Manchoukuo Today
Condensed from an article by the Bureau of Information, Manchoukuo State Council—Editor
Manchoukuo has made enormous strides in her growth and progress as a modern nation, particularly in recent years ;. so much so that even in the short space of a year a resident in the new State is likely to find himself living in totally new surroundings. Indeed, many of these changes have been wrought with such speed and comprehensiveness as to seem incredible. For example, in 1932 when the State of Manchoukuo was founded, the total length of railway lines was no more than 4,000 kilometres, but today it extends to over 10,000 kilometres. During the same period, the transport of goods by rail increased from 16,000,000 metric tons to more than 50,000,000 metric tons, and that of passengers from 8,000,000 to the staggering figure of 96,000,000. As for motor highways the country now has a total length of 67,000 kilometres, whereas in 1932 it had only 3,000 kilometres. Power production has trebled, and the number of families using the water supply system has increased amazingly.
It is said that the consumption of table salt increases in proportion to the rise in the standard of living, but in a country like Manchoukuo, where primitive conditions of life prevail, the increase of salt consumption becomes particularly great with the improvement in the living conditions of the people. In fact, the consumption of table salt, which was 3,800,000 piculs when the new State came into being, has increased to 7,460,000 piculs. Significant also is the large increase in postal savings deposits, which rose from 250,000 yen to 124,800,000 yen during the same period. Considering that the maximum limit for postal savings allowed to each individual is 3,000 yen, it is apparent that the sum represents the funds of petty depositors.
As regards education, the number of children who attended primary schools in 1932 was 500,000, whereas recent attendance totalled 1,950,000. Manchoukuo now has 19 colleges and universities.
With regard to finance, the chaotic currency system of the old Chang régime has been completely renovated and put in order with the establishment of the Central Bank of Manchou. At present,
paper notes in circulation in Manchoukuo total 614,000,000 yen, with a gold reserve of 315,000,000 yen, a remarkable achievement in so short a time. When it is recalled that the national budget for the year 1932 amounted to no more than 110,000,000 yen, in contrast to this year's 2,500,000,000 yen, Manchoukuo's present financial strength may readily be appreciated. A further example is the recent appropriation of 114,600,000 yen for the single project of constructing the Port of Tatung, at the mouth of the Yalu River, an amount even larger than the first bugetary [sic] appropriation of the State of Manchoukuo !
Of interest in this connection also are the three major national policies of the Five-Year Plan, namely industrial development, colonization, and development of the northern border provinces. The Plan, launched in 1937, is being energetically pushed by the united efforts of Manchoukuo and Japan as an integral part of the work of establishing a new order in East Asia. Approximately 6,000,000,000 yen of capital is being used for this important work which is divided into four fields, namely, mining, agriculture and live-stock raising, colonization, and transportation and communications.
Achievements in 1939
Mining Industry : In the third year of the Five-Year Plan, that is 1939, the main stress was laid upon increasing the output of coal, iron, non-ferrous metals, and development of electric power, in keeping with the current situation confronting the nation. As a result 80 per cent of the goal set was realized in the production of iron and steel, which was 20 per cent more than that of the previous year. The output of coal was 99.5 per cent of the quantity expected, which was 33 per cent more than that of the year before. As for non-ferrous metals, the production of aluminium at Fushun attained the goal marked for 1939. Equipment for the production of other metals has almost been completed and the country will soon be self-sufficient in such metals as lead and zinc.
Development of Electric Power : The production of power by thermal generation realized 97 per cent of the schedule, which is 30 per cent more than that of 1938. The production of energy by hydraulic generation calls for the construction of dams at the Sungari and Yalu Rivers. For this purpose, the Government completed the work of impounding the waters of these rivers before the end of 1939, despite many difficulties, and actual work on the dams has been in progress since. The construction of the dams, regarded
as one of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken in the Orient, is scheduled for completion before the end of 1941, to usher in the age of hydraulic generation in Manchoukuo.
Agriculture : Despite serious damage suffered in various agricultural districts, the crops of cotton, tobacco, sugar beets, flax and hemp, as well as rice, kaoliang, millet and paomi attained from 90 to 100 per cent of the predetermined yield, while crops of beans, sutzu, wheat, barley and oats realized from 70 to 80 per cent of the schedule.
Livestock Industry : Breeding of cattle, horses, sheep, hogs and chickens were all over 100 per cent of the expected number.
