Robert Craigie (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Craigie GCMG, CB (1883–1959) was the British ambassador in Japan from 1937 through 1941.
, leading to the acceptance of the Craigie-Arita formula, by which the British government agreed not to resist Japanese actions in China
, while not recognizing their legality. In July 1940, following the arrest of several British nationals in Japan, suggested to the British government to arrest some Japanese nationals in British territory, against whom a case could be made in court as a move to prove Japanese subversive intentions against the UK. On the morning of December 8, 1941, he received from Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Shigenori Togo
an official document, stating that negotiations with the US government had failed, but without mentioning any war between the Japanese and the British governments. On July 30, 1942, left Japan on board the Tatsuta Maru, returning to Britain via Lourenço Marques
in East Africa (today Maputo
, Mozambique
).
After returning to Britain in 1942, claimed that a more conciliatory policy towards the Japanese government would have postponed the outbreak of war in the Far East, and would have allowed the British government more time to prepare for such a war.
In 1945 served briefly as the chairman of the United Nations War Crimes Commission
.
Career as Ambassador
In July 1939 took part in negotiations with Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Hachiro AritaHachiro Arita
was a Japanese politician and diplomat who served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs for three terms. He is believed to have originated the concept of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.- Biography :...
, leading to the acceptance of the Craigie-Arita formula, by which the British government agreed not to resist Japanese actions in China
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, while not recognizing their legality. In July 1940, following the arrest of several British nationals in Japan, suggested to the British government to arrest some Japanese nationals in British territory, against whom a case could be made in court as a move to prove Japanese subversive intentions against the UK. On the morning of December 8, 1941, he received from Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Shigenori Togo
Shigenori Togo
was Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Empire of Japan at both the start and the end of the Japanese-American conflict during World War II...
an official document, stating that negotiations with the US government had failed, but without mentioning any war between the Japanese and the British governments. On July 30, 1942, left Japan on board the Tatsuta Maru, returning to Britain via Lourenço Marques
Lourenço Marques
Lourenço Marques was a 16th century Portuguese trader and explorer.-Biography:He explored the area that is now Maputo Bay in 1544. He settled permanently in present-day Mozambique, where he spent most of his life with his black wife and mixed-race children.By order of King John III the bay was...
in East Africa (today Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
).
After returning to Britain in 1942, claimed that a more conciliatory policy towards the Japanese government would have postponed the outbreak of war in the Far East, and would have allowed the British government more time to prepare for such a war.
In 1945 served briefly as the chairman of the United Nations War Crimes Commission
United Nations War Crimes Commission
The United Nations War Crimes Commission was a commission of the United Nations that investigated allegations of war crimes committed by the Nazi Germany and its allies in World War II.The Commission began its work at the behest of the United States and the other Allied nations in 1943, prior to...
.
Selected works
In a statistical overview derived from writings by and about Robert Craigie, OCLC/WorldCat encompasses roughly 8 works in 10+ publications in 1 language and 200+ library holdings.- Behind the Japanese mask (1945)
- Ten years in Japan: a contemporary record drawn from the diaries and private and official papers of Joseph C. Grew, United States ambassador to Japan, 1932-1942 by Joseph GrewJoseph GrewJoseph Clark Grew was a United States diplomat and career foreign service officer. He was the chargé d'affaires at the U.S. embassy in Vienna when Austria-Hungary severed diplomatic relations with the United States on April 9, 1917. Later he was the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark 1920–1921 and U.S....
; foreword by Robert Craigie (1945)
See also
- List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to Japan
- Anglo-Japanese relationsAnglo-Japanese relationsThe history of the relationship between Britain and Japan began in 1600 with the arrival of William Adams on the shores of Kyūshū at Usuki in Ōita Prefecture...
External links
- UK in Japan, Chronology of Heads of Mission