Anglo-Japanese Alliance: The Diplomacy of Two Island Empires 1894-1907

by Ian Nish

In this book Dr Nish deals with one of the most important aspects of far eastern politics in the critical period between 1894 and 1907. His object is to demonstrate how Britain and Japan at first separately and later jointly, reacted to Russian encroachments in China and east Asia; he is concerned also with the policies of the other European powers and of the United States, to whose hostility towards the Anglo-Japanese alliance after 1905 Britain showed herself increasingly sensitive.

Dr Nish has based his account in large part on hitherto unpublished and inaccessible materials. The availability of much new archival material, both public and private, and the author's first-hand knowledge of the Japanese sources (the most important of which are translated in an appendix) have enabled him to attempt, among other things, an informed assessment of the domestic influences which led the British and Japanese governments to take the step of entering into unprecedented alliance. Much is seen to depend on the naval needs of both partners and, in the case of Great Britain, on the difficulty of providing adequately for the defence of India at the same time as coping with critical developments nearer home.

Genres: World War I

420 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

A specialist in the history of Japanese foreign policy and Anglo-Japanese relations, Ian Hill Nish CBE was Emeritus Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Reviews

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edifying book on the transformation of the diplomatic agreements from a covert diplomacy to an overt "publically seen and showcased" one, which laid the grounds for NAFTA, CETA, TIPA and many other contemporary agreeements.

That is not to say, that such diplomacy is conducted completely in the open and in the interest of the general public, but the Anglo-Japanese alliance, or alliances (as they were renewed and renegotiated every 5 years or so), are one of the starting points of "big public" and somewhat democratic approach to attaining mutual goals in an international society still firmly adhering to the secret treaties, negotiated noble house to noble house, emperor to emperor and so forth.

The diplomats had remarkable foresight in terms of the future actions of the 'sides' they made their county to ally 'against' but they also had to contend, interestingly, with the current politics and current government, making this study relevant, as in the course of those alliances tens of governments have changed, which is a process very unlike the 19th and early 20th century and more akin to contemporary politics where a government may last only several month.

Very insightful and helpful with the suggested reading materials, both in Japanese and other languages (such as independent resarch by Y.V.Galperin)

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Along with George Monger's 'The End of Isolation', Nish's work forms two of most influential in the historiography of the 1904 Anglo-Japanese Alliance.

Covering both origins and aftermath of the Alliance, this text heavily relies upon the then new archive material to analyse both the decisions and policies of both Britain and Japan in response to Russian aggression in the Far East.

From reading other books on the subject, I believe this work focuses more than most upon the Japanese actions within in the Alliance.