JAPAN AND THE WORLD WAR The Siege of Tsingtao.—In April 1914 Count Okuma, who of recent years had been devoting all his energies to the foundation and development of the Waseda university in Tokyo, undertook to form a cabinet. It lasted only two years but is memorable because under this administration Japan joined the Allies in the World War and, since the Germans were in occupa tion of Kiao-Chiao, was called upon to take action at once. On Aug. 14, an ultimatum was sent to Berlin demanding the im mediate withdrawal of German warships from Chinese and Japa nese waters and the surrender of Kiao-Chiao to China before Sept. Is. As no answer was returned to this communication, Japan de clared war against Germany on Aug. 23 and Tsingtao, the principal town in the German leased territory was invested. It fell on Nov. 7, and Japan assumed the administration of the territory. (For an account of the operations and capture of the city by the Anglo-Japanese forces see the article TSINGTAO, SIEGE OF.) Admiral von Spee's ships were now seriously menacing com merce in the South Seas. Japanese squadrons were sent to the China sea and Pacific ocean and two cruisers co-operated with British vessels in patrolling the western coast of America. Towards the end of 1914, as a result of these concerted operations, von Spee's squadron was chased in the direction of Cape Horn and was ultimately sunk off the Falkland islands. The Marshall, Pelew, Caroline and Marianne islands were captured. The Japanese did not send any troops to Europe, but Admiral Saito proceeded to the Mediterranean and assumed the duty of convoying Allied vessels from port to port and protecting them against the attacks of German submarines. It is said that in all they successfully escorted 788 ships.
In 1918, Japan joined Great Britain, France and the United States in sending an expedition to Siberia and landed a consider able force at Vladivostok and in October Czechoslovak troops from the interior made their way through to the coast. An anti Bolshevik government under Admiral Kolchak was established at Omsk and an expedition into European Russia was contemplated, but was rendered unnecessary by the Armistice of Nov. I I. Japanese troops did not advance farther inland than Chita and Irkutsk.
Okuma retired from ill-health in 1916 and Terauchi, of the party called Seiyukai, was appointed to succeed him, although the majority in the diet belonged to the Kenseikai (Constitutionalists), a party which was an amalgamation of the Doshikai with some smaller associations and led by Kato. This appointment created considerable hostility and was considered to be due to the influence of the Genro. The diet proved so unmanageable that Parliament was dissolved and a general election took place in 1917. It re sulted in a striking victory for the Government party or Seiyukai, the Kenseikai losing heavily. This may seem a strange result considering the popular clamour which led to the election, but until quite recently the Government under whose auspices an elec tion is held and which is in charge of the necessary police arrange ments has never lost an election in Japan. In view of the war Terauchi was desirous of obtaining unanimity in foreign policy. For this purpose he created the temporary Diplomatic Investiga tion council, on which all political parties were represented. But in spite of its victory at the polls in 1917, his cabinet had continual trouble, complicated by rice riots and strikes, and he resigned in 1918. Hara, leader of the Seiyukai in succession to Saionji, was selected as the new premier. He was remarkable as being the first commoner to hold office and also his cabinet, as representing a party professing certain principles, approximated more nearly to European political institutions than any of its predecessors. In March 1918 the Government had been obliged by popular demand to bring forward an Electoral Reform Bill by which the property qualification for voters was reduced from a payment of ten yen in taxes to three yen. But a decided democratic movement began to show itself. This extension of the vote was not regarded as satisfactory : there was a clamour for universal suffrage and a bill providing for it was introduced by the Opposition in Feb. 192o. The Government, however, contended that as no election on the basis of the extended suffrage had yet taken place, it was premature to make a further suffrage reform without consulting the country. The diet was accordingly dissolved and at the election which took place immediately afterwards the Government party, that is the Seiyukai, as usual obtained a large majority. The position was somewhat curious for the Seiyukai, who were supposed to be the liberal party, were against universal suffrage and the Kenseikai were supporting it for political reasons, though it was distasteful to many of them.
