The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty at the end of World War One that ended war between Germany and the Allied Powers. The negotiation was signed by many participating countries and one of them was Japan, which is the country that this article will base the information off of from the Treaty of Versailles.
JAPAN
NATIONAL MOTTO: The country does not have an official motto, but "the land of the rising sun" is often used, though not made official.
Abstract
During the Treaty of Versailles, Japan had expected to gain territory that Germany had in Asian territories. Due to Japan's great victory against the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War, the Asian power saw itself as one of the top world powers and wanted to be recognized by the white leading nations as one of them, a strong leading country. The United States however opposed Japan's wishes. Resentment that then accumulated in Japan over the next two decades caused it to turn against its former allies and join Germany and Italy for the World War II in the Axis Alliance.
During the Treaty of Versailles, Japan had expected to gain territory that Germany had in Asian territories. Due to Japan's great victory against the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War, the Asian power saw itself as one of the top world powers and wanted to be recognized by the white leading nations as one of them, a strong leading country. The United States however opposed Japan's wishes. Resentment that then accumulated in Japan over the next two decades caused it to turn against its former allies and join Germany and Italy for the World War II in the Axis Alliance.
Historic Situation of Japan (1919)
Due to the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902 that Japan signed with Britain, Japan had a dramatic increase to international status and was recognized as one of the world's greatest powers. World War I was over by then and because Japan was allied to the Allied Powers, the country expected to gain territory at the Versailles Treaty of 1919. The country was still at a stage of imperialism and wanted to extend its empire still more and was as well looking for racial equality with the powerful white nations that governed most of the world. Instead, Japan soon met strong opposition from the U.S. and learned that the West regarded imperialism very differently when it came to the imperialism of an Asian rather than a European power.
The small four years during World War One supplied a huge bonanza to the Japanese economy due to increase in global demand for some Japanese products but ended as soon as the war was over. By 1919, Japan feared that its investment would be adversely affected. However, at the same time, because European powers were fighting each other, international trade was suspended and Europe could no longer supply textiles, machinery and chemicals to the rest of the world. Japan's manufacturing products were still inferior of quality and could be substituted for European products that were unavailable, by the end of the war and still leading to the Treaty of Versailles, Japan had severe shortage of high-quality machines and industrial inputs while domestic demand surged. As of 1919, private consumption fell, domestic consumption was croweded out by foreign demand, business profits jumped and gold reserves accumulated. However, due to the small requirement of World War One for military operation and no engagement in combat, Japan had a strong growing military. The situation of 1919 for Japan supplied both great and negative effects done by World War I.
Due to the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902 that Japan signed with Britain, Japan had a dramatic increase to international status and was recognized as one of the world's greatest powers. World War I was over by then and because Japan was allied to the Allied Powers, the country expected to gain territory at the Versailles Treaty of 1919. The country was still at a stage of imperialism and wanted to extend its empire still more and was as well looking for racial equality with the powerful white nations that governed most of the world. Instead, Japan soon met strong opposition from the U.S. and learned that the West regarded imperialism very differently when it came to the imperialism of an Asian rather than a European power.
The small four years during World War One supplied a huge bonanza to the Japanese economy due to increase in global demand for some Japanese products but ended as soon as the war was over. By 1919, Japan feared that its investment would be adversely affected. However, at the same time, because European powers were fighting each other, international trade was suspended and Europe could no longer supply textiles, machinery and chemicals to the rest of the world. Japan's manufacturing products were still inferior of quality and could be substituted for European products that were unavailable, by the end of the war and still leading to the Treaty of Versailles, Japan had severe shortage of high-quality machines and industrial inputs while domestic demand surged. As of 1919, private consumption fell, domestic consumption was croweded out by foreign demand, business profits jumped and gold reserves accumulated. However, due to the small requirement of World War One for military operation and no engagement in combat, Japan had a strong growing military. The situation of 1919 for Japan supplied both great and negative effects done by World War I.
Treaty Questions (Japan's viewpoint)
1. Should any European territory of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, or the former Ottoman Empire be transferred to any other country?
