Sample Hisoriography Thesis Paper

8/3/2019 Sample Hisoriography Thesis Paper

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INTRODUCTION

Before the Philippines were invaded during the Second World War, the

sentiments of the Japanese were not really to conquer it nor Asia, but to make it

strengthen instead. For them, entering the territories in Asia that was under the control

of western powers does not mean of having an empire but only to protect its priorities

from the westerners that thinks of Japan as a threat on their political and economic

powers in the region. An American naval officer, Commodore Matthew Perry, who led

Japan to accept the realities of having power. This, in less than half a century, Japan,

pressured into accepting foreign ways, progressed rapidly not only in constitutional

precepts, but more so in technology. They accepted the inevitability as well as the

validity of these changes and made them a part of their ethical and social life. The result

was phenomenal material development (Agoncillo, 2001 ed.).

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The aim of this concept paper is to prove through written records from

different authors and sources that there are contradictions or paradoxes between

Japans ideas of creating a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, and being a

powerful country/empire in the Asia-Pacific region. This contradictory between their

ideas, through narrating their actual movements, made the Filipinos think of the real

agenda of the Japanese in annexing the country. At the end of this concept paper, a

synthesis will be formed on what are the reasons of Japans adventure in the

Philippines.


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PRESENTATION OF DATA:

According to Pluvier (1977), the first test of Japans modern strength was the war

with China over Korea. The latter had been a vassal of China and Japan, and the

exercise of suzerain jurisdiction over it brought China and Japan to the war. A clash

between the two forces led to the declaration of the Sino-Japanese War in August 1,

1894. The end of the war was made through the Treaty of Shimonoseki. In here, Korea

will be an independent nation, and Japan will cede Liaotung peninsula, Formosa, and

the Pescadores islands from China. But the fruit of Japans first venture into power

politics was denied by the tripartite intervention of Russia, France, and Germany on

behalf of China. This showed the pressure between the emerging powerful Asian nation

and the threatened western colonial powers.

On the whole feelings in Japan tended to be rather anti-Western, since

immediately after the First World War, the European powers and the United States

attempted to restrict Japanese influence in Asia. Japanese susceptibilities had been

hurt, too, by the ban on the immigration of Japanese nationals into the United States,

while during the Trade Depression in the 1930s, the western policy of raising their imort

barriers against Japanese products was also seen as a design to begrudge Japans

progress (Pluvier, 1977). A Japanese hegemony over Asia would diminish the political

influence and the economic privileges of the western nations in that part of the world,

and this would raise Japans prestige in their fellow Asians. For these reasons, Japan

made a decision, in getting Asia from he called abusive and exaggerated western

colonial powers, and the establishing of Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was


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constructed. And the rest is history, the start of the Second World War in Asia-Pacific

begins.

For these reasons, the Philippines was one of the countries raided by

Japanese forces after the latters surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 7, 1941.

It is due to the fact that that the country was under the control of the United States, the

nation that makes many economic sanctions against Japan.

The officials of the Philippine Commonwealth who were left in the country

were the ones that the Japanese officials used to communicate with the natives and to

win the sympathy of the frightened Filipinos at that time. In the documents showed by

Jose (2006), the Chairman of the Japanese-created executive commission, Jorge B.

Vargas appealed to Filipinos to cooperate with Japan, even if Bataan and Corregidor

still fought on. On January 31, 1942, Vargas spoke to Filipinos:

Because of circumstances beyond our control, the

Philippines found herself involved in the war between Japan and the United Statesour

people have never abandoned our ideals and cherished traditions which have forged us

into one nation. Under the Japanese Military Administration I am sure that united in a

common cause and urged by the exemplary courage and indomitable will to which our

people have risen on many an occasion, we shall be able to restore peace and

tranquility to our homes made desolate, and productivity to our farms laid waste, by the

scourge of war. Benigno Aquino Sr. was perhaps the most vocal in the

members of the executive commission. In one of his speeches, he stated: It is possible

that some would say that since the war has not yet been ended, our attitude would

constitute treason to America. If such be the philosophy advanced by some of our


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people, I would not hesitate to say that I do not care if I were called a traitor to America;

first, because I am not an American; and second, because if by treachery to America I

could serve my country and my people, if it by showing treachery to America peace and

tranquility could be restored to the Philippines so that the people might live again their

normal lives. The resistance of the joined forces of Filipino and

American military came to an end on May 6, 1942, which is called the Fall of Corregidor.

