FO371-23515 — Page 261

Page 261

6.

responsibility for his advice. He administers through the State Council and is assisted by the Privy and the Legislative

Councils. The Prime linister and the titular heads of the

departments and most of the provincial offices are Chinese.

But behind this facade 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 Comander-in-chief of the

Kwantung AMMY.

15. This 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 un- questioning submission to the dictates of the central govern- ment, we may say that the spirit of wang tao is being observed. The Italian and German modern methods of government have much The theory of the deв- in them that appeals to the Japanese. tiny 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, more as one and bend all their energies to the fulfilment of the country's destiny.

And /

N.B. The distinction between ¡lanchus, Chinese born in lanch- uria and Chinese born in China Proper, is one which it is not easy to make and it will not be attempted.

Page 261

Page 261

Page 261