Yes, Japan suggests that territories of Germany should be transferred to other countries, since it was the main enemy for the Allied Powers. Japan has not much interest of territory in Europe, but still thinks that some of Germany's European territories should be transferred to other European countires.
2. Should any European territory of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, or the former Ottoman Empire be used to create any new country or countries?
No, all land that of either those countries should not be used to create any new country or countries. The people of those territories would be better off under the rule of an already established nation that knows how to run things. Besides, creating a new nation may lead to chaos of their governments leading to a downfall for them which should be avoided. There is no need to create new countries.
3. Should any overseas territory of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, or the former Ottoman Empire be transferred to any other country?
Yes, Japan is still on the imperialism age and suggests that especially territories of Germany should be transferred to other countries, since it was the main enemy for the Allied Powers. Japan suggests that all of the German territorial holdings that it may posses in China or any other Asian territoy be transferred for Japanese power and control. Jiaozhou Wan in China is an example of territory that Japan may wish to have.
4. What should the new boundary lines for any changes in Europe (provide a map with new national borders to represent the changes suggested)?
Japan did not really want any territory of Europe because it was more interested on territory Germany had in Asia, but went along to vote that territory should be taken away from Germany in Europe. Japan did not make any significant suggestions to new boundry lines for Europe, but clicking on the link provided for the phrase above or simply clicking here will show new boundries of Europe after World War One.
5. Should heavy industry (capable of producing military equipment) be limited in the former Central Powers?
Producing heavy industries should be limited for the Central Powers; Germany, for example is very low on money due to the war and has therefore not much money anyways, so does not need any heavy industry since it is not able to attack. Punishing Germany in that way is reasonable, no planning of attacking Germany is planned so the country does not even need heavy industry for self defense.
6. Should all trade and tariff barriers be eliminated? If so, to what extent?
Trade and tariffs should not be eliminated, Japan both depends on recieving European merchandise and goods as well as exporting our own Japanese made products to other countries.
7. Should reparations be paid by the former Central Powers to the victimized Allies? If so, how much and how long should the former Central Powers have to pay these reparations?
Japan did not recieve any harm that was caused by the Central Powers during the war, but due to our alliance with the Allied powers, Japan thinks that the Central powers should pay reparations to the victimized Allied Powers. The money should be enough to cover all the major damge that was caused and the time to finish paying the reparations should be no longer than little over a year.
8. Should the former Central Powers be allowed any military capability?
Since in Japan's opinion, there should be limited heavy industry, Japan also thinks that there should be almost no military capability. Again, countries like Germany were hurt a lot economically during the war and are still trying to recover, so they are not able to attack and no attack planning is made against them, military capablilty for the Central powers is useless.
9. Should all nations have freedom of the seas?
All nations should have freedom of the seas, Japan is a union of islands and most of our trade must be done over seas, so it is essential for our economy to be able to have freedom of the seas and be able to freely export and go to any place of the world over seas for any demanding reason.
10. Should there be world wide disarmament (no standing armies, no offensive weapons, no future production of weapons of war)?
Wordwide disarmament should not happen, Japan has a strong growing military that is important for our country. In addition, conflict is very hard to avoid, whether it is conflict with another nation or conflict within one's country, standing armies are necessary for control and should always be available for many reasons.
11. Should there be a world wide supervisory body to enforce terms of this treaty and to serve as a permamnent peace keeping body? If so, how should it be structured?
A world wide supervisory body to enforce the terms of this treaty would depend a lot on who is part of the body, wise representatives from each country would be needed. Japan has no great opposition to the idea, but thinks that the supervisory body would be hard to maintain with much bias of different view points from nations that can create dispute and conflict with one another.
1. Should any European territory of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, or the former Ottoman Empire be transferred to any other country?
Yes, Japan suggests that territories of Germany should be transferred to other countries, since it was the main enemy for the Allied Powers. Japan has not much interest of territory in Europe, but still thinks that some of Germany's European territories should be transferred to other European countires.
2. Should any European territory of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, or the former Ottoman Empire be used to create any new country or countries?
