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But behind this façade is the real framework of government, which is Japanese. The Chinese departmental chief is a figure-head, and the actual power is wielded by the Japanese assistant at his elbow. And behind the Prime Minister himself is the Japanese Ambassador, who is also Commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army.
15. The dual system was probably dictated to Japan by the circumstances of the time. It may well have been thought that there was a chance that the puppet Government which masqueraded as an independent State would be accepted by Europe and America where annexation would not be. Moreover, the new Government aroused less internal opposition than annexation was likely to provoke. Finally, Japan was merely following on the same lines as in Corea, where she began by establishing a protectorate after the war with Russia.
16. If we substitute for allegiance to the Emperor unquestioning submission to the dictates of the Central Government, we may say that the spirit of wang tao is being observed. The Italian and German modern methods of government have much in them that appeals to the Japanese. The theory of the destiny of the State tends more and more to be elevated into a religion. It is not sufficient for the people to live sober and orderly lives. They must think as one, move as one and bend all their energies to the fulfilment of the country's destiny. And in the case of Manchukuo her destined fate is to follow Japan's star for good or ill. During 1938 Manchukuo has faithfully followed Japan in enforcing civil defence and general mobilisation laws. Some form of conscription is now under con- sideration. And the servant of the Government, the Concordia Society, is industriously forming boys', youths' and young men's associations to mould popular thought in the right direction.
17. As an unofficial organ of Government this society deserves study. Established under the aegis of the Government it is nominally an independent It aims to association. Actually, it takes its orders from the Government. assimilate the five nations of Manchukuo and to act as intermediary between them and the Government. Ostensibly, then, one of its duties is to act as a sort of informal people's assembly. In practice it forms the machinery by which the Government communicates its wishes to the people; it organises loyal demonstra- tions and patriotic movements. Membership is, as far as I can discover, voluntary; the fact that it constitutes a hall-mark of respectability while non- membership may create suspicion of any prominent citizen's loyalty, should be sufficient inducement to join.
18. It draws its funds from a Government subsidy of 3 million yuan and subscriptions. Government officials mostly belong as a matter of course. It is supposed to have 600,000 members, who pay 1 yuan monthly, so that from this source 7 million yuan is derived. When we add voluntary "subscriptions from well-wishers, we get a respectable total.
19. Summing up, one may say that Manchukuo is in form an independent State, but actually a subject State or dependency of Japan. The only question is the manner in which the control is exercised. Japan maintains an ambassador at the Court of Hsinking, but one may hazard a guess that he is not under the orders of the Japanese Foreign Office, since the post is held by the Commander-in-chief of the Kwantung Army. He may, in fact, be regarded as a form of viceroy, except that in practice it seems to be the Chief of Staff who actually wields the power. Since the outbreak of The army has always been supreme in Manchukuo. hostilities in China, the swing towards military government has become even more evident. Both the defence and the mobilisation laws provide for the temporary supersession of the civil by the military authorities and the suspension of civil law. In addition, the army maintains military missions in many important centres. The exact scope of their duties is not known, but it is evident that, where military requirements are in question, particularly in outlying districts in the west, their powers are considerable. Large forces watch the borders of U.S.S.R., and it would probably be not far wrong to say that along the frontiers to a depth varying from 50 to 100 miles approximately martial law prevails.
20. Osaka, in Japan, has a justly famed puppet show. If we ignore the chorus seated at the side which chants or sings to a musical accompaniment the ballad that is being enacted, if we ignore the presence of the puppet-masters and
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