Japanese Armored Cruiser Ibuki This information is presented so that readers can see that there is more than one way to see history, and that day-to-day events are often brought about by other events that can be overlooked in the passion of war. One of the things seldom realized by today’s generation is that before WW II the Japanese attempted, on many occasions, to enter into a Military and Trade alliance with Australia. Before achieving Federation, Australia was represented by Great Britain, which negotiated on behalf of each colony through the Foreign office. Each colony (later to become states) had its own representatives to the Foreign office. First Sino-Japanese War When Japan demonstrated her emergence onto the world scene by the defeat of the Chinese Navy in the first Sino-Japanese war, she was in close and friendly contact with Great Britain. It was in British interests for Japan to be a curb on the colonial interests of other European Powers, so the emergent IJN was mostly equipped with British warships and trained by British officers, so much so that many commands were given in English rather than Japanese. The success of Japan caused a ripple of fear in Australia. At that time the population was tiny, spread across a huge continent and therefore vulnerable to attack. The RN was supposed to maintain an “Australian Squadron” but by the 1890s was proving reluctant to make this anything other than a very sparse representation. The Colonies contributed to “Imperial Defence” financially and through building a few small warships of their own. Some of the finance can be seen in the naming of a few British warships of that era. Australia, Katoomba, Kangaroo, etc. Racism had a considerable amount to do with it. In this era Europeans traditionally regarded Asians as “sub-humans” and their colonial attitudes reflected this. Japan, however, presented a problem. Here was a vibrant economy, modernized and efficient. The people were seeking to be “modern” and “European” in their outlooks and education ran on similar principles. Japan therefore suffered through being considered somewhere in between the colonial subjects of the extensive Empire and “fellow Europeans.” Before the War of 1904-05, Japan made approaches to Great Britain and Australia for military alliances. Australia had now been a country in its own right since 1901, but old habits die hard, so most negotiation took place through the UK Foreign Office. When an alliance was entered into, it was very unpopular in Australia,, which saw the Japanese as a potential threat. Nonetheless, considerable trade took place. Russia had long been a potential player in colonization of the Pacific and many Australian defensive works had been built during various Russian scares. Therefore anyone who was fighting Russia was a friend of Australia, even if they were “Asiatic.” Japanese cavalry went into action riding the “Waler” horses that the Australian Light Horse would make famous in Palestine. Australian meat and wool was exported in huge quantities. Japanese soldiers fighting in the cold of Manchuria almost certainly wore uniforms made of Aussie wool and the beef in their ‘teriyaki’ was probably Australian too. Russo-Japanese War This brought on a temporary Japanese fashion in Australia. Wall hangings, lamps, crockery and etc. were very popular along with many cheap export products then produced by Japan. “Plucky little Japan” was supported by Red Cross donations and the course of the war followed with great interest. The underdog was very popular for a time. Japan fought under international conventions, recognized prisoner rights and conducted herself within the “rules” laid down by European Powers at the Hague Convention. Her insistence on “playing the game” caused many writers to pen jingoistic support and artists always toned down Japanese troops’ and sailors’ Asian appearance. However, the huge success of Japan against Russia sent ripples of fright through Australia. The plucky little underdog was suddenly seen as an emerging world power capable of defeating a European great power. A certain amount of political panic resulted. An Australian fleet had been planned eventually, but this war provided the impetus to get things moving. It explains why such a brand new navy as the RAN leapt straight into a newly-built battlecruiser and some excellent Town-class cruisers over the next few years, rather than taking a ‘second hand ship’ approach. New Zealand’s cooperation meant there would be at least two battlecruisers available in South Pacific waters. American diplomacy brought the sailing of the ‘Great White Fleet’ and Australia invited the fleet to visit its harbors. This was poorly received in the Foreign Office, but in one of its few, newly independent wing flappings, the new Australian Parliament pushed acceptance through. The Americans were received with massed public hysteria that seems quite strange today. The men of the fleet were feted wherever they went and even inland towns made special arrangements for ‘The Yanks’ to travel by train to march in their streets. The US was also worried about the rise of Japan and its growing hostile attitude toward the USA. The feeling was pretty much mutual. This could hardly be avoided during the visit and Australians saw themselves on the same side as the Americans for racial reasons. Many articles of the time refer to the ‘European’ races standing together in the face of Asian threats. World War I When WW I broke out, the defeat of the Germans at Tsingtao was received with muted joy....many people feeling more sympathy for the “Europeans” being overwhelmed by the “Asian” forces of Japan. Despite all her efforts to be a true ally, the Japanese were to suffer continual racial prejudice. Examination of the period leads one unfailingly to the conclusion that the Japanese were following a deliberate policy of “throwing their weight” into the war effort in the belief that by doing so they would eventually be accepted as full allies....and “equal humans.” The simple faith of Japanese politicians that this would eventually happen is quite sad to read. Australia found herself, through the British/Japanese alliance, an ally of Japan. Politically this was considered “reluctant,” as Japan was already feared so much, but it was better than being an enemy. When Japan wanted to take an active part in the war this was received with horror. Now Japanese warships were to travel to Australia. Indeed, the sailing of the ANZAC fleet to the Great War took place with heavy Japanese units as part of the escort. Australian politicians were very unhappy about this, as it required giving access to our ports and naturally the associated charts etc. When the fleet almost bumped into the raider Emden, one of the escorts, the armored cruiser Ibuki would have been an excellent choice to send for a reconnaissance of Cocos Island. She was quite fast enough to catch Emden and the battle would have been a walkover. In a long chase she had endurance and staying power. However, the British Admiral was reluctant to grant the opportunity for the Japanese to be seen as “protectors” of this vast Imperial convoy. The Japanese had raised full steam and were rearing for a fight when informed that Sydney was to be sent, as they were needed to protect the troopships in case Emden attacked the convoy. (Hardly likely considering the size of the escort.) Despite this insult, the IJN patrolled Australian waters during WW I to guard against raiders, etc. This assistance was freely offered by Japan, which took its treaty obligations seriously. On one occasion an Australian shore battery fired on a Japanese cruiser and caused a huge diplomatic incident. The Governor General (an Englishman) had to make a formal apology on behalf of Great Britain and the Empire. Australian apologies were thrown in at some point too. Japanese warship crews were given muted greetings in Australian ports, despite being allies. The Australian Government under Billy Hughes moved more and more into discussion with Americans about what they could do if the Japanese “got out of hand.” This was unpopular in the Foreign Office and Whitehall admonished the Australian Government on several occasions. They did not like Asians much either, but had a war to fight in Europe. Japan was a valued ally in that regard. The British, desperate for reinforcements, asked Japan if its battle-cruisers could be deployed with the Grand Fleet. Japan was at first delighted to be granted such a status by the (then) major naval power. The joy turned to deep hurt, when it was explained that the British public would find it difficult to have so many Asians stationed in England and it was therefore the intention of HM Navy to simply hire the ships and man them with British sailors. The Japanese were bitter and deeply insulted. They refused this request. Later, however, they sent ships under the Japanese flag and with Japanese crews, to fight in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. They did this once again with almost naive expectation that once mingled in with Allied forces they would be accepted as the Europeans of the East. They fought well and suffered losses, but that acceptance was just not forthcoming. When the French badly needed destroyers, the Japanese came forward and offered to build the Arabe class. They were built for a very low price and were to the same standard as similar units in the Japanese navy. Japanese workers were told they were building on behalf of the war effort of their French Ally and put their backs into it, constructing the ships rapidly and solidly. They were therefore somewhat upset in the post war era when these ships were badly rated by some European sources. At the price they had almost been a gift. The Japanese, being big on gestures and “face,” were insulted. In a similar vein they had arranged the transfer of the destroyer Kawakaze (being built in England) to Italy. This also caused problems when European diplomatic sources made the mistake of making it seem that the sacrifice of this “British built” ship by Japan, was a greater gesture than the providing of Japanese built ships for France. Throughout the war the Japanese supplied rifles and artillery....even to their old enemy Russia. Japanese Arisaki rifles were used in the Palestine and Middle East campaigns as well as being supplied to other allies. Japan was becoming a supplier of the materials of war and made a tidy profit from the war. The profits could have been far higher but the Japanese considered they had a duty to assist their allies. With casualties on the Western Front reaching astronomical proportions, Great Britain was quite happy to invite the Japanese to join the mutual slaughter. Australia was informed at an Imperial Conference and objected. As an alternative Prime Minister Hughes offered more (white) Australian troops. Britain accepted this, as she too was worried that after the war the growing power of Japan might have to be dealt with. Nobody seems to have considered the logical course of accepting what appear to be very genuine Japanese wishes to be a fully participating and fully accepted (racially) ally. Australia found it hard to raise the necessary troops and attempted to do so through conscription. This was rejected by the Australian people in a vote. However, even those opposed could hardly disguise that they did not want the men to leave Australia in case the Japanese, now in Aussie ports, caused a problem. While those in favor found it hard not to say it was to prevent the Japanese becoming too important. Both the for and against cases were based on a fear of Japan, but neither could say so openly. The arrival of America in the war was therefore received with great joy in Australia. Now there was another white ally in the Pacific and one that had a fleet that could match the Japanese. Australian politicians had found a new ally. It was not entirely by coincidence that the first deployments of US troops in Europe was in conjunction with Aussies. Both countries consulted and could to some extent be accused of “conspiring” on policy due to their mutual fear of Japanese aspirations. US warships again visited Australian shores and on the Western Front Diggers showed Doughboys the tricks of the trade in the trenches. Post WWI to WWII Back to The Naval Sitrep #20 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2001 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com