Your search within this document for 'manchuria' resulted in 28 matching pages.
 
1 Front Cover 1

“...An Address on Manchuria Its Past and Present and Reply to Prof. Sbuhsi-Hsu’s Criticisms and Observations By YOSUKE MATSUOKA Until recently Vice-President of tlie South Manchuria Railway Co. Third Biennial Conference Institute of Pacific Relations CCP 327.09 KYOTO* JAPAN 1929 292702...”
2 Page 1

“...SECTION ONE AN ADDRESS ON MANCHURIA, ITS PAST AND PRESENT Manchuria is often referred to in America and Europe as a potential battle-ground, the “ Balkans of Asia ” ; and many writers have been fond of depicting this region as the scene of “ the next world war?* During the past few years, however, the mass immigra- tion of Chinese into Manchuria caught the imagination of the world abroad, and consequently greater attention has been paid to the economic growth of Manchuria, which is, of course, the really im- portant phase of the situation ; and to this phase, I may be permitted to point out, Japan, in the midst of abuses and attacks, has quietly, but steadily, been directing her aims and efforts during the past two and a half decades. Japan cannot and has not lost sight of the vital consideration of her national security. It must be remembered that Russia at one time almost succeeded in capturing Manchuria, with Mongolia and Korea to boot, with Chinese connivance. History repeats and...”
3 Page 2

“...what is being done in Manchuria today, we should, I think, make a series of comparisons. For the first comparison one should go back to Manchuria in the days prior to the opening of Newchwang, or Yingkou, as an international port of trade. In those days, which after all, were only seventy years ago, Manchuria was virtually a wild and unknown region, sparsely populated and without touch with the modern world, except for such entirely unimportant trade in fur and the like as was conducted on the Siberian border. The Govern- ment in Peking not only did not encourage the development of Man- churia, but everything was done to prevent it. The policy of for- bidding the emigration, for instance, of Chinese to the area north of the Great Wall was enforced, and the last legislation in this respect was removed only in 1905. The Manchu rulers in Peking treated Manchuria as their Crown Land, separate from the rest of China, and held it as a country forbidden to the Chinese. The beginning of history...”
4 Page 3

“...quite evident that the further development of Manchuria must be accomplished by following the principle of this original scheme, which has proved to be so successful in the past, namely, the con- struction of lines of transportation running generally east and west and north and south. While Russia must be given credit for having furnished the be- ginning of the development of Manchuria along modern lines, it was quite evident that Russia’s work in Manchuria was of no benefit to the world at large, as the Russians employed the railway entirely for their own purposes, and the other nations had to continue to carry on their trade with Manchuria through Newchwang. This condi- tion was changed, however, when Japan, after she had taken over the greater part of the southern branch of the Chinese Eastern Rail- way, opened this line to the use of the world, opened Dairen as a free port, and caused the opening of numerous trade marts through- out Manchuria, thus furnishing the impetus which has made...”
5 Page 4

“...interests in Manchuria which have caused the Japanese Government to concern itself with the maintenance of peace and order there. While out of the twenty-eight ports and marts opened in connection with trade in Manchuria, twenty-four has been opened through the initiative of Japan, this in itself would have amounted to very little if it had not been for the fact that Japan also provided the two princi- pal essentials for the development of international trade, namely, peace and safe and reliable transportation. If we go back to the days prior to the advent of Japanese interest in Manchuria and compare Manchuria of that day with China Proper, one finds that the former was still an undeveloped region of which little was known and from which the world received but a very unimportant trade. Compared with the rest of China, Manchuria remained rather a bandit-ridden, barren region about which China Proper knew little and apparently cared less. In China Proper one might already see much evidence...”
6 Page 5

