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The modern history of Manchuria began when Japan seized Korea from China in the Sino-Japanese war of 1894-95 and was balked of the Liaotung peninsula in South Manchuria only by the intervention of Russia, France and Germany. Russia thereupon acquired the con- cessions Japan had coveted and at the turn of the century built the `Chinese Eastern Railway and opened the port of Dalny (Dairen). The Russo-Japanese war of 1904-5 followed and Japan took over the Russian lease of the Liaotung peninsula, including Dairen and all Russian concessions and privileges in South Manchuria as far as Changchun, including the corresponding portion of the South Manchurain Railway, the coal mines and Fushun and various subsidiary enterprises.

The article discusses the alliance between Great Britain and Japan, focusing on the period 1902 to 1952. It examines European interests in Asia and reflects on how the relationship between Great Britain and Japan was impacted by relations with other countries, particularly China, Russia, France, and the United States. Topics explored by the author include the Russian occupation of Manchuria, China, Great Britain's "open door" trade policy in China, and international relations in the post-World War II period.

Writing of Japanese policy in 1895, just after the conclusion of peace between Japan and China, Count Tadasu Hayashi said: "What Japan has now to do is to keep perfectly quiet, to lull the suspicions that have arisen against her, and to wait, meanwhile strengthening the foundations of her national power, watching and waiting for the opportunity that must one day surely come in the Orient." The opportunity came with the European war, and it is a matter of history how Japan seized it. The Lansing-Ishii agreement just concluded is one of the last steps necessary for the consolidation of the new Japanese position in the Far East. The convention that has been concluded has the merit of at least defining the position and policy of the United States in the Orient.

This article presents several books. Any reader coming to this book "The Travels of William Bartram," for the first time will wonder why it has been allowed to pass into the limbo of famed forgotten things. There cannot be many more delightful descriptions of travel and exploration in early American literature. "An Online History of Japan," by Herbert H. Gowen. The account of Japanese relations with China since the outbreak of the World War is scrupulous not to offend the sensitive Japanese. "The World Talks It Over," by Burr Price.

Discusses several problems and the past experiences of the Japanese people in Japan. Need for monopolized sources of raw materials of industry and war; Security against rival systems of economic and political power in the East; Growing reality of a crowded prolific people.

The article discusses the history of Nagasaki, Japan from the early part of the seventeenth century to the present time. The occupation of the city and the subsequent expulsion of Westerners, such as Portuguese and Dutch settlers, from the city is described. It explores the spread of Christianity in the city. The role of Chinese settlers on the city's history is also discussed.

The article reports on the efforts of Japan to re-arm its army, navy and air power. Led by its defense minister Tokutaro Kimura, Japan plans to have an army with 260,000 soldiers, a navy with 15,700 men and an air force with 40,000 soldiers by 1959. The U.S. will give Japan weapons worth 500 million dollars.

Law and order did not to be imported into Japan along with Western industrialism. Some improvements have come in recent years, but the habit was engrafted in old Japan, so that attitudes have become almost instinctive. The system works with a finish that makes strivings of super-patriots appear to be, as indeed they are, the efforts of crude and bungling novices. Law and order in any period of history rest upon espionage. At first glance, the present Japanese system of registration and surveillance of foreigners, with the continuous oversight of suspected radicals, seems to have been made in Germany.

The article focuses on the situation of the educational system in Japan in the 1950s as Japanese Education Minister To Matsunaga opted to reinstate the curricula for Japanese history and values. It states that Matsunaga's action was opposed by the Japanese Teacher's Union (JTU) which is dominated by Marxists. However, it says that the Education Minister sought to push the said educational change in order to counter Communism and resolve juvenile delinquency in Japan.

The author says that details of the Fifth Battle of the Solomons present a picture of the United States navy at its best. The rout of Japan's invasion force was a defensive masterpiece and one of the most brilliant victories in modern naval history. Until the end of the war it is unlikely that anyone will know with certainty the exact strength of the Japanese attacking force. Preliminary scouting reports put it at two battle cruisers of the Kongo class, two heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, and ten destroyers.

Focuses on the economic condition of Japan. Scandal in Japanese military supplies; Sale of the loot in the black market; Details of the latest figures in the Finance Ministry; Reclamation of certain public properties by the government; View of the investigators of the scandal that post-war gangsters obtained one-fifth of the looted goods; Dispersal of government property and the illegal enrichment of private individuals; Creation of a Machinery for exposing the scandalous diversion of public property into private hands.

This article presents information about the book "Japan: The Rise of a Modern Power," by R.P. Porter. In this handier volume, a platform style has been adopted, relating the events in Japanese history to contemporary Biblical or European happenings. In his early chapters Porter treats of the early period when the Japanese Government was reorganized on Chinese lines without ever mentioning the native cult of the sword, so alien to Chinese traditions, and sure in time to cause a parting of the ways. This is a praiseworthy, if unhappy, attempt to focus Japan in history.

The article focuses on the book "A Short History of Japan," by Ernest Wilson Clement. In a modest preface the Clement, writer of the book, intended to give "a bird's-eye view of the history of Japan, expresses a hope that it may be sufficient for the purpose of the average reader who has not time or inclination to go into the details of Japanese history. Clement is already favorably known as author of a "Handbook of Modern Japan." A long residence in the country, partly in the interior and partly in Tokyo, Clement has insured intimate acquaintance with the language and the people, evidences of which appear throughout in the book.

This article focuses on the book "The Mikado's Empire," by W.E. Griffis. Griffis has given people a panoramic view of Japanese history, bringing into prominence many of the most important periods. He accompanies this with a running commentary, which is enlivened by the fact that it is the language of one who, living among the people, has attempted to unravel the causes of recent events in the light of the past. The importance of this is felt by Griffis, in so far as the special history of Japan is concerned, and the reader can be as thankful as he expressed himself to be that he has "felt the pulse and the heart of New Japan," after seeing the last days of the old order of things.

Focuses on Japanese civilians' fear of U.S. service members in Saipan. Services being offered by U.S. soldiers to Japanese civilians in internment camps; Similarities between the hospital services being provided to wounded Japanese and U.S. servicemen; Reaction of Japanese civilians to the kindness shown by the U.S. troops; Efforts of Japan to keep the news on the kindness of U.S. troops from its civilians.

The article presents information on the book "Landscape Gardening in Japan," by Josiah Conder. The book volume of one hundred and sixty pages recites that "the present work is an exposition of the rules and theories of the Art of Landscape Gardening in Japan, so far as they can be gathered from a study of native authorities, added to personal observation. The book is divided into twelve chapters, treating of the history and design of Japanese gardens, and such special topics as enclosures, lakes, bridges, lanterns, and the all-important garden stones The work is illustrated by twelve inartistic but highly instructive full-page lithographic plates, and by about one hundred woodcuts from drawings by a skilful native draughtsman.

The article focuses on the prospects regarding the Peking summit between Japan Premier Kakuei Tanaka and China Premier Chou En-lai in Peking, China. It states that Tanaka was acknowledged authority on Japanese domestic politics as the major issue of the summit negotiation. It says that China have decided to deal a peace treaty with Japan probably due to fear of increasing Russian military strength and the need for Japanese technology to modernize their economy.