Japan's Great Power Status: Paris Peace Settlement Impact
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‘Japan’s status as a Great Power was confirmed by the Paris Peace Settlement.’ How far do you agree?
ESSAY
Japan’s status as a Great Power was indeed confirmed by the Paris Peace Settlement to a significant extent. The First World War provided Japan with the opportunity to expand its influence in Asia and increase its territorial holdings in the north equatorial Pacific. By fighting on the side of the victorious Allied Powers, Japan was able to quickly occupy German-leased territories and establish itself as a dominant force in the region. Additionally, Japan played a crucial role in supplying war material to its European allies, which helped diversify its industry, increase its exports, and transform the country from a debtor to a creditor nation for the first time.
Furthermore, Japan's participation in the peace conference at Paris in 1919 solidified its status as one of the great military and industrial powers of the world. The country received official recognition as one of the 'Big Five' nations of the new international order, with a permanent seat on the Council of the League of Nations. The peace treaty also confirmed the transfer of Germany's rights in China and some Pacific islands to Japan, further enhancing its territorial holdings and influence.
Moreover, Japan's central role in the Washington Naval Conference further attested to its status as a Great Power. Despite having to accept a lower allocation of capital ships compared to the United States and Britain, Japan's participation in the conference demonstrated its recognition as a major player in global affairs. The conference also required Japan to withdraw its troops from Shandong and Siberia, where it had been part of the international force opposing the Bolshevik Revolution. Although these actions may have had short-term disadvantages for Japan, they still highlighted its position as a significant power in international negotiations.
However, there are also arguments challenging the view that Japan's status as a Great Power was confirmed by the Paris Peace Settlement. Firstly, negotiations at Versailles were primarily conducted by the 'Big Three,' excluding Japan. This exclusion could be seen as a sign that Japan was not considered on par with the other major powers. Additionally, the rejection of the 'racial equality clause' in the Treaty of Versailles further alienated Japan from the other great powers and fueled its increased nationalism and militarism, ultimately leading to the Second World War.
Furthermore, the Washington Naval Conference imposed limitations on Japan's naval capabilities, indicating that it was not treated as an equal to the United States and Britain. The conference also required Japan to withdraw its troops from Shandong and Siberia, which may have fueled the perception that western powers regarded Japan as an inferior nation.
In conclusion, while the Paris Peace Settlement did confirm Japan's status as a Great Power to a significant extent, there are also valid arguments challenging this view. Japan's expansion of influence and territorial holdings during the First World War, its recognition as a 'Big Five' nation, and its participation in international conferences all suggest its elevated status. However, the exclusion from key negotiations and the rejection of the 'racial equality clause' highlight the limitations and challenges Japan faced in being fully recognized as an equal among the great powers.
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NOTES
‘Japan’s status as a Great Power was confirmed by the Paris Peace Settlement.’ How far do you agree? Indicative content In support of the view responses might discuss how the First World War permitted Japan, which fought on the side of the victorious Allied Powers, to expand its influence in Asia and its territorial holdings in the north equatorial Pacific. Japan declared war on Germany on August 23, 1914, and quickly occupied German-leased territories. Towards the end of the war, Japan increasingly filled orders for its European allies' needed war material, thus helping to diversify the country's industry, increase its exports, and transform Japan from a debtor to a creditor nation for the first time. Japan also went to the peace conference at Paris in 1919 as one of the great military and industrial powers of the world and received official recognition as one of the ‘Big Five’ nations of the new international order. Tokyo was granted a permanent seat on the Council of the League of Nations and the peace treaty confirmed the transfer to Japan of Germany's rights in China and some Pacific islands. Japan’s central role in the Washington Naval conference was recognition of Japan’s status. In challenging this view responses might consider how negotiations at Versailles were largely conducted by the ‘Big Three’ – Japan was not included. Rejection of ‘racial equality clause’ in Treaty of Versailles. Though it was broadly supported, the proposal did not become part of the Treaty, largely because of opposition by Australia and the United States. Its rejection was a cause for Japan's alienation from the other great powers and its increased nationalism and militarism that would lead up to the Second World War. At the Washington Naval Conference Japan had to accept a lower allocation of capital ships than USA and Britain and in the nine Power Treaty had to agree to withdraw its troops from Shandong and Siberia (where it had been part of the international force opposing the Bolshevik Revolution). While these both had short term advantages for Japan in the long run, they fuelled the feeling that western powers were treating Japan as an inferior nation. NB arguments about whether Japan had achieved great power status before 1919 are not relevant to this question – it is specifically about whether they were treated as a great power in the negotiations and the outcomes. Accept any other valid responses.