Little-known "puffer fish plan": Jews almost revived Northeast China?

During the Second World War, Jews suffered severe persecution. As one of the "belligerents" at that time, China accepted a considerable number of Jews. Because in the 1930s, the Japanese government made a "puffer fish plan", aiming at letting Jews settle in the Northeast and even helping Jews to establish their own homes.

Why did Japan take the initiative to accept these Jewish refugees who fled Europe? What is their fundamental purpose? In this issue, I will walk with you into the "hidden corner" of that history and unveil the mystery of the puffer fish plan.

It was not until the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century that Japanese and Jews met for the first time. Before that, they were still in a completely strange state. Since 1980s, small-scale Jewish communities have emerged in Nagasaki, Kobe and Yokohama. However, Japanese people's understanding of Jews is still very limited. The opportunity for Jews to impress the Japanese was the Russo-Japanese War.

1904- 1905 During the Russo-Japanese War, Jacob Schiff, an American Jewish businessman, lent money to Japan, which made great contributions to Japan's victory. When the two sides first met, the Japanese felt the "power of money". The importance of "first impression" in interpersonal communication cannot be overemphasized. This "timely assistance" loan directly laid an important foundation for the "puffer fish plan" of later generations.

The second intersection between Japan and Jews took place during the First World War. 1917165438+10. In October, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour and even Lord Rothschild published a declaration of British policy towards Palestine, namely the Balfour Declaration. The declaration claims to support Zionists in establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine, provided that the rights of existing ethnic groups there are not harmed.

1920 in April, the Japanese government made a clear statement on the Jewish issue at the "Turkish Peace Conference" and announced its support for the Zionist movement. In June165438+1October of the same year, Foreign Minister Yasuo Uchida submitted a letter formally acknowledging the Balfour Declaration to the French Embassy in Japan.

However, from 19 18, Japan sent troops to Siberia to fight against the Soviet Union, and gradually accepted and was influenced by the "anti-Semitism". However, Japan's "goodwill" towards Jews later began to deviate from the track. This kind of affection is not as simple and rude as Europeans, but a kind of "fear" or even "fear".

Yasuhiro Anjiang, a Japanese expert on Jewish issues, translated the Minutes of Zion Presbyterian Church from Russia into Japanese. After it was widely spread in Japan, people began to believe that Jews were the backbone of secretly advocating the world revolution. Jacob Schiff, an American Jewish businessman who raised money for Japan during the Russo-Japanese War, used his fame, huge wealth and power to participate in various international activities and organizations.

In fact, the legendary rich businessman did have an extraordinary life experience at that time. He helped Woodrow Wilson run for president. A long talk with theodore roosevelt; He also met with King Edward VII of England and Emperor Meiji of Japan. Such a "big shot" is simply an excellent target of "conspiracy theory".

Therefore, at that time, Jacob Schiff, Rothschild family, Oppenheimer family and many other "protagonists of conspiracy theories" were recognized as people who secretly manipulated the world.

1929, a "great depression" originated in the United States swept the world. Japan's survival pressure has reached an unprecedented level, and they urgently need to occupy the Northeast to ease the living conditions of local citizens through "immigration". Although the northeast region is rich in mineral resources and fertile land, the domestic residents' desire to emigrate is not strong. The Japanese government thought of Jews when the three rich northeastern provinces were suffering from insufficient construction.

Among them, smart Jewish businessmen and intellectuals have enough ability to build industrial facilities and infrastructure in northeast China, turning it into a buffer zone between themselves and the Soviet Union, and the external environment at that time provided an excellent opportunity for Japan to win over Jews.

After Hitler came to power in 1933, he vigorously pursued his "anti-Semitic policy" in Germany, expelling Jews from all government agencies, society, culture, education and other fields, completely losing their social status and right to speak. In the end, it even directly plundered Jewish property and launched genocide against Jews. A large number of Jews fled Germany with money, knowledge and technology.

Japan became one of the few countries willing to accept Jews at that time. China's anti-Semitic voice was further eliminated by the voice of Japanese steel magnate Yoshisuke Ogawa.

1934, Yoshisuke Yukawa published the Plan to Move 50,000 German Jews into Manchuria, advocating attracting 50,000 German Jews into Manchuria and absorbing Jewish-American capital to promote the development of Manchuria as a barrier to defend the Soviet Union. He believes that if Jews can be attracted from Europe, they will provide creative energy, industrial technology and so on. Only in this way can the potential of Manchuria be brought into play.

If Jews establish settlements in Manchuria, British and American Jews who play an important role in world finance will naturally be interested in investing. He also pointed out that in order to protect the interests of their religious followers, Jews who secretly manipulated the US government would stop their wanton attacks on Japanese aggression and would not let Japan be threatened by "boycotting Japanese goods" again. His idea was supported by experts on Jewish issues such as Army Colonel Yasuhiro Anjiang, Navy Colonel Kenzuka Weizhong, and Kwantung Army "Manchurian School".

From 65438 to 0937, the Jewish community in Harbin formed the "Far East Jewish National Agreement" headed by Kaufman, aiming at implementing the policy of protecting Jews under Japanese rule. From June 1937 to February 1939, three National Congresses of Far East Jews were held in Harbin.

Kiichiro Higuchi, head of the secret service of Harbin Army, criticized Nazi Germany's anti-Semitic policy at the meeting, and pointed out: "The Japanese have no racial prejudice, the Japanese people cherish their friendship with the Jewish people, and Japan is ready to cooperate with the Jewish people ... to maintain close relations". The "National Congress of Jews in the Far East" held for three consecutive years has undoubtedly become a model to publicize the "Japanese-Qing racial equality policy" to Europe and the United States, flaunting the goodwill and sincere treatment of Japan and Manchukuo, and letting the displaced Jews "live and work in peace" on the land of Manchukuo. The pro-Jewish attitude of the Japanese is obvious.