Peace Conference.---At the Peace conference held in Paris in 1919, Japan brought forward a proposal, most dear to Japanese sentiment, that the principle of racial equality should be admitted. The Powers were invited to accord as soon as possible to all nationals of the States members of the League equal and just treatment in every respect, making no distinction either in law or in fact on account of their race or nationality. In making this proposal Count Makino explained that the clause did not demand the immediate realization of racial equality : it enunciated the principle only and left the methods of applying it in the hands of the Governments concerned. In the course of discussion the wording was somewhat modified in the hope of meeting objections, but even so the proposal obtained only II votes out of 17 and it was ruled that unanimity was essential. Japan accepted the decision, reserving the right to raise the question again at an opportune moment, but no doubt this refusal to recognize racial equality created a very unfortunate feeling. In other respects the main results of the peace for Japan were two in number. First, the former German islands in the Pacific lying north of the Equator which had been under Japanese occupation since were now allocated to Japanese administration under mandate. Secondly, in spite of the objections of China, it was finally decided to give Kiao-Chiao to Japan, but on the understanding that she would not retain it but would restore it to China as a mark of goodwill and friendship. Both these transfers of territory created
a good deal of discussion, which was continued at the Washington Conference summoned at the end of 1921. One of islands ferred under mandate was Yap in the Caroline group, which had a special importance as being a centre of the cable system in the Pacific. The United States took exception to Yap becoming an integral part of Japanese territory on the ground that it vitally affected the world's communications. The question was eventually settled: an agreement was signed in which the United States ad mitted the authority of Japan as the mandatory power in Yap, while Japan accorded to the United States full rights and facilities in respect of cables.
The question of the rendition of Kiao-Chiao was complicated by the relations which had arisen between China and Japan during the war. In 1915 the Powers of Europe were engaged in a con flict the issue of which was by no means certain ; should Ger many prove victorious Japan's prospects in China were not at all favourable. The internal condition of China was equally uncertain and no one could say what form of government might eventually be established there. Japanese troops were in occupation of Tsing tao and a portion of Shantung. In these circumstances the states men of Tokyo thought it wise to make use of the opportunity and strengthen the position of their country.
The Japanese troops remained in Siberia longer than those of other Powers, but a promise was made at the Washington Con ference to withdraw them as soon as the situation permitted. Japan, as a near neighbour, was affected by the fact that Siberia, since the death of Kolchak, was in Bolshevik hands and a most unfortunate incident had occurred in March 1920 when 700 Japanese were massacred at Nikolaievsk by a Bolshevik guerrilla gang. On this the Japanese occupied northern Sakhalin. The troops on the mainland were withdrawn in 1923 and in the same year negotiations were started for the recognition of the Soviet Government. These negotiations were at first informal but were subsequently conducted by the Japanese and Soviet representa tives at Peking and resulted in a convention signed in Jan. 1925. By its terms Japan recognized the Soviet Government which tendered "an expression of sincere regret" for the massacre of Nikolaievsk. Japan undertook to withdraw her troops from northern Sakhalin immediately, special arrangements being made for the working of oilfields in this region by Japanese firms. There were further stipulations as to granting other concessions and fishing rights. It is significant that whereas in 1915 the Japanese Government seemed inclined to adopt a forward policy on the mainland, their subsequent attitude became most unassuming. They withdrew from Shantung and Siberia and did not even attempt to retain the northern portion of Sakhalin.
For the various agreements respecting the limitation of naval armaments and other matters at the Washington Conference, see that article. Of special importance was the agreement by which the Anglo-Japanese alliance was brought to an end and replaced by a Four-Power Treaty between France, Great Britain, Japan and the United States.
In 1921 the Crown Prince Hirohito made a tour in Europe and was received in Great Britain with the greatest cordiality by both the court and the public. This was the first time that a prince in the direct line of succession had left the sacred soil of Japan. In 1922 the Prince of Wales returned the visit and was received with equal cordiality.
The health of the emperor had never been robust. From the beginning of 1920 he ceased to appear in public and on Nov. 25, 1921, the Crown Prince was appointed regent. In 1924, H.I.H. married the daughter of Prince Kuni, head of one of the col lateral princely houses.