On Development of the Steel and Weapon Company, the Joint Verture of Japan and Britain : the Relation between the Business Strategy of the Japan Steel Works and the British Shareholders

本研究旨在厘清二战前日英合资的钢铁和兵器公司--日本制钢厂的经营战略，特别是与英国股东(维克斯公司和阿姆斯特朗公司)的关系。研究结果表明，第一次世界大战前，英国股东对日本制钢厂最高管理层的承诺超出了我们的预期。在日本制钢厂成立时期(1907-10年)，每一位英国董事或审计师都可以在日本制钢厂成立时根据《协议附录》提名任何人作为代理人。代理人通常参加日本制钢厂的董事会会议，成为董事会一些委员会的成员，并向董事会提出重要建议。代理人经常通过电报、电报和信件与英国的董事和审计师沟通。日本海军陆战队的英国董事偶尔会在英国召开会议，并将协商的结果传递给日本的代理人。在下一次“山口政权”时期，当日本海军中将山内正治担任日本海军陆战队董事会主席(1910-13年)时，预计他将在日本股东(北海道煤矿和轮船公司)之间进行调解。而英国人则被称为“中立董事”。然而，他无法成功地调整这些利益。虽然这项研究涵盖的是第一次世界大战期间，但它几乎没有对英国董事退出日本最高管理层的前景进行展望。一些需要解决的问题正在分析中。此外，与这项研究相关的研究已经在1994年进行，并于1995年发表，题为《二战后维克斯-阿姆斯特朗有限公司在日本的财产恢复》。

The purpose of this research is to clarify the business strategy of the Japan Steel Works (hereafter JSW), the steel and weapon company of the joint venture by Japan and Britain before WWII,especially in relation to the British Shareholders (Vickers and Armstrong Companies).The result of the research made clear that the commitment to the top-management of JSW by the British Shareholders before WWI was strong beyond our expectations.In the period of the foundation of the JSW (1907-10), each British Director or Auditor was able to nominate anyone as "Proxy" according to "Addendum to Agreement" at the establishment of JSW.Proxies usually attended the Board Meetings of JSW,became members of some committees of the Board, and made important proposals to the Board. Proxies often communicated with the Directors and Auditors in Britain by cable, telegram and letters. Meetings of the English Directors of JSW were occasionally held in Britain, and the results of the consultation were transmitted to Proxies in Japan.In the next period of "the Regime of Yamanouchi", when Vice Admiral Masuji Yamanouchi was the Chairman of the Board of JSW (1910-13), he was expected to mediate between Japanese shareholder (Hokkaido Colliery and Steamship Co.) and the British ones as "Neutral Director". He could not succeed, however, to adjust those interests.Although this research was to cover the period of WWI,it barely made an outlook for the retreat of the British Directors from the top-management of JSW.Some problems to be solved are being analyzed.Further, a study in relation to this research was already made in 1994, and published in 1995 as "The Restoration of Properties in Japan by Vickers-Armstrons Limited after WWII".