STARTLING SECRET DOCUMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1262, 18 October 1911, Page 4

STARTLING SECRET DOCUMENT.

A GREAT SCHEME OF INTELLIGENCE. JAPAN'S SCHEME OP ESPIONAGE. Tho correspond ant of tho Sydney "Daily Telegraph," writing from Shanghai, states: A startling socrct document, elaborating. Japan's latest scientific 6chemo of espionage in foreign countries, has como to light in Shanghai, and once again emphasises tho danger that lurks behind tho irenocont-looking airtisan or tradesman from tho land of Dai Nippon. Throughout China, India, and tho islands of tho Pacific tho Japanese nation is thickly represented by toiling servants in tlio intsrests of thp State. I have been personally assured by the whilom Amba-n of Tibst that they wore not only installed, as Lamas in the far-away temples on the roof of tho world, but were also active aj soldiers in tho army of the lamas who resisted the advance of tho Chinese troops in their most recant invasion of that territory. The army of China itself is sprinkled with Japanese in tho ranks of the privates, and, in ca.*OT, among the non-commisxionod officers. It is now tlio aim of tho Government to organise this vast and potent concourse of intelligence-gatherers into a workable macJiine under the direct and immediate control of tho Ministers and Consuls of tho country. Hie scheme is definitely laid down in the secret document referrel to, and far as Asia is concerned it is to form an association ostensibly to gain access to its members to tindy traditions and customs of tfho country, and promote friendly relations and rewtimenls in order to develop mutual trade. It has the highsounding and ingenious titlo of tho Eastern Asia Co-operative Association, and in the document convoying the various regulations to the Ministers and Consuls it iB announced that Japan should aim at brinjin" tho whole Asiatic continent under her influence. "In matters relating to warfare, diplomacy, and commerce," the Government sets out, "we diould hold tlie paramount position and stand second to none. Then only should tho Japanese people rrat satisfied. European competition in China is very severe. The Powers hare all struggled to lend her capital to dovelcp her resources. Tho Government? of England, France, Germany, and America, Itawa ami Austria also encourago and subsidise their business men in China, and try to push them into tlio most &dvantn<reons positions. Although Japan has made great strides in a ecrtain part of China, awl her predominant position is already reoognised, she is still in a suteidsaTy position compared with tlio accomplishments of the European Powers. In order to do auray with this handicap and encourage our people to adventure in foreign countries, with ihe object of promoting our national interests, it is necessary in the firat place to make a etudy of tho geography, the national characteristics, the customs, the traditions, arnd tho standard of living of the people. Then when our people have become acquainted with the above—with tho strong support of our Government—they will participate more and more in international undertakings. But ns a preliminary it is necessary for the Government and the people to corporate and to arrango a definite plan of action."

neias tor txpioitation. The document' goes on io relate that European countries are too far away to offer much ciianco to Japanese to establish themselves, but points out that China, Indo-China, Siara, Burma, etc. (the cotml'iies of tho yellow rare, it must bo observed), still offer fields for exploitation by Japun. And it poos on lo significantly remark:—"ln matters of warfare it is also clear that we should proceed with rapidity. In the past Japan has sent out agents to other countries to investigate their military arrangements, polite cal aims, and traditions and customs, but oftener than not they havo met with a fatal end. and many of them never returned. In other instances these agents have had to act individually, without anv help, and canFequeullv they could not achieve their objects to tho full. Theeo difficulties will bo removed if a proper organisation is established for tho purpose. Headquarters should be established in nil important places, and a permanent official appointed to each. 'His duty would bo to investigate local conditions, and report to tho Government. His field of investigation being thus limited, better > suits could be obtained. Aforeover, 011tourists and travellers would receive every facility from th'cj-o sources, and our business men wonld also bo greatly assisted." With Iheso objects in view the Eastern Asia Cooperative Association is established under tho following; rules and regulations

The Eastern Asia Co-operative Association. 1. The asjociation is to bo known as "The Eastern Asia Co-operative Association. 2. The association is nnder the direct control of the General Staff and tho policies and work of the association will bo made known from time to timo by tho general staff, through tho Japanese Ministers or Consuls, to the chief ofiico or tho branch offices of the association in the various countries. 3. Tho chief office is located at Peking, and until proper buildings have been found, it is established within tho quarters of the .Japanese Legation. Branch offices nre established in ■ Manchuria, Inner and Outer Mongolia, Tibet, Szechnan, Yunnan, Kwangtnng, PuMcn, Indo-' China, Bnrma, Sinm, and India. The Inner Mongolia branch offico is a part of the detective service of tho Ministry of War. 4. Offices and men of the active Bervico and reservo list, surveyors, persons who have redded in foreign countries, and aro acquainted with tho local conditions and language, aro qualified for membership of tho association. 5. The president of tho head offico is appointed by the General Staff, and must bo an officer holding a colonel's commission in the array. Tho presidents of branch offices will bo either appoints or nominated or elected without infringing the last' article. 12. The real objects of tho a-ssociation are already jet forth at length in tho above. Therefore ths altitude of the association towards foreign countTies'must bo outwardly very friendly in order to find out the desired information. Though established nominally to promote trade and commerce, tho association is in reality a machine under the direct control of tho genera l staff. Kccrecy and rapidity in executing tho work should therefore bo obtained. (a) Nominally tho association exists for the purpose of studying the traditions and customs of foreign countries, and the promoting of. friendly relations and sentiments in order to develop mutual trade. (b) The abovo is, of course, a matter of diplomacy. The true status of tho association is that it is an important instrument of the general staff for collecting information regarding military, diplomatic, and political matters, and strategic positions, etc., in foreign countries. (c) With the establishment of tho association, tho Intelligence Service and tho Touring Agency of tho Ministry are to be abolished, and tlwir duties will bo fulfilled by tho association. Therefore, the duties of tho association aro of tho highest milittrry and diplomatic importance, and the members of tho association should strivo to do their duty with credit. 13. Sfction A of the last article must b« repeatedly' mnde known to foreign Governments in order to disperse any doubts. The Government is to brin» tho association officially before the foreign Ministers and Consuls under the nreteitof eneourniring trade and commerce. Tho (Ttirerninnit will also fn,r."iß<« and siffn agreements with foreign representatives. I*. After the above formalities hnvo bwn sons thrnn»h the members of the Association, though ail military men, must abandon their professional characteristics, and behave liko typical business men. 1(1. Section B of Article 13 is. a.« already stntwl, the true and principal object of the association; therefore the members of the association should do their utmost in nohieve thoir object. Section A is merely a matter of secondary importance, and is used as a pretence. If there nre occasions when, in the execution of duties, section I! clashes with section A, the Inst should bo sacrificed. 17. In order tn attain tho object of section C of article 12 members of tho .association aro_to keep ia. cloeo touch