Colonization : The principles on which the colonization policy is to be based, together with a system for settling a colony, and the policy to be followed in assisting and encouraging the organization of settlers have been formulated. In accordance with these measures, colonies representing more than 23,000 families from Japan proper were settled in various sections of North Manchoukuo up to the end of March, 1940. The setting up of colonies for organized settlers attained 90 per cent and those for collective settlers passed the 100 per cent mark in 1939. In addition, 38,000 young volunteers from Japan have already settled in various parts of North Manchoukuo, and this movement of Japanese settlers is likely to continue increasing.
Communications and Transportation : During the period under review constructional activities were carried on mostly in the remoter districts. This was possible owing to the completion of public works in the metropolitan areas and in other important districts.
The foregoing are some of the outstanding results obtained during the 1939-40 fiscal year in connection with the Five-Year Plan.
Natural Resources
Manchoukuo is rich in mineral resources, coal deposits being estimated at 19,300,000,000 metric tons, iron at 3,000,000,000 metric tons, oil-shale 5,600,000,000 metric tons, and magnesite ore 5,000,000,000 metric tons. Deposits of gold ore were estimated to be worth 6,000,000,000 yen and placer gold, 5,000,000,000 yen. Tin, zinc, copper, magnesium, tungsten and molybdenum resources have been discovered from time to time, and their refining plants have been industrialized in various parts of the country.
It has long been felt that owing to the absence of petroleum resources, Manchoukuo lacks one of the essentials of modern industry, but this has proved to be incorrect, as rich oil-bearing fields were
discovered in Fowsin in South Manchoukuo. The Manchuria Petroleum Company, which was entrusted with the work of investigation, confirmed the promising nature of the new oil-fields. In April, 1940, in the course of prospecting, gas was found escaping out of the ground at a point in an anticlinal axis which extended from east to west for 100 kilometres. The gas rose to a height of 20 metres above the surface of the earth from a depth of about 100 metres. This was followed by the discovery that the first oil stratum was 12 metres in thickness, and from it the Company succeeded in obtaining a large amount of crude oil. Further prospecting in this locality has confirmed the existence of many oil strata of varying thicknesses lying several thousand metres below the surface. These discoveries have led the Company to undertake drilling on a large scale.
The liquefaction of coal is being carried on in Sspinkai, Fowsin, Chinchow, Fushun and other places. With the completion of the Five-Year Plan these plants should yield a considerable amount of oil. The production of pig iron and steel, too, will by that time be developed to such an extent that Manchoukuo will be self-sufficient in these materials. The country does not produce rubber, but plans have been made to manufacture synthetic rubber, making use of the abundant supply of electric power, coal and limestone.
Development of the Northern Border Provinces
What are known as the Northern Border Provinces include the following seven provinces : North Hsingan Province, embracing Hailar, Manchuli, and Nomonhan ; Heiho Province along the River Amur, with Blagoveschensk on the opposite side ; Tungan Province, with Mishan as centre ; Sanchiang Province with Chiamussu as centre ; Mutanchiang Province, with the River Mutanchiang as centre ; Chientao Province with Yenchi as centre ; and the new Province of Peian, with Peianchen as centre.
As the northern border provinces have more or less been neglected in the past from an administrative point of view, compared with the colossal efforts expended in the development of South Manchuria, which as a result became the seat of Government, it has been decided to direct the powers of modern science towards improving the conditions of life in the north. A sum of 1,000,000,000 yen will be spent in developing these seven provinces. The programme includes road improvement, construction of motor highways, establishment of service stations at points of vantage, extension of railway lines, electrification of the seven provinces, establishment
of radio stations, and popularization of radio reception, as well as the establishment of various sanitary and medical institutions such as hospitals, medical consultation stations, etc. for the prevention of epidemics.
Efforts are being made also to increase agricultural products such as grain of all kinds and livestock to meet military requirements and to improve the livelihood of the people. In working out these measures, detailed plans are first drawn up, with tabulations of even the number of cattle, hogs, chickens, sheep, etc. to be increased during the year. As Government officials and employees of semi-Government and other business institutions, who work in the hinterlands, are constantly faced with difficulties and inconveniences, they are provided with official or company residences which are equipped with radio sets and other facilities for recreation, such as chess and checker-boards and the like. All such equipment are classified, numbered and recorded and are provided for in the 1,000,000,000 yen appropriation referred to elsewhere.
Upon completion of the Five-Year Plan, North Manchuria will assume a totally new aspect. Close economic ties are bound to be formed between North and East Manchoukuo and Japan proper, particularly with those parts bordering on the Japan Sea, similar to the relationship now existing between South Manchuria and Japan, chiefly with the Kansai district and Northern Kyusyu.
