Triple Intervention

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After the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed between Japan and China on April 17 1895 to conclude the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95), three European Powers (Russia, Germany and France) intervened on April 23 with so-called 'friendly advice' to Japan to return the Liaodong peninsula including Lushun (Port Arthur) to China.

Japan reluctantly agreed to this, as it was exhausted after the war and in no position to resist without British aid, but this was not forthcoming. The British government instead advised Japan to take the 'advice' of the three powers.

Russia moved almost immediately to occupy the entire Liaodong Peninsula and, especially, to fortify 'Port Arthur', despite vigorous protests from China, Japan, and the United States. All three nations favored an Open Door Policy in Manchuria.

This humiliation at the hands of Russia helped lead to Gashin Shōtan or 'Persevering through Hardship' (for the sake of revenge) to increase heavy industry at the expense of individual wants and needs. It allowed Japan vengeance in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), after Japan had secured the Anglo-Japanese alliance in 1902.

Triple Intervention

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