No, all land that of either those countries should not be used to create any new country or countries. The people of those territories would be better off under the rule of an already established nation that knows how to run things. Besides, creating a new nation may lead to chaos of their governments leading to a downfall for them which should be avoided. There is no need to create new countries.
3. Should any overseas territory of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, or the former Ottoman Empire be transferred to any other country?
Yes, Japan is still on the imperialism age and suggests that especially territories of Germany should be transferred to other countries, since it was the main enemy for the Allied Powers. Japan suggests that all of the German territorial holdings that it may posses in China or any other Asian territoy be transferred for Japanese power and control. Jiaozhou Wan in China is an example of territory that Japan may wish to have.
4. What should the new boundary lines for any changes in Europe (provide a map with new national borders to represent the changes suggested)?
Japan did not really want any territory of Europe because it was more interested on territory Germany had in Asia, but went along to vote that territory should be taken away from Germany in Europe. Japan did not make any significant suggestions to new boundry lines for Europe, but clicking on the link provided for the phrase above or simply clicking here will show new boundries of Europe after World War One.
5. Should heavy industry (capable of producing military equipment) be limited in the former Central Powers?
Producing heavy industries should be limited for the Central Powers; Germany, for example is very low on money due to the war and has therefore not much money anyways, so does not need any heavy industry since it is not able to attack. Punishing Germany in that way is reasonable, no planning of attacking Germany is planned so the country does not even need heavy industry for self defense.
6. Should all trade and tariff barriers be eliminated? If so, to what extent?
Trade and tariffs should not be eliminated, Japan both depends on recieving European merchandise and goods as well as exporting our own Japanese made products to other countries.
7. Should reparations be paid by the former Central Powers to the victimized Allies? If so, how much and how long should the former Central Powers have to pay these reparations?
Japan did not recieve any harm that was caused by the Central Powers during the war, but due to our alliance with the Allied powers, Japan thinks that the Central powers should pay reparations to the victimized Allied Powers. The money should be enough to cover all the major damge that was caused and the time to finish paying the reparations should be no longer than little over a year.
8. Should the former Central Powers be allowed any military capability?
Since in Japan's opinion, there should be limited heavy industry, Japan also thinks that there should be almost no military capability. Again, countries like Germany were hurt a lot economically during the war and are still trying to recover, so they are not able to attack and no attack planning is made against them, military capablilty for the Central powers is useless.
9. Should all nations have freedom of the seas?
All nations should have freedom of the seas, Japan is a union of islands and most of our trade must be done over seas, so it is essential for our economy to be able to have freedom of the seas and be able to freely export and go to any place of the world over seas for any demanding reason.
10. Should there be world wide disarmament (no standing armies, no offensive weapons, no future production of weapons of war)?
Wordwide disarmament should not happen, Japan has a strong growing military that is important for our country. In addition, conflict is very hard to avoid, whether it is conflict with another nation or conflict within one's country, standing armies are necessary for control and should always be available for many reasons.
11. Should there be a world wide supervisory body to enforce terms of this treaty and to serve as a permamnent peace keeping body? If so, how should it be structured?
A world wide supervisory body to enforce the terms of this treaty would depend a lot on who is part of the body, wise representatives from each country would be needed. Japan has no great opposition to the idea, but thinks that the supervisory body would be hard to maintain with much bias of different view points from nations that can create dispute and conflict with one another.
Japan and League of Nations
Japan joined the League of Nations in 1920, as a charter member and one of the four permanent members of the League council. However, conflict rose between Japan and the organization over the Japanese 1931 Manchurian invasion in China, the League of Nations did not take much action to stop the invasion and Japan withdrew from the League of Nations in 1933.
Japan joined the League of Nations in 1920, as a charter member and one of the four permanent members of the League council. However, conflict rose between Japan and the organization over the Japanese 1931 Manchurian invasion in China, the League of Nations did not take much action to stop the invasion and Japan withdrew from the League of Nations in 1933.