“...sidered region of wild land which had been of no importance what- ever to China—except ini so far as it had furnished banner-men through whom the Manchu Dynasty in Peking could maintain its control over the Chinese—Manchuria has become in many respects the most prosperous region of China and now provides over one-third of her foreign trade. I hope I may be pardoned for referring to the fact that for this development Japan may justly claim a considerable share of credit. The activities of Japan in Manchuria have, unfortunately, been regarded with some distrust from the very beginning. It is rather amusing to read, for instance, what Sir Alexander Hosie writes in December, 1900, when he says : “ Very gloomy views were expressed in some quarters as to the j commercial future of Manchuria, owing to the invasion and occupa- tion of part of the southern province by Japanese, in consequence of the war between that country and China in 1894-1895 ; but these views have been falsified by events, and...”
7 Page 6

“...velopment. Japan's experiments and studies greatly improved the agricultural and animal products of Manchuria and caused Manchurian raw materials of various kinds to become well known commodities in the markets of the world. It is, of course, true that Japan’s principal reasons for engaging in her various activities in Manchuria have been based on considera- tions for her own benefit, but, as a matter of fact, it is also entirely evident that other foreigners and the Chinese in Manchuria have benefited very materially from the presence of Japanese interests in those regions. Thus, the foreign resident depends for transportation of his imports and exports mainly upon the Japanese or Japanese built railway lines and on the port facilities provided by Japan. For the safety of his life and his property he depends, in times of stress, on the Japanese military, who, though few in number, have in the past always furnished the protection on which not only the Japanese but also the other foreigners...”
8 Page 7

“...for the first loan obtained by the South Manchuria Railway Company, by means of which the great initial work of the company was done. The South Manchuria Railway Company, especially in the early days of its ex- istence, depended upon the United States for the purchase of most of its equipment; so much so, in fact, that the line even today is regarded as being practically a typical American railway. Russia built the Chinese Eastern Railway, and France contributed through furnishing most of the funds for such construction. As the world is gradually becoming aware of the progress which has been made in Manchuria and of the tremendous possibilities which exist for further development, there should be every reason to believe that foreign capital from various countries may find its way into Man- churia and contribute to the progress which is being made. That various foreign countries have received their share of the benefits from the opening of Manchuria to international trade is best shown by...”
9 Page 8

“...30 cents per capita. The benefits which the Chinese have received from the opening of Manchuria should be too evident to need much description in detail, It is true that, unfortunately, one hears constantly com- plaints from the Chinese side as to ;the “ exploitation ” of their country by foreigners, and a picture is drawn showing the unfortu- nate Chinese inhabitant being trampled under foot in the rivalry between Russia and Japan. As a matter of fact, Manchuria seems to me to have been extremely fortunate in that nearly all the initia- tive, capital and enterprise required for the opening of the country were furnished by outsiders. Thus, Russia, Japan and Great Britain, until a few years ago, built practically all the railways in Manchuria and furnished the funds for such, and the amount of actual cash which China has so far paid in return for the great net-work of rail- ways which is the basis for its progress and for the prosperity of its rulers and inhabitants, is comparatively small...”
10 Page 9

“...dence. It is still more significant that the Chinese show a marked preference for the areas in Manchuria which are under Japanese jurisdiction. Thus, while the Chinese population in Manchuria generally has roughly doubled during the past twenty years, the Chinese population in the Railway Zone has risen from 9,000 in 1907 to 202,000 in 1927. In other words, while the Chinese popu- lation in Manchuria generally increased by two, it increased by over twenty in the zone administered by Japan. While there are roughly twenty-seven million Chinese in the 384,000 square miles of Manchuria, the Japanese area of only 1,400 square miles accom- modates over one million Chinese. The reasons why the Chinese show this preference are very plain, namely, the advantages of modern improvements, small and definite taxes, good policing, etc. found under the Japanese administration. When the South Manchuria Railway Company was first es- tablished, the Chinese were offered an opportunity to subscribe to shares...”
11 Page 10

