From: miklg@acuson.com (Michael Goldman )
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan,soc.culture.china,soc.history,soc.culture.korea
Subject: Japanese Expansion - 1930's (was: An open letter to the Emperor...)
Date: 27 Aug 92 18:10:42 GMT
Organization: Acuson; Mountain View, California

>>davidg@aegis.or.jp (Dave McLane) writes:
 
>>>Yesterday, I summarized what has been said recently here for the
>>>benefit of the 15 members of discussion group I lead in Osaka. They
>>>pointed out that ITHO (In Their Humble Opinion)  [......]
>>> 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. 
 
        I was pretty appalled at the claim by a Japanese (related by
        Dave McLane ) that Japan invaded China (in the 1930s) at the
        request of the Communist Party of China.  Japan was busily
        jailing every leftist in Japan and the Imperialists who headed
        Japan were as adamantly opposed to socialism as the Nazis, and
        Fascists, despite some similarities in the rhetoric of all
        those groups.  Further, it is not even the explanation given by
        the Japanese Imperialists of the time.  I believe it is a
        post-WWII fabrication along the lines of Orwell's "Ministry of
        Truth."  ("Oceania was at war with Eurasia.  Oceania had always
        been at war with Eurasia.")  As an example of the nonsense that
        was promulgated by Japanese Imperialists, I offer the following.
 
        From Araki Sadao, _The Spirit and Destiny of Japan_ (translated
        into English circa 1934);
 
        (Araki Sadao was a general and member of the Imperial Way Faction
        of the Army.  He served as War Minister in 1931, and later was
        Education Minister.  He was a proponent of the creation of the
        Manchurian puppet state.  The following is from an anthology by
        Morris, "Japan 1931 - 1945  Militarism, Fascism, Japanism?")
 
        "When the question is raised as to the causes of the Manchurian
        incident, every Japanese seeks these causes in the lawless
        violation of treaties by the Chinese, in the impermissible
        ignoring by the Chinese of international usages and their
        unjust infringements upon the rights and interests acquired by
        Japan.
 
        "It is indisputable that all these were reasons for the arising
        of the incident, but, frankly speaking, this incident did not
        grow out of such trivial questions.  As the basis of it there
        is a fundamental question.  And what is that?  It is - that
        China has insulted Japan.
 
        "However, it may be said that not only China but almost the
        entire world looks slightingly at Japan...
 
        "...We are exceedingly sorry that China does not yet understand
        the sincerity of Japan and resorts in vain to to the assistance
        of Europe and America...
 
        "It is a superficial view or a conscious distortion of reality to
        imagine that Japan is a militaristic country and conducts an
        aggressive policy.  Japan has no other intention than to
        realize with all its power the fundamental ideal - the
        preservation of peace.
 
        "...on this also was based the annexation of Korea...In the
        Imperial edict of the annexation of Korea it says:
 
                "Under my grace the masses of the people will increase
                their welfare.  Industry and trade will develop
                materially under conditions of quiet times.  I am
                firmly convinced that by this the cause of peace
                in the Far East will be maintained.
 
        "...But one important fact was left out of view - the question
        of the Koreans living in Manchuria.  They have long been subjects
        of the Emperor and our compatriots....Under the oppression of
        the beastly Chinese powers their life and property was always
        in danger....
 
        "...Further, in the eastern part of Siberia are several hundred
        thousand Koreans live and their situation is even more terrible.
        ...Our traditions and national feelings do not permit us to
        silently, and with folded hands, observe their terrible
        plight."  (etc., etc., ad nauseam).
 
	Nowhere in the above drivel do we hear anything about Chinese
	requests for 'help'.  If you (Dave M.) are able to find it,
	there is a book by W.G. Beasley on Japanese miliatarism during
	the period.  Beasley is a member of both the British Royal Academy and
	the Japan Academy and is Professor Emeritus of History at
	Oxford. But any English language history book will show what
	nonsense it was that your student read.
 
        - 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]
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan