The main purpose of this presentation is to examine the logical structure of the “Small Japan Policy” advocated by Ishibashi Tanzan (石橋湛山, 1884-1973).
In three consecutive editorials of the Toyo Keizai Shinpo entitled “The phantasm of the ‘Big Japan Policy’”(1921), Ishibashi Tanzan pointed out how important it was for Japan to give up its overseas expansionist policy, and provided a statistical basis for his claim. In these editorials Ishibashi mentioned two difficulties inherent in the “big Japan policy”: first that, such notion was a mere phantasm and second, those who advocate this notion are blinded by shortsighted desire and therefore do not know how to achieve a great ambition. Even if it were desirable for a great power to have a large territory, it was impossible for Japan now to imitate the territorial expansionism of the great powers. Such being the case it would rather be a wise strategy for Japan to have the great powers set free those territories, and for Japan to take the first step in this direction. In addition he also analysed the consequences of the failure of the Racial Equality Proposal of 1919 to be adopted in the Covenant of the League of Nations. In his opinion, Japan preached what she did not practice herself, Small wonder then that this proposal was voted down.
Japan’s complaint about being treated unfairly was merely in relation to other colonial powers. Japan actually had colonies of its own such as Korea and Taiwan, ignoring the fact that Koreans and Taiwanese had reason to feel treated unfairly by Japan. Advocates of the “Big Japan Policy” claimed that the actions of the advanced powers were correct, but that such claims of “correctness” were merely a pragmatic justification of Japan’s policy, arguing that this was the major trend of this age, rather than being based on a general principle. Ishibashi, on the contrary, argued the importance of making sure that its policies were based on genuine principles. Indeed, Japan’s success in modernizing its country alone among Asian countries was due to the fact that Japan did not adhere to principles. But Ishibashi has different views from those who advocate a “Big Japan Policy” on pragmatic grounds. In short, Ishibashi’s arguments were based on what was beneficial for Japan’s economic development or military power, and this led him to argue for a policy of abandoning colonial acquisitions.
Although the Racial Equality Proposal is universal in nature, this proposal was voted down not only by the British Empire and the USA, countries generally regarded as discriminatory , but also by the Republic of China, herself being in the league of states discriminated against. The reason for this was obviously that Japan did not practice what it preached when it talked about racial equality, being only motivated by considerations of national interest. That in itself is natural at the level of diplomacy place, but this remains problematic when we analyze the substance of the matter. Ishibashi questioned the logic of policies by those in power who fail to see the inner contradictions and the lack of logic of their policies.