Lin Dong

Lin Dong

Lin Dong (1850-1913)

He was a Japanese diplomat, statesman and important minister in Meiji period. His elder brother, Matsumoto Liangshun, was the chief medical officer of the early Japanese army. His family is related to the Japanese Mitsubishi chaebol.

Diplomatic bureaucrats

Lin Dong's father, Sato Tairan, was a western medicine doctor of Sakura fan. When he was young, Lin Dong became the adopted son of Lin Donghai, the imperial doctor of the shogunate. Later, he studied English at the home of an American missionary. In 1866, Dong Lin graduated from Meiji University and went to London University as the first group of international students. After returning home, he took part in the Boxer War. In 1871, he entered the official career and worked in the Ministry of foreign affairs. In 1873, he was transferred to the Ministry of industry. In 1882, he served as the general secretary of the palace. In 1887, he served as the director of communications in the province. In 1888, he served as governor of Xiangchuan county. In 1890, he served as governor of Hyogo county. In 1891, he served as the Deputy official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Government Affairs) and concurrently as the director of general affairs. when the French, German and Russian envoys to Japan asked Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula in 1895, he accepted the ultimatum on behalf of Foreign Minister Lu aozongguang. On June 22, 1895, he resigned from the post of deputy foreign minister and served as minister in Qing Dynasty. On October 31 of the same year, it was awarded to the baron. On November 2, 1896, he resigned from the post of minister in Qing Dynasty. From May 25, 1897 to September 5, 1899, he served as minister to St. Petersburg, Russia. In the same year, he was awarded the sunrise medal.

Anglo-Japanese Alliance

From July 6, 1900 to March 19, 1906, he served as minister to Britain. In 1904, the Japanese Embassy in London was promoted to ambassador, and he became the first ambassador. During that time, he signed 1902 and 1904 alliance treaties with the British Foreign Secretary Marquis lansdorn, which guaranteed Japan's diplomatic victory in the Russo Japanese war. To the viscount. On April 1, it was awarded the rising sun Tung flower medal. In 1903, he published a novel "for his people" in English. In 1906, at the farewell party held for him by the mayor of London, he assured the audience that he would give the most full coverage to the sympathy of the British Empire for Japan. Oxford and Cambridge have awarded him honorary degrees. from May 19, 1906 to July 14, 1908, he served as Minister of foreign affairs of guitaro's cabinet, during which he was granted the title of earl. From August 30, 1911 to December 5, 1912, he served as Minister of communications in the Gongwang cabinet of Xiyuan temple. In 1913, he died. His "diplomatic memoirs" was published in English by Puli in 1915 as "the secret Memoirs of count Linton".