The submarine cable served as one of the most
important tools of the western powers in their quest for empire-building and commercial profits in the 19th century.
Thus the construction of a submarine cable across the Pacific Ocean became a
priority for the western powers, especially the United States and the United
Kingdom, in pursuit of their commercial and political interests into the Asian
market. The construction of the Pacific Submarine Cable (PSC) equally impacted
the Asian side, particularly Japan. This article examines the economic and
political impact of the construction of the PSC on Japan, which was
transitioning from its centuries—old
Shōgunate rule into the Meiji or modern era. It argues that while the new
technology was able to help modernize the Japanese military as well as develop
its national economy through the active participation of the newly-emerged business
community, the government was however, unable to formulate its own independent
telecommunications policy due to the control of the technology by foreign
powers and corporations, especially the Great Northern Telegraph Company. It is
emphasized here that the information used for this article is largely based on
the official documents from the Japanese government archives.
Cite this paper
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The
Following Description Is Based on “Taiheiyō
Kaitei Denshin Fusetsuni Kansuru Ketsugian (The Proposal for Laying the Pacific
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26th January 1900, Shū (The Lower House), 67th, Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan,
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