From: miklg@acuson.com (Michael Goldman )
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Followup: Chinese communists & Japanese Imperial Army
Date: 10 Sep 92 21:20:44 GMT
Organization: Acuson; Mountain View, California

davidg@aegis.or.jp (Dave McLane) writes:

>Last week I made mention of how some people in the discussion groups
>I lead said that the original entry of the JIA into China was at the
>request of the then rebel, now current communistic government in
>order to defeat the nationalists. Followup's asked for sources of
>their idea so I asked them for details this week.

>First off, the two people with the most definite informaiton said I
>was mistaken in using 'invited'; 'tricked would be a better word.
>Sorry about that. 

>Osaka. He said that a few years ago NHK had a special TV documentary
>on the infamous Marco Polo brigde incident in which it was claimed
>that after some shots were fired, the local commander looked around
>and found 2 or 3 of his men missing. While actually they had gone to
>take a piss (always a good idea under stress :-), he reported them
>missing to his commander and the commander ordered him to open fire.
>The Chinese nationalists claimed that no shots had been fired, but
>later, according to a secret document, it was shown that the Chinese
>communists had fired the shots to bring the JIA into their war
>against the nationalists. He says further evidence can be found in
>//Sekimatsu Kara Mita Daitoa Senso// (loosely translated as "The
>Great East Asia War: Views from the End of the Century") and
>contains a collection of articles by various professors at Japanese
>universities. 

	These views are also more or less those mentioned
	in the history by Toland, in English.  He states early that
	he is giving the "Japanese" view.  Really, it is the
	view of those who waged the war and are looking to justify
	it.

	Toland is not a scholar, but a popular historian.  Nothing
	wrong with that but it would be wise to read some
	academic views as well.  Historians don't agree on every
	thing, but one thng the professionals seem to concur on is
	that the Japanese expansion had its routes in the 19th
	century.  Any country's history is the product of an
	ebb and flow of ideas and coalitions so it is impossible
	to characterize a whole nation by the thoughts of a few.
	By tracing the writings, sayings and actions of the
	leaders of some of these coalitions, it is possible to
	build a case that the movement of the governing people was
	towards expansion and that it was not a single event,
	but a confluence of events.  This does not mean that it
	was not explicit.  There were writers who said very clearly
	and succintly what the goals of Japan should be.  Which
	ideas took hold and became those of the governing people
	is pretty clear to anyone who is able to look into the
	histories of Japan.

	This does not make them correct, and you have no need to
	suspend your critical faculties, but if you examine the
	case that they build, you will find it fairly convincing.
	The Reischauer book you said you have represents a
	pretty universal consensus of professional historians
	including Japanese, British, and American.
	Other books go into more detail in building the case
	and you may find them at the local university libraries.

	There is also "the giggle factor."  The idea that because
	of a minor incident at a bridge Japan felt compelled to
	kill 15 million people, expand into colonial territories,
	and start a suicidal war with the US and others is so
	bizarre that you have to giggle at the thought.  These
	minor incidents happen all the time and are usually glossed
	over with a few diplomatic notes.  Only if you have
	no other information, or have suspended your critical
	thought processes can you believe this bridge incident
	started the whole thing.  Lots of people seem
	to think that if it is in a book, or on NHK, it must be
	true, and that is what you are up against.  (Not a trait
	peculiar to Japanese.)

>Again, please note: This is not my opinion. I am only reporting
>what people told me. My part is to ask them questions. 

	Please continue to do so.  It's interesting.

	- Michael Goldman

-- 
"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have
exhausted all other alternatives." - Abba Eban
	Disclaimer:  All views are solely my own & not the views of Acuson.
	<sun!sono!miklg>  or  [miklg@acuson.com]