The defeat of the Filipino and American forces in Bataan and Corregidor, and the Death

march marked in the minds of the Filipinos of harsh measures of Japanese authorities.

They realized that it was difficult, if not possible, to channel Filipino sympathy.

It was important to the Japanese for propaganda

purposes that the Filipinos were made to believe that their intention was to see the

Philippines become a republic and free from a colonial power. According to Zaide

(1994), and to the documents shared by Jose (2006), as early as January 21, 1942,

Premier Hideki Tojo , in an address before the Japanese imperial Diet, said, Japan will

gladly given the Philippines its independence so long as it cooperates and recognizes

Japans program of establishing a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The news

was given to the Philippines in the issue of Tribune in June 17 with the front page,

Independence in 1943. This promise was reiterated on January 28 when he

addressed in the House of Peers, Substantial progress is being made in the degree of

cooperation rendered to the Japanese empire by the people of the Philippines as well

as in the restoration of peace and security. Under these circumstances and on condition

that further tangible evidence of cooperation is actively demonstrated, it is contemplated

to put into effect the statement made previously on the question of Philippine


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independence in the shortest time possible.

The formula of Japans policy of making

good relations with other countries in Asia was quite simple. The interim administrations

that they installed were to be transformed into fully, full-pledged governments, and as a

demonstration that Japan recognized Asian nationalism, independence was to be

granted. On the date of independence the Japanese Military Administration would

cease to function. The new government had to conclude treaties with Japan and declare

war upon the United States and Great retain (Pluvier, 1977).

Since the first days of the Japanese occupation, the

Japanese authorities had activated all propaganda agencies in order to wean the

Filipino people from their loyalty to America. Under the auspices of the Hodoo-Bu

(propaganda section) of the Japanese Army, attractive posters and handbills were

circulated in towns and cities, containing catchy slogans- Asia for the Asians,

Philippines for Filipinos, Asia is One. The Japanese language and culture were

taught in order for the two races to understand each other. Every year there was a so-

called Nipponggo Week, which was commemorated with programs in Nipponggo

(Japanese). To encourage further the study of this language, various contests in it were

held with attractive cash prizes to the winners (Zaide, 1994).

Aside from the media and

propagating their language, the Japanese administration conceived of other ways of

attracting the Filipino people. Neighborhood associations (Samahang Magkakapit -

Bahay) were established in cities and towns in occupied Philippines. They were

patterned after Japans Tanami-gumi (neighborhood societies). Ostensibly, the


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neighborhood associations were formed to promote the spirit of neighborliness among

the families and to serve as channels for the distribution of prime commodities (such as

rice, matches, sugar, etc.) to the people. The chief organ of the Japanese propaganda

was the well-organized Kapisanan ng Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas (Society for

Service to the New Philippine), popularly known as KALIBAPI. It was created by

Chairman Vargas Executive Order no. 109, dated December 4, 1942, upon instructions

by the Japanese Military Administration. The KALIBAPI assisted actively in food

production by initiating a nationwide fruit-tree planting campaign. It fostered the teaching

of the national language and propagated the teachings of Filipino heroes. It sponsored

national art expositions, cultural contests, provincial fairs, and patriotic holidays.

Moreover, it encouraged athletics and calisthenics in order to improve peoples health

(Zaide, 1994). The efforts made by the Japanese to

win the hearts of the Filipinos were not succeeded due to the harsh treatment that they

made. One of these is evident by pushing the surrendered Filipino and American

forces to walk from Bataan to Tarlac, and most of them died of hunger, sickness, or

fatigue. This harsh treatment of the Japanese to them was called the Bataan Death

March. This makes a contradiction on what the Japanese say about Asian pride and

integrity, on what they act ruthlessly in the Philippines. It opened the issue of what are

really the intentions of Japan in conquering the Philippines.

