation. Japan found that the Alliance enabled her to deal with Russia on more equal terms. Both countries, in fact, did not rule out the possibility of a compromise with Russia in the Far East -- more sepcifically, in Manchuria and Korea.

In 1903, Japan proposed the “Exchange Policy” to avoid hostilities with Russia. She suggested a Japanese recognition of Russian hegemony in south Manchuria in return for Russian acceptance of Japan’s dominant position in Korea. This last effort for peace was rejected by Russia. Thereby both extremists and moderates in Japan chose a showdown with Russia. Thus the Russo-Japanese War in 1904.

With Russia’s defeat and the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1905, both Russia and Japan came to terms with each other in 1907. They agreed to divide Manchuria into a northern sphere for Russia and a southern sphere for Japan.

Restraint on France - the Alliance was a warning to France, Russia’s ally since 1894. In the event of a Russo-Japanese war, France found it her best interest to stay aloof for fear of British intervention. This did happen. Russia had to fight Japan alone in the war. In 1907, a Franco-Japanese agreement was reached and it assured mutual respect of each other’s sphere of influence in the Far East.

Further Japan’s designs on China - that Japan had territorial designs on China was well illustrated by the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895. She failed to acquire control of the Liaotung Peninsula only because of the Triple Intervention. But with the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and the defeat of Russia, Japan openly took over the Russian special rights in south Manchuria, without China’s prior consent. In the face of such aggression, China was helpless. During the First World War, Japan’s aggression on China intensified, as evidenced from her seizure of Shantung and the presentation of the Twenty-One Demands. These actions poisoned Sino-Japanese relation for many years.

Affect relation with the United States - the Anglo-Japanese Alliance did not directly affect Japan’s relation with the United States. Nevertheless, the spectacular rise of Japan as a world power between 1895 and 1905 focused American attention on the security of her Pacific possession-- the Philippines. Between 1905 and 1908, the two countries signed two agreements to define their mutual interests in the Pacific. In brief, the United States agreed not to interfere with Japan’s special interest in Korea and Japan, in return, denied any aggressive designs on the Philippines. Significantly, the United States began to take Japan in her Pacific considerations.
In the 1910s, Japanese-American relation worsened because of Japan’s imperial expansion in China and in the Pacific during the First World War. In this connection, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance became an embarrassment to Britain which was caught in between the Japanese-American conflict. Finally, the Alliance was terminated by 1922 when a Four Power Treaty was signed at the Washington Conference.

Conclusion - all in all, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance had great significance. Specifically, it was beneficial to both signatory countries. Generally, it served to raise Japan’s status, strength Anglo-Japanese ties, recognize Japan’s interests on Korea, embolden Japan in a showdown with Russia, keep France neutral, further Japan’s designs on China, and affect United States-Japan relationship.