9-18 monument in Shenyang

 

“‘Truth’ historical materials are the product of Liaoning Province’s academia conducting diplomatic activities with the League of Nations after the September 18 Incident and are the compilation of evidence that Japan launched the September 18 Incident and propped up ‘Manchukuo,’” said Zhang Jie, director of the Research Division of Northeast Subjugate History under the Institute of History at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. Zhang has been undertaking the project of studying “Truth” historical materials, attracting great attention from Chinese and international academia.
 

Zhang first introduced the background of “Truth” historical materials and its related research. “At the end of 1931, the League of Nations organized an investigation group that came to China to learn the truth. Numerous patriotic intellectuals and renowned figures from Liaoning Province collected original evidence of Japanese aggression and then translated and named it as ‘Truth.’ Nine of them daringly signed their names on the materials. These materials included all kinds of commands, notices, reports and photos. They were finally delivered to the League of Nations after many efforts, and made great contributions to revealing the truth of the September 18 Incident and the  ‘Manchukuo,’” said Zhang.
 

These original materials have been stored at the United Nations’ library in Geneva for 80 years. After finding them, descendants of the nine participants made copies. In 2010, they donated these copies to the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, Liaoning Province.
 

In view of the significant meaning of the materials, the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences organized experts and scholars led by Zhang to conduct research. They made key achievements that led the National Social Science Fund to sponsor the project.
 

Zhang said that the research group has been actively collecting materials and deepening theoretical research.
 

“Firstly, we have classified materials that will be published soon. Secondly, we are engaged in theoretical studies and have brought up some new academic ideas. Thirdly, we have visited descendants of the nine participants to deepen our understanding,” said Zhang.
 

Based on their studies, the research group also made some suggestions. These suggestions have been recognized by society and include hosting an exhibition of “Truth” historical materials and the rebuilding of “Room No. 1” at the Lumingchun Restaurant in Shenyang.
 

The research group deeply studied the historical and realistic values of the materials, endeavoring to restore the nine participants’ diplomatic activities with the League of Nations and understand the international character of the September 18 Incident.

At the time, the nine participants delivered the materials to the investigation group of the League of Nations with the help of international friends. The research group focused on one of these collaborators, F. W. S. O’Neil D. D., a British missionary.
 

“We have contacted one of O’Neil’s descendants and received valuable information, further strengthening our understanding of the event. One of his descendants is a scholar who has been paying attention to our research, and we would like to promote our research achievements to Ireland and Britain. These efforts give us a more comprehensive understanding of foreign missionaries from a new perspective, and the activities of foreign missionaries further prove the international characteristic of the September 18 Incident,” said Zhang.  
 

Studies of the materials have attracted great attention in South Korea and Japan, and some journals from these countries are following developments. “The efforts of the research group have been highly recognized by the international community,” said Zhang.  In 2015, the group will focus on the collection and compilation of materials from Geneva and Japan.

 

 

Zeng Jiang is a reporter at the Chinese Social Sciences Today.