with tho Ministers or Consuls in the respective places. The .Ministers or Consuls aro to render tho association every assistance and facility. Communications between the association and tho General Staff are to pass through tho Ministers or Consuls, and in case of important telegraphic messages tho special cipher cf tho General Stair is to bo used. 20. Branch offices aro to make monthly reports to tlie head office, which will in its turn report to the General Staff. Might Cause Suspicion, 23. It is politic not to have too bin ollices at the beginning, because this mii;ht cause suspicion and ' destroy the objects of the association. In places where thorn arc already Japanese residents, tlioir services are to bo made use of, and as a preliminary measure, the Foreign Office will nominate persons to gather information. 21. A list of the places whero offices aro te bo established is given in appendix I. 20. Of tho two managers of any office, ono of them should look after commercial interests (i.e., the nominal object), and,his chief duty is to be on friendly terms with tho local people. Ee shoulr not, however, forget the true anil real aim of tho association. The duties of the other manager aro those of investigation and detection. Ho should arrange parties of non-commissioned officers, privates, mechanics, or engineers to exploit the various places under tho pretence of carrying on trade. lie is to find out the characteristics, customs, geography, and topography and other items of importance, and to draft confidential p'ans for tho iK9 of our army in the future. His and their leisure timo should be devoted to the study of tho local languago or dialect.

30. The non-commissioned officers and others must attend to their duties with 7/vil and interest. They mu?t remember that tho manner in which they execute their business will reflect on the work of the association. Tho privates must servo their superior officers with honour. They must always remember that much depends on their energy and judgment. 31. Tho preliminary appropriation for this association, allotted last year, was ven 500,000. This sum will cover preliminary expenses. The chief of the frencral staif having tak?n the opinion of tho membsrs of the Diet, .ind having consulted the Cabinet resardine sources of futnre income, it has bcon decided to appropriate half of thfl confidential expenses of tho Foroitrn Offico, tho Ministry for W,it, and the General Staff for tho association. 32. The following is a table of'expenditure for the establishment of tho office of the association. Any surplus must l;e deposited in tho bank. 31 Tho association is established ns from July 1 of the enrrent year. Prior te ih establishment in detnil the local conditions of the various places will bo first inquired into. 35. After tho n<sociation hits been formally cinrtitnted, its nominal objects will he made known to the foreign countries. The Ministers and Consuls nbrond and all officers employed must tafe every care not to betray the secret side of tho association to anybody. 37. In order to ensure secrecy, tho detailed Bcheme of operations of this aswn:l: ntion will lw made known onJy te tho chiefs of the offices of the association.

39. A copy of this confidential document will Iμ sent to every Consul in China, Indo-China, Riam, Burma, and Indin.

Upon receipt of this document, Ministers nnd Consuls abroad must report the details of their inv'cstijpvtions of loml conditions to tho FMCTnI ?f:iff before May It. In tho case of the Philippines special officers will bo detailed for that purposs. Trade Exchange Committees. In connection with the above, it may l>3 noted that already Japan has formrd what it calls trade exclianxo eominltiw.s nomin<Uly to establish closer trade relations bptwMii Japan and America and various European countries. Thcs* "committees" aro nil presided over by Count Okuma (prc.-.ident); Bnron Goto, the Minister for Communications; Baron Ov.ra, the Minister for Commerce; and Baron Mafatio, former president of the State Bank; and membership includes leading Japanese officials, manufacturers, and business men. They have u capital of .€200,000 for tho fiermai committee (Niohi Dokn Keiwii Chosa Kal~(jcrmnn-.Tap-an.?.'w Trade Exchange Committee), nnd no doubt the saino amount, for tho. others. Tho Gorman one has alrrxidy beon announced, and tho ostensible obiccta of tho committee nrc to do away with the middle man in Japan—tho Eiiropran—and when reid in conjunction with the secret document above printed it will probably bo of use in other directions. It is stated that its object is to footer trade relations between Jnpan nnd Germany, and brins German manufacturers into direct touch with th-Hr .Tnpancfo customers; it fms already erected in Germany a bureau of information for the u«e of Japanese visitors, and purposes establishing a permanent trndp exhibition of .iiipancse Rnods for tha benefit of the Japanese esport trade to Germany.