A matter of imperial defence : Arthur Balfour and the Anglo-Japanese alliance, 1894-1923
This thesis investigates Arthur Balfour’s policy towards Japan and the Anglo-Japanese alliance from 1894 to 1923. Although Balfour was involved in the Anglo-Japanese alliance from its signing to termination, no comprehensive analysis of his role in the alliance has been carried out. Utilising unpublished materials and academic books, this thesis reveals that Balfour’s policy on the Anglo-Japanese alliance revolved around two vital principles, namely imperial defence and Anglo-American cooperation. From the viewpoint of imperial defence, Balfour emphasised the defence of India and Australasia more than that of China. He opposed the signing of the Anglo-Japanese alliance of 1902 because it was not useful in the defence of India. The Russo-Japanese War raised the concern of Indian security. Changing his lukewarm attitude, Balfour took the initiative in extending the alliance into India to employ Japanese troops for the defence of India. Moreover, as an advocate of Anglo-American cooperation, Balfour made every effort to maintain good Anglo-American-Japanese relations. However, imperial defence and Anglo-American cooperation began to clash within the alliance during the Great War. Although the Siberian intervention was useful Japanese military assistance in the defence of India, America, who was not interested in India, hesitated to support it due to her suspicion against Japan. After the war, the alliance was still instrumental in defending India and Australasia, but its existence damaged the relations with America. Balfour tried to achieve both imperial defence and Anglo-American cooperation by developing the alliance into an Anglo-American-Japanese trilateral agreement with a military clause to revive a bilateral defensive alliance. But America and Japan did not support Balfour’s plan at the Washington Conference, and he had to accept the Four-Power Treaty without any military commitment.
A Tentative View of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1911
1911 saw the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Britain wanted to renew the alliance in an effort to eschew its obligation and involvement in a possible Japan-US war,while Japan 's nodding this military alliance without any military agreement stemmed from multiple considerations: avoiding its own isolation from the international community,balancing against Russia,rescheduling Anglo-American relations, and continuing its invasion into China.
The Origins of the Vigilant State: The London Metropolitan Police Special Branch Before the First World War
'This vividly written, fascinating study will be essential reading not only for historians of the British state, but to anyone concerned to understand the origins of contemporary policing problems.' NEW SOCIETY The origins of the London Metropolitan Police Special Branch are shrouded in secrecy; its establishment took place against a background of fierce opposition to any kind of political force in Britain. This is the first book to seek to probe beneath that secrecy and examine the origins, methods and achievements of the Special Branch. It will be of interest to everyone concerned with the growth of today's 'secret state'.(Originally published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1987)