Well I can say for absolute certainty that Japan's desire to be treated as a major power was rejected outright by the Australian Prime Minister William Hughes in 1919. Japan had been a member of the victorious nations during the First World War and had expected to reap the benefits of that position at the peace table at Versailles. One of the larger objectives for the Japanese delegation at Versailles was the inclusion of a racial equality clause as a tenement of the newly formed League of Nations. This clause would secure Japan's position amongst the major Western powers (see white powers). William Hughes outright rejected Japan's bid for this clause, chiefly because it would impact heavily on Australian immigration policy which at the time prevented anyone not of Anglo-Saxon origin from emigrating to Australia.

The Japanese tried negotiating with Hughes but Hughes would have none of it, pretending he couldn't understand the Japanese delegation who spoke English or pretending he just couldn't hear them. Hughes' motives, whilst largely fuelled by racism, were also influenced by the fear Australia had of Japanese imperialist ambitions. Since Japan defeated Russia in 1905, Australia had been particularly aware of its isolation in the South Pacific and were not keen to see Japan attain a position amongst other imperial powers that would legitimise Japan's imperial ambitions. Hughes' behaviour eventually saw Japan withdraw from Versailles, abandoning their ambitions for the racial equality clause. Ironically, Hughes' behaviour probably did more to imperil Australia then acquiescing to their requests would have.