“...further Manchurian products, Manchuria would face instant disaster. While, as I have said, Japan’s principal contribution to the development in Manchuria has been the provision of peace and means of adequate and safe transportation, it must, of course, also be evident that nothing could have been done without the presence of China’s greatest asset, namely, her cheap, efficient and hard- working labor. With the assurance of peace and attracted by the great regions of uncultivated but rich soil, millions of Chinese re- cently have come into Manchuria from the northern provinces of China, particularly from Shantung. This immigration movement, coupled with the fact that about one-half of Manchuria’s arable land remains as yet untouched, provides the principal factor for the further development of Manchuria. In order to take advantage of this unique condition, namely, the existence of vast undeveloped areas of rich wild land virtually contiguous to an inexhaustible sup- ply of cheap and efficient...”
12 Page 11

“...more destruction than construction has been seen during the last few decades. This condition in Manchuria is, of course, due to some extent to the fact that the Chinese have been able to copy from the Japanese developments and have to a great extent benefited from Japanese instruction, but somewhat similar conditions obtain in many other parts of China, and similar develop- ment could have been carried out in the rest of China if peace and order had obtained there. Manchuria should furnish the rest of China a striking example of the wonders which may be accomplish- ed by means of Chinese patience and energy if this be allowed to work peacefully and without disturbance. As a matter of fact, the absolute necessity of peace and order for the development and prosperity of any region, and the fact that order accompanies the railways, is demonstrated by a comparison between those parts of Manchuria which are served by railways and those which are not. Thus, one finds that in the Japanese railway...”
13 Page 12

“...rivalries between China and Japan but, as a matter of fact, common sense will show that there is little cause for such fears. Japan is interested in the development of Manchuria so that she may draw on that country for raw materials, which she may turn into manufactured products, and which she may sell to a steadily in- creasing Manchurian population. She has repeatedly declared that she has no political ambitions in Manchuria and proof of this, if proof be needed, lies in the fact that Japan has for years past en- couraged the immigration of Chinese into Manchuria. Every addi- tional Chinese inhabitant of Manchuria makes that region that much more Chinese, so that if Japan had political ambitions she would be opposed to the immigration movement. On the other hand, every Chinese immigrant entering Manchuria becomes a producer of raw material and a potential purchaser of manufactured goods, and for this reason it is to Japan's interest that immigration be encouraged. In order to open regions...”
14 Page 13

“...namely, Dairen and Vladivo- stok. Minor ports, such as Antung and Yingkou, may be improv- ed but cannot be counted on to afford much of a solution of the problem as to how may be handled the vast amounts of Manchurian produce which will call for transportation, when the present popula- tion of Manchuria of about twenty-seven millions shall have risen to the seventy-five millions who can easily be supported on Manchurian territory. Once the now unused areas shall have been opened by the provision of adequate transportation, it is evident that additional railway and port facilities must be provided, and, when one considers the vast increase of produce which is almost certain to come about, Manchuria will seem like a tremendous bottle whence great quantities of fluid are trying to escape through an altogether inadequate outlet. It would also seem to be evident that new ports should be provided in such a manner that may bring the products of regions in the interior to points on the sea involving...”
15 Page 14

“...manufactured goods the greater will be the purchases of such pro- ductions and the greater the markets to which the Manchurian farmer may sell his produce. As a matter of fact, in Manchuria, Japan, China and the world in general want exactly the same thing, namely, prosperous and rapid development, and the means by which this may be accom- plished I have tried to describe above by showing that the factors which have worked the miracles of the past few decades, namely, peace and adequate transportation facilities, must remain the prin- cipal factors for further development. It would seem evident that under the circumstances the one thing which is needed is coopera- tion, so that the next few decades may build upon the foundation which has been so successfully laid during the past thirty years and make Manchuria not only the most prosperous region of China but also an example for the rest of the country....”
16 Page 15

