TNT History Archives: Japanese "Asia Alliance" Against Europeans (1912)/Part IV

//Ed. Note:  In this portion of his essay, the Japanese writer
Hatanu characterizes both Russia and England as unable 
to counter Japan, even with American help.  First of all,
though, he sees a Japanese pact with the new Republic of
China as the crucial beginning for the "Asia Alliance".//

In the year (year left blank but possibly 1908 -see note below) a 

respected member of the Tatar-ı İhvan (Tatar Moslem Brotherhood) 

came and made a very important proposal.  He asked that the Japanese 

government help his nation recover its political life.  In other words, 

if the Japanese government seriously takes upon itself the task of 

guiding others and initiates an Asian alliance, then in 3-5 years great 

successes can be achieved. 

//Ed. Note: later in his essay, Hatanu refers to "Türkistan" 

as a potential Asia Alliance member and recalls that an 

important person from there visited Japan "4 years ago" 

(1908).  In the 1930s, Japan supported an Ottoman prince 

as 'emperor' for Turkistan against the Russians: 

Ottoman Prince in Turkistan 1933 click here for a 

detailed account of this incident.//

First of all, let us consider how an alliance and association with China 

can happen: if the Japanese government wants to make a secret 

agreement with China, as a first step the Japanese government should 

approve of the China Republic.  Next, it should warn China that it must 

make the strongest protests to Mongolia and Tibet about the problems 

there and ensure the peace of mind of the Mongolians and Tibetans. 

 

In concert with this, if the Japanese government clearly warns Russia 

and England that their meddling  in Mongolia and Tibet will upset the 

peacefulness of the Far East, then neither Russia nor England will take 

any action whatsoever and both will be forced to remain silent.

Certainly, when Japan takes such steps as these it must ensure that its 

own military forces and arms are abundant.  Nevertheless, thankfully, it 

is clear that our military forces are superior to both Russia and England 

on land and sea. In truth, if Russia were to send all its land forces 

against Japan it would be in a position to resist to some degree but in 

light of the Balkan problems and the situation in Iran, Russian 

cannot send 500,000 troops to the Far East.  Yet, in order to pose a 

credible threat to Japan, Russia would have to have at least 500,000 

troops permanently stationed in the Far East.  And Russia poses no 

naval threat so Russia could in no way fight a war with Japan. 

                               Asia before World War I

When it comes to England, its time and majesty have passed and it has 

grown old.  England will only be remembered in the history books as a 

power of the past.  England has been forced to pull its fleet from the 

Mediterranean Sea in order to defend the North Sea.  In disgrace, 

England has barely been able to forge an alliance with the French fleet 

and is having great difficulty protecting India.  In short, England could 

not oppose Japan for 100 years.

//Ed. Note: despite this anti-Anglo rhetoric, Japan played a

noteworthy, but perhaps little-known, role in supporting

England during World War I - Japan in WWI //

Let us suppose that Russia, England and France make an offensive-

defensive alliance;  but Russia would have to defer the path it is 

following vis-a-vis Iran and leave Turkey alone for the time being, as 

well; Russia would also have to leave France to face Germany and 

Austria alone and send its forces toward us, while England would have 

to rely on France, too, sending the bulk of its naval fleet to Japanese 

waters (because there would be no other way for England to challenge 

our forces).  In such a circumstance, our land and naval forces would 

only be too happy to greet these two guests.  In fact, England would not 

declare war on Japan as long as it remains strong against Germany and 

does not lose India.  And if England did not participate in a war against 

Japan, Russia would be in no position to do so by itself.

//Ed. Note: with regard to India, in particular, Japan

provided this important help to England in Singapore

in 1915: 

The British allowed the Japanese to base ships at 

Singapore, which proved of great value to the 

British in late January 1915 when Muslim soldiers 

from the Indian Army, responding to the Ottoman 

Jihad declaration, mutinied and rampaged freely 

in the city for two days until an ad hoc force headed 

by 158 Japanese Marines restored order.

Even in the most unlikely circumstance, even if the Triple Entente 

combined with America, it could not threaten Japan.  In essense, today 

there is no state in the world which is capable of opposing Japan.  We 

would be astonished if the Japanese government did not seize upon this 

opportunity right now to forge an Asian alliance and secure a lasting 

peace for Asia.

//END of PART IV//