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 to the family, to a locality, or to persons, than to the State. Patriotism as it is understood in the West is only beginning to be felt. Guilds, associations, leagues, armies, are all accustomed to follow certain individual leaders. If, therefore, the support of a particular leader can be secured by persuasion or coercion, the support of his adherents over the whole area of his influence follows as a matter of course. The foregoing narrative of events shows how successfully this Chinese characteristic was utilised in the organisation of the Provincial Governments, and the agency of the same few individuals was used to complete the final stage.

The chief agency in bringing about independence was the Self-Government Guiding Board, which had its central office in Mukden. By reliable witnesses, it was stated to the Commission to have been organised, and in large part officered, by Japanese, although its chief was a Chinese, and to have functioned as an organ of the Fourth Department of the Kwantung Army Headquarters. Its main purpose was to foster the independence movement. Under the direction and supervision of this Central Board, local self-government executive committees were formed in the districts of Fengtien Province. To those various districts, as occasion demanded, the Central Board sent out members from its large and experienced staff of inspectors, directors and lecturers, many of whom were Japanese. It utilised also a newspaper, which it edited and published.

The nature of the instructions given by the Central Board is apparent from the proclamation which it issued as early as January 7th, under date of January 1st. The proclamation stated that the North-East was faced with the need for developing, without delay, a great popular movement for the establishment of a new independent State in Manchuria and Mongolia. It described the development of its work in various districts in Fengtien Province, and outlined its plan for the extension of its activities to the remaining districts and even to the other Provinces. It then appealed to the people of the North-East to overthrow Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, to join the Self-Government Association, to co-operate in setting up a clean administration and improving the living conditions of the people, and it ended with the words: "Organisations of the North-East, Unite! Towards the new State! Towards Independence!" Of this proclamation, fifty thousand copies were distributed.

As early as January also, the Chief of the Self-Government Guiding Board, Mr. Yu Chung-han, was already making plans, together with Governor Tsang Shih-yi, for the new State which, it was reported, was to be established on February 10th. But the Harbin outbreak of January 29th and General Ma's ambiguous attitude during the conflict with Ting Chao appear to have been the main reasons for the temporary postponement of further preparations at that time.

Later, after Ting Chao's defeat, negotiations between Lieutenant-General Chang Ching-hui and General Ma had brought about, on February 14th, a settlement according to which General Ma was to become Governor of Heilungkiang. The meeting at which the foundation of the new State was to be arranged was held on February 16th and 17th at Mukden. The Governors of the Three Provinces and the Special District were present in person, as well as Dr. Chao Hsin-po, who had played a prominent part in all the preparatory work.

At a meeting of these five men, it was decided that a new State should be established, that a North-Eastern Administrative Council should be organised which would exercise temporarily the supreme authority over the Provinces and the Special District, and, finally, that this Supreme Council should, without delay, make all necessary preparations for the founding of the new State. On the second day of the Conference, two Mongol Princes attended, one representing the Barga District (Hulunbuir) in Western Heilungkiang, the other, Prince Chiwang of the Cherim Leagues,