Tatung Port
An undertaking that deserves special mention is the large-scale construction of the non-freezing Port of Tatung at a point below Antung, near the mouth of the Yalu River. Antung itself is a port city, but its facilities as such have been found inadequate, its harbour being shallow and having the added disadvantage of freezing in winter. In fact it is only suitable for junks and has been on the decline for some time. However, Antung has become the centre of activity in heavy industries of the Tunghwa and Antung provinces, both of which are rich in natural resources. The need of a good port in this locality therefore having become increasingly urgent, Tatung was decided upon.
At the time of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, a certain Japanese contingent is said to have landed at Tatung. It is a veritable field of reeds and on one side, facing the Yalu River, there is a precipitous bank with the reeds holding the soil mfro [sic] being washed away by the river current. It is a natural habour [sic], the water being very deep and allowing the docking of a vessel of 1,000 tons.
It also has the great advantage of being open the year around. In winter when Hsinking is in the grip of a temperature registering 30 degrees below zero, and even the port of Dairen is on the verge of freezing, the port of Tatung is navigable.
To develop this natural port the Government of Manchoukuo has appropriated 114,600,000 yen, which is to be spread over a period of eight years. When the first half of the construction work is completed, the port will be able to provide modern accommodations for a vessel of 4,000 tons, and by the end of eight years it will be thoroughly equipped with facilities to dock vessels up to 8,000 tons.
The conversion of the reedy fields adjoining the river into an industrial town is being carried on in accordance with an elaborate plan. The water necessary for industrial purposes may be drawn from the River Aiho, near Antung, to the extent of 1,300,000 tons a day. When the water supply system is installed, utilizing this source of water, the district will become an excellent industrial town.
The Eastern Border Provinces, which were once regarded as a nest of bandits, have now been developed into mining districts, producing coal, iron ore and other minerals.
When the State was founded in 1932, the number of brigands was estimated at 300,000. They were rampant all over the country, but as a result of clean-up operations, carried out by the Japanese and Manchoukuo armies and police forces, their numbers have been reduced to a negligible figure. Those remaining have been driven into mountain regions, where they are now leading a precarious existence.
The area of Manchoukuo is approximately 1,300,000 square kilometres, which is about twice the size of the Japanese Empire, or as large as Germany, France and England, or Italy, Germany and France put together. Accordingly, the country can easily provide for a population of 100,000,000.
The soil of North Manchoukuo is extremely rich, enabling farmers to raise crops for seven years at a stretch without the use of fertilizers. Grasses grow taller than a man and are cut in autumn and used chiefly as fuel for baking bricks. It is under such favourable conditions that enormous increases in the output of agricultural products and in the volume of foreign trade, as seen in the trade returns published by the Government, have been made possible within a short space of time.
Concord of Five Races
Advantages such as these have had a telling effect upon the life
of the people. At the time the State was established, the population of Manchoukuo was estimated at 30,000,000, but since then it has increased by five or six million. Accurate population figures will be available after the census is taken on October 1, 1940. The present population of Manchoukuo comprises about 700,000 Japanese from Japan proper, 32,000,000 Hans, 2,000,000 Manchus of the same racial extraction as the founders of the Ching dynasty in China, 1,000,000 Koreans, and 1,000,000 Mongolians. In addition there are about 60,000 White Russians and some Orochons, Ghiliaks and Tartars.
Nationality has not yet been legally defined in Manchoukuo ; however, those who were living in Manchoukuo with the intention of residing there permanently at the time of establishment of the new State, and members of different races who participated in the founding of the nation are regarded as of Manchou nationality. Seasonal immigrants, such as the coolies who come from Shantung, China, in spring and return in summer, and travellers from other countries are naturally not regarded as Manchou nationals. But Japanese residents enjoy dual nationality, being Japanese and Manchou at the same time. Such is the conception of nationality in this country.
Manchuria has been the scene of the rise and fall of many different peoples including those of the Ural-Altais, where the Sushen, Koochuli, Rohai, Liao, Chin, Yuan and Ching dynasties saw the glory and extinction of their fortunes. It is only a matter of a century since the Han race came to settle in this part of the Continent. Thus Manchuria has been historically a land of many races and was destined to become a nation on that basis.
Before the founding of Manchoukuo, however, the country had been the scene of racial contention for supremacy. The Japanese staved off the Russian advance upon Manchuria and assumed leadership in establishing the new State on the basis of racial concord. The fact that Manchoukuo has been able to attain the present stage of development in a matter of only eight years is highly significant considering the country's historical background.