1938, the occurrence of "crystal night" finally pushed the implementation of "puffer fish plan" to a suitable node. After a long discussion, the cabinet finally launched the "Outline of Jewish Policy towards Jews". Its contents mainly include: maintaining friendly relations with Germany and Italy is the core of imperial diplomacy at present. We can't openly welcome Jews because they are rejected by our allies, but if we adopt the same extreme attitude as Germany, it is inconsistent with the spirit of racial equality advocated by the empire for many years. Now the empire is facing a war situation, especially the economic construction needs to introduce funds, and the relationship with the United States cannot deteriorate. First, Jews living in Japan, "Manchuria" and China should be treated equally with people from other countries; Second, new Jews should be treated fairly according to the general entry rules for foreigners; Third, avoid attracting a large number of Jews, but capitalists, technicians and other valuable people are not restricted.

1From June to July, 1939, Army Colonel Yasuhiro Anjiang, Navy Colonel Takashi Tsuzuka, and Consul General Shiro Ishiguro put forward two more specific "implementation plans": "Specific Measures to Promote the Transformation of American Far East Foreign Policy and Public Opinion to Japan by Using Jews with Real Power in China" and "Research and Analysis on Introducing Jewish Funds".

These plans allow the number of Jewish immigrants to range from 65,438+08,000 to 600,000, and also include detailed arrangements for the land area of residence and facilities such as schools and hospitals. The "Puffer Plan" recognizes that Jewish settlements will enjoy complete religious freedom and cultural and educational autonomy. But at the same time, officials did not hesitate to point out that "the residence is autonomous on the surface, but at the same time, the Jews must be placed under strict supervision and control."

Because they are afraid that Jews will gradually enter the mainstream political and economic circles in Japan and even control the whole of Japan, as described in the minutes of Zion Presbyterian Church. In order to carry out the "Puffer Plan", Kenzuka only focused on establishing contact with the Jewish community in Europe. /kloc-at the beginning of 0/939, Pacific trading company was established, which was funded by Japanese, China and Jews. The establishment of this company officially shows that Japanese and Jews began to cooperate.

At the same time, Jewish experts also hope to improve the increasingly tense relationship between Japan and the United States by establishing contacts with the American Jewish community. 1940, they contacted stephen wise, president of the American Jewish Congress. Because Wise was close friends with Wilson and Roosevelt, the Japanese government thought that he had considerable influence on the decision-making of the American government.

Wise is also one of the main spokesmen of Jewish reformists and Zionism. He actively devoted himself to helping Jews all over the world, and at the same time fiercely opposed Japan. He made it clear that any Jew who cooperates with Japan is a traitor and violates the moral embargo of the United States against Japan.

However, for Japan, the resistance to "implementing the puffer fish plan" is not only from Stephen Wise's toughness. During this period, the pro-Nazi tendency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs became even more explicit (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a foreign minister's instruction on the entry of Jewish refugees on June 7, 1938) and announced restrictions on accepting Jewish refugees.

On the other hand, because the reception capacity of Jewish refugees in Shanghai has reached its limit, in August 1939, Shanghai Jews also demanded that Jewish refugees not be allowed to enter Shanghai again, and Japan had to strictly restrict Jewish refugees from entering Shanghai. In addition, Nazi Germany constantly pressured the Japanese government to express its dissatisfaction with the cooperation between Japan and Jews, which caused great trouble to the Japanese government.

However, if the Jews are dealt with according to the requirements of Germany, Japan's already isolated situation will deteriorate further, which is unacceptable to them anyway.

1940 In July, after tojo hideki became the Minister of the Army and took control of the whole Japanese military and political power, the previous "pro-Semitic policy" of the Japanese government gradually declined. In June, 19941,Germany violated the Soviet-German non-aggression treaty and declared war on the Soviet Union, making Japan an enemy of the Soviet Union, thus ending the route from Vladivostok to Dunga. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in February 65438, it quickly seized the Shanghai Concession and then occupied the whole of Shanghai.

With the interruption of communication between Japan and the United States, all the money help and even correspondence from American Jews stopped. Wealthy Sefadi Jews, many of whom were British citizens, were arrested as citizens of hostile countries. For Japan, Jews have lost their use value.

1942, Japanese foreign minister Modo Dongxiang announced that Jews no longer enjoyed privileges-basically declaring the "puffer fish project" a complete failure.

During the invasion of China, it was obviously unrealistic for the Japanese militaristic government to try to improve the "external environment" and international image by wooing Jews and obtain better war resources. Because the Japanese authorities had a serious deviation in their "understanding" of Jews from the beginning: not all Jews are rich and loving bankers.

Those Jewish refugees who were taken in and lived in Shanghai, Northeast China and Kobe failed to play any role in local economic construction and recovery. Not to mention introducing foreign capital to improve Japan-US relations. "Puffer fish" tastes delicious, but it is very toxic. Japan wanted to take its meat and abandon its poison, but in the end it just returned empty-handed.

References:

He Libo, the whole story of Japan's implementation of the Fugu plan.

Wen Chunmei, Japan's "puffer fish plan" to help Jews before World War II.

Fang Jianchang, a Jew in Northeast China in Modern Times.

"Japan had planned to establish Jewish settlements in the northeast of China" He Libo.