“...that the peace and order in Manchuria was kept by the Japanese troops along the South Manchuria Railway line. The peace of Manchuria, he said, was due largely to geographical considera- tions and it was evident that a handful of Japanese troops could not certainly keep peace in that vast territory. As a matter of fact, I do not recall making such an assertion. Nor is there, I suppose, any person in whole Japan who entertains such a stupid idea; the number of our troops stationed along the South Manchuria Railway line is not much over 7,000 men,—if my memory does not fail me, I believe it was somewhere around 13,000 or 15,000 men that we had the treaty right to station. That this handful of men, scattered along 700 miles of railway line, could not keep peace and order in that vast territory, must, of course, be patent to any one, without it being pointed out by Prof. Hsu. (Laughter) What I wanted to say, however, was that Japan had great interests in Manchuria and consequently felt a deep...”
17 Page 16

“..., a sort of guar- anty to the peace in Manchuria. I understood Prof. Hsu to say that Manchuria was so situated as to make it difficult to attack either from the north or from the south. I could not quite catch the point; perhaps he meant west when he said south. Anyhow, what he wished to say, I believe, was that Manchuria owes its peace to its unique geographical posi- tion and not in any measure to Japan. This presentation is rather misleading. To tell the truth, in the past 2,000 years of history, many battles and struggles have been seen in Manchuria among the different races and tribes who appeared on the scene from time to time. But I need not refer to them for the purpose of today’s discussion. Take, for instance, only these ten years, and what have you seen ? Even with my limited knowledge, I can count on my fingers more than half a dozen occasions where war or disturbances either actually broke out or were in danger of doing in Manchuria itself or in its relation with the other...”
18 Page 17

“...—such a rapid increase in Manchuria ? Of course, we must remem- ber that Manchuria is a new country with a vast uncultivated area still left, and no doubt this has been responsible to some extent for the increase of population as we see it in other newly opened regions. However, we must admit that this alone cannot explain fully the remarkable phenomenon of the Chinese rushing, as it were, like a vast stream from China Proper, particularly the northern provinces, into Manchuria,—if it were not for the peace in Manchuria and facilities offered by the South Manchuria Railway. We often hear sad stories of the people—Chinese people— leaving their ancestral homes behind in Shantung for Manchuria. The poor farmers in tattered clothes, with aged parents and little children huddled together, set fire to their houses with curses on the never ending war and pillage, and saying a last goodbye to their ancestral homes, set out in tears for the new land of peace tin Manchuria. Third : The Growth of...”
19 Page 18

“...unknown in other countries. (Laughter) In this connection, I wish to answer Prof. Hsu's criticism by citing figures ; this is the simplest way, I believe. Let us compare the trade statistics of Manchuria and China Proper. For this pur- pose I will pick out the figures of 1907 as the starting point, the reason for it being only that, in that year the Chinese Customs House was opened in the leased territory of Kwantung where the port of Dairen is located. We got Dairen as a result of the Russo- Japanese War, and we made an agreement with China whereby the Chinese Customs House was established there. Accepting the figure of 1907 as 100, what do we find 18 years after, that is in 1925 ? For China Proper 226; against which Manchuria makes a showing of 534. In other words, while China Proper doubled, Manchuria quintupled, increased fivefold. And I presume that Japan can and may justly claim some credit for this remarkable phenomenon.* *At a round table following the speech, a member of a certain...”
20 Page 19

“...after concluding the Portsmouth Treaty, went to Peking and negotiated with China. An agreement, among other things, on the railway question in Manchuria was con- cluded. No one, I suppose, is prepared to cry out that that agreement was extracted from China under coercion. (Laughter) China of course agreed to it of her own free will. In any case, she undertook not to lay any line parallel to the South Manchuria Railway to the detriment of the latter's interests. Hardly was the ink with which the Chinese plenipotentiaries signed this agreement dry, than these gentlemen under the Manchu Dynasty—mind you, I am not saying under the Nationalist Government that we see in China today—these gentlemen manoeuvred successfully to get a British capitalist to sign a loan contract for building the so-called Fakumen Railway running parallel to the South Manchuria Railway. Before concluding a contract such as this with a third party, China ought really to have approached Japan and settled the ques- 19...”