Teodoro Agoncilllo (2001 ed.) published a

confidential memorandum dated in a certain day in October 1943 between the

Japanese government and its sponsored puppet government in the Philippines. It was

entitled Memorandum on Questions between Japan and the Philippines arising from


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the Philippine Independence. In here, there are provisions that show the economic

motives of Japan in the country. In the sector of industries for example, according to the

memorandum: In view of the necessity of meeting the

demands of the Japanese forces during the prosecution of the Greater East Asia Co-

Prosperity Sphere, the Japanese forces shall exclusively manage the mines, factories,

of workshops listed (copper mines, gold mines manganese mines, chromium Mines,

butanol factories for sugar mills, principal machineries, etc.). The control associations

and similar organizations connected with such mine, factories, and workshops shall be

directly subject to the guidance and supervision of the Japanese forces. The enterprises

other than those listed shall be transferred to the Philippine government. The Philippine

Government shall pay attention not to hamper the economic activities of Japanese

subjects and Japanese enterprises. The existence of the provision was supported

by Artendorp (1967). He stated that the Japanese pushed the mining of copper. At the

Lepanto copper mine, they were reported in Santo Tomas to be employing between

8,000 and 10,000 men who were getting out over 1,000 tons a day of 8% ore. The mine

was guarded by soldiers. On transportation and communication, the

memorandum implied, Air transportation, overseas electric communication and radio

broadcasting shall be operated by the Japanese forces with all the facilities in this

regard. This showed that there will be no fee media at that time to cover the political

and economic irregularities made by the Japanese in the country. That is why there are

several high Japanese military officials who were benefited by this memorandum like

Tomoyuki Yamashita, a famous Japanese general, usually believed that he acquired

large amount of gold he has.


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The memorandum implies that there is a visible

economic agenda of the Japanese in the Philippines: to get its mineral resources and

other materials for free, that will contribute to the development of their mother country.

Their actions contradict on their idea of developing or strengthening one another as

Asians. The political ambitions of Japan can be seen through the events that occur

outside the Philippines, in the time that Japan is still on its point of being a developing

country. Japan has been an emerging power in Asia due to its

rapid development and industrialization. Japan at that time, under pressure from

western countries because of its war with China, feared that it might jeopardize its

position in Asia and elsewhere in the Far East. Although not conquered China, Japan

turned its eyes on Korea in making it as part of their empire due to its rich natural

resources. After 1933, the United States government under Franklin Roosevelt showed

greater concern over Japans designs and attempted to steer a middle course between

isolating itself from and actively participating in world politics. Japans policy, dictated by

the militarists who since the early 1930s had gradually strengthened their control over

the civilian branches of government in their country, aimed of creating a sphere of

influence in East Asia which was to be completely dominated, politically, as well as

economically, by Japan (Pluvier, 1977).

CONCLUSION:

Japan reason out why they

annexed other nations\territories in Asia is for the welfare of their fellow Asians through

keeping them out from western colonialists. But it seemed that he\she also made the

role of the colonizers such as doing harsh things to the native people, abusing their


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power for acquiring natural resources and economic wealth on their administrative

territories, and creating a so-called co-prosperity sphere to emphasize the culture of the

countries that they annexed, and at the same time propagating their culture which is a

sign of colonization. In the case of the Philippines, our

country had experienced the worst things that made through during the Japanese realm

in the Far East. Despite of the speeches of support of the local Filipino officials

supporting the Japanese control and propagandas, the so-called Asian camaraderie,

rehabilitation, and independence that the Japanese promised and instilled to the minds

of frightened Filipinos are neither true nor sincere due to the harsh actions they made to

the people.


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BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. The Fateful Years: Japans Adventure in the

Philippines,1941-1945. University of the Philippines Press. 2001 edition.

Artendorp, Abraham H. The Japanese Occupation of the

Philippines. Bookmark manila. 1967.

Jose, Ricardo T. World War II and the Japanese

Occupation. University of the Philippines Press. 2006.

Pluvier, Jan. South-East Asia from

Colonialism to Independence. Oxford University Press. 1977.

Zaide, Sonia. The

Philippines: A Unique Nation. All Nations Publishing House. 1994.

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Sample Hisoriography Thesis Paper