A Study of Japan's Anti-Yuan Policy, 1915-1916

The monarchical movement of Yuan Shih-k’ai was not only a crisis in the Chinese Republic, but also a turning point in the fortune of the Northern Warlords.’ It has a tremendous impact on the later development of the political situation. Why the monarchical movement should appear so soon after the 1911 Revolution, its causes, and its historical background are the subjects worth investigating. The Anti-monarchist movement appeared Just as soon and developed into a united front—the Anti-monarchy Army. And Japan was closely involved with the anti-Yuan movement. Yuan’s monarchical movement was a domestic issue. But as it began during World War I, it got involved with the international politics of the Powers, especially Japan. The Anti-monarchists were able to force Yuan to abolish the Hung-hsien monarchy because of unmitigated support from Japan. Japan’s intervention dealt the Hung-hsien monarchy a fatal blow. A study on Yuan’s monarchical movement will not be complete unless it includes an analysis of Japan’s actions. This paper is an attempt to throw light on Japan’s China policy during this period—how it was formulated, and how it developed.