Japan 1919-1929
At the end World War One, manufacturing industries were growing, heavy industries had expanded strongly, despite the weak macroeconomy. When World war one was over, though, Japan's sudden increase of economy collasped. 1920 came with a big crash. The price of cotton fell back 60% and silk by 70%. The lack of competitiveness and overcapacity of the Japanese economy, which was previously under the unsubstantiated exuberance, was now exposed. The narikin were now bankrupt and economy was obviously going down, it was very slow compared to the time period of World War One. There was a steady domestic demand and Japan went through a series of recessions and bank crisis, the biggest bank runs occured in 1927. At the end of the 1920's, Japan's Government made the Bank of Japan provide emergency loans to ailing banks and industries to avoid any further bankruptcies and unemployment with hope to have a better economy for the next decade, though matters did not get any better with the Worldwide Depression approaching.
At the end World War One, manufacturing industries were growing, heavy industries had expanded strongly, despite the weak macroeconomy. When World war one was over, though, Japan's sudden increase of economy collasped. 1920 came with a big crash. The price of cotton fell back 60% and silk by 70%. The lack of competitiveness and overcapacity of the Japanese economy, which was previously under the unsubstantiated exuberance, was now exposed. The narikin were now bankrupt and economy was obviously going down, it was very slow compared to the time period of World War One. There was a steady domestic demand and Japan went through a series of recessions and bank crisis, the biggest bank runs occured in 1927. At the end of the 1920's, Japan's Government made the Bank of Japan provide emergency loans to ailing banks and industries to avoid any further bankruptcies and unemployment with hope to have a better economy for the next decade, though matters did not get any better with the Worldwide Depression approaching.
Japan During the Worldwide Depression
As one of the first problems at the start of 1930, the Fiance Minister Junnosuke Inoue said in a speech, "Our economy remains very unstable because of the export ban on gold." There had been many attempts to restore prewar gold standard systems without success. Japan had been thrown into a series deflation spiral, with unemployment that surged. Japan always relied on foreign tradde and when the world depression hit in the 1930's, countries no longer imported Japanese luxuries such as silks. the value of many Japanese luxuries droppped by 50% from 1929 to 1931. There was also lacking of natural resources for Japan's dismay and Japan was led to invade the area of Manchuria in northeastern China in 1931. Throughout the next couple of years, Japan continued to invade China, easily crushing its opposition. Soon by 1938, Northern and Central China was under Japan's control. The worldwide depression seemed to start to drag Japan, making it take measures that would stop its economic decrease as fast as possible.
As one of the first problems at the start of 1930, the Fiance Minister Junnosuke Inoue said in a speech, "Our economy remains very unstable because of the export ban on gold." There had been many attempts to restore prewar gold standard systems without success. Japan had been thrown into a series deflation spiral, with unemployment that surged. Japan always relied on foreign tradde and when the world depression hit in the 1930's, countries no longer imported Japanese luxuries such as silks. the value of many Japanese luxuries droppped by 50% from 1929 to 1931. There was also lacking of natural resources for Japan's dismay and Japan was led to invade the area of Manchuria in northeastern China in 1931. Throughout the next couple of years, Japan continued to invade China, easily crushing its opposition. Soon by 1938, Northern and Central China was under Japan's control. The worldwide depression seemed to start to drag Japan, making it take measures that would stop its economic decrease as fast as possible.
Japan's Alliance in World War II
The Second World War was soon to come and in 1940, Japan became allies with Germany and Italy, forming the Axis Alliance who would fight against the Allied Powers during the war. The Axis partners all wanted to expand territories and create a destruction or neutralization of the Soviet Commmunism. During World War One, Japan was on the Allied Powers side, but due to what happened during the Treaty of Versailles, with the racial unequalities against Japan and many of the events that happened within the country for almost the next two decades had made Japan turn against the United States and the Allied Powers, joining Germany for another great world battle.
The Second World War was soon to come and in 1940, Japan became allies with Germany and Italy, forming the Axis Alliance who would fight against the Allied Powers during the war. The Axis partners all wanted to expand territories and create a destruction or neutralization of the Soviet Commmunism. During World War One, Japan was on the Allied Powers side, but due to what happened during the Treaty of Versailles, with the racial unequalities against Japan and many of the events that happened within the country for almost the next two decades had made Japan turn against the United States and the Allied Powers, joining Germany for another great world battle.
Works Cited
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