Agony of Choice: Matsuoka Yosuke and the Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1880-1946 (Studies of Modern Japan)

Agony of Choice, the life of Japanese statesman and diplomat Matsuoka Yosuke, offers a vivid narrative of twentieth-century Japanese diplomatic history. Matsuoka was an American-educated Japanese foreign minister who became a vocal advocate of Japanese expansionism in echo of the America he so admired. His promotion of alliances and relationships with countries such as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, however, not only led Japan to war with the United States but also led to Matsuoka's involvement with and eventual indictment for atrocities committed during the war. Through extensive archival research and fascinating personal interviews, David Lu explores Matsuoka's pivotal role in the drama of Japan's withdrawal from the League of Nations, empire-building in Asia, and the development of interwar Japanese politics. Contents 9 Preface 11 Acknowledgments 15 Preface 11 Acknowledgments 15 Notes on Japanese and Chinese Names 17 1 Early Life in Yamaguchi 19 Childhood in Murozumi 21 Decision to Go to die United States 22 Notes 23 CHAPTER TWO 24 2 The First American Experience 24 Idyllic Days in the Pacific Northwest 24 At die University of Oregon 26 Meaning of His Early American Experience 27 America in the 1890s 28 The Japanese Community in Oregon 29 Americans and Japanese 30 Pioneering Spirit, Turner, and Matsuoka 32 Notes 33 CHAPTER THREE 35 3 Diplomat in China, Russia, and America 35 Foreign Service as a Career 35 Shanghai and Yamamoto Jötarö 36 Tcdriku Keiei and Manchuria 37 Americat Russia» and Manchuria 38 The China Experience—An Assessment 39 Marriage and Assignment to St. Petersburg 40 Assignment in Washington» D.C. 42 World War 1 and the Twenty-One Demands 43 Notes 45 4 From Tokyo to Versailles 47 Intelligence Work in Kasumigaseki 48 Motono’s Plan for Intervention in Siberia 49 Economic Development Plan for Siberia 50 Matsuoka and Shidehara 52 A New Approach to the China Question 53 Information Section Chief at Versailles 55 The Shandong Question 57 Propaganda Tour of the United States 58 Notes 59 5 Railway Politics in Manchuria 61 Containment of the Soviets through Railways 63 Disputes with Shidehara on die Zhang Zuolin Issue 66 Notes 68 Revolutionary China, SMR, and Japanese Politics 70 Northern Expedition and the Seiydkai 70 Fact-Finding Mission to China 71 Impressions of Revolutionary China 72 A New Approach to China 73 Chiang Kai-shek and Seiyükai 74 The SMR Vice Presidency 76 Ambivalence in Tanaka’s Continental Policy 76 The Jinan Incident, Tanaka, and Matsuoka 77 The Zhang Zuolin Assassination 79 Second SMR Experience—An Assessment 80 Notes 82 6 Negotiating with Zhang Zuolin 62 7 Seiyükai Politics and Shanghai Assignment 84 Standing for Election 84 Freshman Diet Member 86 Manchurian Incident and Inukai Cabinet 87 Truce Agreement for Shanghai 88 Notes 93 8 Withdrawal from the League of Nations 95 Foreign Minister Uchida’s Political Task 96 Matsuoka’s Selection as the Delegate 98 Departure and Moscow Stopover 100 A New Style in Geneva 101 Great Powers vs. Small Powers 104 Collapse of the Conciliation Commission 106 Collision Course with Tokyo and with the League 109 Why Withdrawal? 111 Tour of the United States 113 A Hero’s Return 117 Lasting Impact of Geneva Experience 119 Notes 120 CHAPTER NINE 124 9 Political Party Dissolution Movement 124 Starting the Dissolution Movement 124 Matsuoka in Action—Publications and Speaking Tours 127 Youth Corps and Ultimate Goal 128 Money Trail of Support from Former Colleagues 131 Departure for Manchuria 133 Notes 136 10 Manchukuo, Guandong Army, and the SMR 138 The Guandong Army and the SMR 139 The Manchukuo Government and the SMR 141 Matsuoka’s Outlook for the SMR 143 North China Development Plans 144 Restructuring of the SMR—Phase One 146 The China Incident and the Manchuria Industrial Development Corporation 149 Other SMR Activities 152 Notes 154 11 Becoming Master of Kasumigaseki 156 Charting a New Political Course 157 Tilt toward Konoe Fumimaro 160 Ogikubo Conference 162 The Matsuoka Cyclone 166 Notes 170 12 Alliance with Germany 172 Preparing for Negotiation 173 Ôshima Hiroshi and Heinrich Stahmer 175 Beginning of Negotiations 179 Imperial Conference and Signing Ceremony 183 Political Assessment 186 Notes 188 13 China and Southeast Asia 191 Background Leading to Matsuoka's Covert Negotiations 192 Matsuoka and the Qian Yongming Project 195 Matsuoka’s View of China» 1940 198 Bureau of South Sea Affairs 201 Northern French Indochina 202 Economic Agreements with French Indochina 205 Mediation of Thai-French Indochinese Border Dispute 206 The Dutch East Indies 210 China and Southeast Asia in Matsuoka’s Grand Strategy 211 Notes 212 14 European Tour and Neutrality Pact with USSR 215 Passage to Moscow 216 In the Nazi Capital 218 Rome and the Vatican 220 Return to Berlin 221 Neutrality Pact 222 Neutrality Pact in Matsuoka’s Grand Design 225 Return to Tokyo 229 Notes 229 15 Approaches to the United States 231 Preventing a Third Term for FDR 232 Grew and Matsuoka 235 Appointment of Nomura as Ambassador 236 Walsh-Drought and Private Diplomacy 239 Proposal for Understanding 243 Matsuoka Confronts His Enemies 245 Visit to Washington—An Unfulfilled Dream 250 Germany Attacks Russia 253 Denouement 255 Matsuoka’s Ouster—in Retrospect 257 Notes 261 16 The Later Years 264 An Attempt for a Last-Ditch Resistance 268 Life as a War Criminal 272 In His Own Defense 274 Death 276 Notes 277 17 Reflections and Assessment 279 China, Manchuria, and Japan’s Lifeline 280 Approaches to the United States 282 Matsuoka and America 284 Success and Failure—A Balance Sheet 287 Personality 289 Notes 292 Bibliography 295 Official Documents 295 Unpublished Private and Semi-Official Papers 297 Other Primary Sources and Secondary Works in Japanese 298 Secondary Works in Western Languages 304 Newspapers» Journals» and Magazines 309 Books by Matsuoka Yösuke 293 Index 310 About the Author 326 "Agony of Choice, the life of Japanese statesman and diplomat Matsuoka Yosuke, offers a vivid narrative of twentieth-century Japanese diplomatic history. Matsuoka was an American-educated Japanese foreign minister who became a vocal advocate for Japanese expansionism, echoing the America he so admired. His promotion of alliances and relationships with countries such as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, however, not only led Japan to war with the United States, but also led to Matsuoka's involvement with and eventual indictment for atrocities committed during the war."--BOOK JACKET.