CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918 — Page 157

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No consular officers in Manchuria have us yet received appointments under the new régime.

In view of the importance of placing before the public an official explanation of the reasons for the present reform of Manchurian and colonial administrations, the Govern- ment have communicated to the press a statement of which I have the honour to enclose a summary. Briefly, the object is stated to be the unification of the existing tripartite administration, comprising the Government-General of Kwantung, the South Manchuria Railway Company, and the consular staff in Manchuria. This is declared a fundamental measure for the development of Manchuria, dictated more particularly by the desire to realise the practical results of the Japan-China Convention of May 1975 relative to that province and Inner Mongolia, and to extend Japan's rights. In addition to the steps mentioned in the ordinances, the Government have extended the operations of the Oriental Colonisation Company of Corea and of the Bank of Corea to the Manchurian field for the promotion of industry and the mutual advancement of Japanese-Chinese economic interests. The inconvenience attending the separate administration of Corean and Manchurian railways, which are really parts of a single system of communication, has led to the unification of these lines by the delegation of the management of Corean railways to the South Manchuria Railway Company. Finally, to remedy the present defective system of supervision, the administration of Cores, Formosa, and Japanese Saghalien, hitherto under a section of the Home Office, and that of Kwantung, hitherto subject to the Foreign Office, are brought under a single newly-constituted Colonial Bureau,

It is early to express a precise opinion on the portée of the new arrangement, but it appears to represent a decided advance towards throwing off disguise and openly treating a portion of Manchuria as an integral part of Japan's colonial empire. while portending a consolidation of her interests and an intensification of her activities in theau regions. The creation of a Colonial Bureau ia nothing novel. A Ministry of State for the Colonies existed for a short period some years ago. The new arrangement, however, practically eliminates the Foreign Office from its control of the Kwantung Province, which, except in its foreign relations, is to be colonially administered, and from the direction of Japanese consular officers in Manchuria. Moreover, the amalgama- tion of the gendarmerie with the police adds a military feature, in which the Jiji Shimpo," for example, sees an apparent device to extend a military régime to Manchuria. This paper, which insisted that this scheme should have been submitted for the opinion of the Advisory Board on Foreign Affairs, as well as of the Privy Council, has been outspoken in condemning the inopportuneness of this aggrandisement of the powers of the superfluous Government-General of Kwantung. It is like an endeavour to level up low ground by piling earth on an eminence. "In the first place," the leading article concludes, "the Chinese, witnessing this, will be led to exclaim that Japan has, as expected, revealed her ambitious design of converting Manchuria into a Cores; and even Europeans and Americans, while of course admitting Japan's pre-eminent rights in Manchuria, will all be disagreeably affected at the sight of the extreme candour of her attitude. In fact, the only results will be, on the one hand, to nullify our assertions in favour of Sino-Japanese friendship, and, on the other, to deprive us of European and American sympathies."

My own feeling is, that it is late in the day to condemn. Japan's expansion in Manchuria is now, through China's own fault, inevitable; and for British interests the north-west is the least vulnerable point of the compass.

I have, &c.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

(For the Ambassador),

H. NORMAN.

Summary of the Imperial Ordinances, dated July 28 and published on July 31, 1917, in the "Official Gazette," with reference to the unification of the South Manchuria and Corean Railways and the reform of the Japanese Administrative System in Manchuria.

Ordinance No. 73.-A Colonial Bureau is established under the supervision of the Prime Minister. The bureau is placed in charge of business relating to Corea, Formosa, Karafato (Japanese Saghalien), and Kwantung Province, also of business relating to the South Manchuria Railway Company (Limited). Business connected with foreign affairs does not, however, fall within its jurisdiction.

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The personnel of the bureau consists of a director and a sub-director, both of whom are chokunin, i.e., officials appointed by the Emperor, three secretaries, and twelve minor officials.

Ordinance No. 74. This ordinance introduces an amendment into the official organisation of the Railway Board, the effect of which is to remove from the Board's jurisdiction matters relating to the South Manchuria Railway Company.

Ordinance No. 75-A Colonial luvestigation Committee is established under the superintendence of the Prime Minister. Its functions are to investigate matters relating to colonisation which are submitted for discussion by the Prime Minister, and to report its views.

The personnel of the committee consists of a president, vice-president, and not more than twenty members. Where necessary for the investigation of special matters extraordinary members may be appointed.

Ordinance No. 76. This ordinance amends the official organisation of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Whereas the Minister for Foreign Affairs formerly controlled matters relating to Kwantung Province, he now "directs and supervises the Governor- General of Kwantung in regard to matters relating to foreign affairs.”

Ordinance No. 77.-Under the provisions of this ordinance the control of matters relating to Corea, Formosa, and Karafuto is taken out of the hands of the Minister of the Interior.

Ordmance No 78.-This ordinance provides for alterations in the organisation of the Government-General of Curea corresponding with those mentioned in the preceding ordinance, and establishes a railway bureau in the Governor-General's secretariat.

Ordinance No. 79.-Abolishes the railway bureau of the Corean Government- General.

Ordinance No. 81. Under the provisions of this ordinance the supervision of the control exercised over the administration of Formosa by the Governor-General passes from the hands of the Minister of the Interior into those of the Prime Minister.

Ordinance No. 82.-This ordinance places the Governor-General of Kwantung Province in control of the business of the South Manchuria Railway Company (Limited), in addition to the functions which he previously exercised. His direction of the administration of the province, which was formerly under the supervision of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, is now placed under the supervision of the Prime Minister except as regards matters relating to foreign affairs.

Ordinance No. 84.- This ordinance makes alterations in the organisation of the Government of Karafuto corresponding with the provisions of Ordinance No. 77, putting the control hitherto exercised by the Minister of the Interior in the bands of

the Prime Minister.

Ordinance No 87.-Under the provisions of this ordinance the army officer in command of the gendarmerie serving in South Manchuria and officers of gendarmerie may be specially appointed superintendent-general or superintendents of the Kwantung Government-General Police, and non-commissioned offers of gendarmerie may be appointed sergeants of the Kwantung Government-General Police,

Ordinance No. 88.-This ordinance allows of the sp cial appointment as consuls or vice-consuls resident in Manchuria of persons from among higher administrative officials of the Kwantung Government-General of not less than two years' service, or from aming persons of suitable scholarship and experience who have been engaged in business in Manchuria for not less than five years, after they have submitted to the consideration of the committee for the examination of diplomatic and consular officials.

A similar arrangement is male for the appointment of clerks in consulates in Manchuria from among hannin officials appointed by the head of a department of not less than two years' service in the Goverument-General of Kwantung, or from among officials of not less than three years' service in the South Manchuria Railway Company who are suitably educated. The board of selection in this case consists of the committee for the ordinary civil service examinations.

Ordinance No. 89. This ordinance provides for one chief director of the South Manchuria Railway Company on the board of directors in place of a president and vice-president as before.

In place of the president representing the company and superintending its business, the chif director represents the company and carries on its business under the direction of the Governor-General of Kwantung,

Similarly in regard to appointment, salary, and restriction from engaging in other occupations the provisions hitherto applying to the president and vice-president now apply to the chief director.

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