Osticb of Strategic Services Research and Analysis Branch
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JAPANESE ATTEMPTS AT INDOCTRINATION OF YOUTH IN OCCUPIED AREAS
The Japanese have made an Intensive effort to enlist support from -the youth of the Philippines, the mandated islands, the Netherlands East Indies. French Indochina. Burma, andesser extent Thailand. With the double purpose of Indoctrinating the young people In Oreater East Asia war alms and encouraging youth participation in labor and defense activities, they either have established their own youth organizations or have attempted to work through existing groups. Japanese propagandists claim huge memberships for the Japanese-sponsored groups. However, the youth in the Japanese Outer Empire appear to have responded only moderately and In some cases have been more Interested in usingtraining and facilities for achieving their own nationalist alms than in supporting the Japanese war efTort.
Philippines
Youth organizationselatively lato-dcvcloping part of the Japanese propaganda campaign in the Philippines. These groups, whose size appears to have been exaggerated, were reported only around Manila In the area of strongest Japanese control, however, and presumablymall proportion of Filipino youth had been reached by the time of the American invasion.
In3 the Kalibapi,on-political service association sponsored by the puppet government, announcedouthwould be formed for the training of the future leaders of the "Newhe Junior Kalibapi was to include all youths between the agesnd prospective youth leaders were toraining course in Japanese language, culture, and organizing techniques. The following March, the Acting Director-General of the Kalibapiass rally of Manila youth to "strengthen the country's will to survive and to attain her rightful destinyreedom-loving nation."
Apparently this first effort was unsuccessful When In4hbapi wus MMr-rsni-'ol intoarty under the Jar.nnrs.'. the Junior Kalibapi was abolishedew organization, "Rlzalas set up for the estimated four million Filipinosand extensive movement" among school children and youths outside school was to be carried out during the academic year through the medium of "joint action" and "common responsibility" of the school, home, and community. The future citizens were to be "possessed of
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strong national spirit and imbued with the will to produce, the passion to serve, and the sense of mission."
In addition to those sponsored by the Kalibapi, various other youth organizations and movements have been reported In the provinces adjacent to Manila, sponsored either by the Japanese or the puppetThe program followed in the Seamen's Instituteood example of methods of indoctrination used by the Japanese.
The Seamen's Institutepecial school which purported to teach youths fromoears of age "how tohip and how to act likehe leadership and reorientation part of the trainingwim in Manila Bay "marked by the recitationrayer in the Japanese language while the swimmer is still shoulder deep in thehe day endeditual in whichoys knelt and repeated after the instructor, "Weirm link in the Oreater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, gigantic structure ofhat do we care for? Building my beloved land. Nothing can stop me from exerting all my efforts for months andave been ordainedivine power to build my countryill obey that power."
Mandated Islands
In the Pacific Islands under Japanese mandate local Japaneseused the technique of organizing youth groups around popular recreational interests. The different attitudes of the older and younger generations indicate that the Japanese achieved some success innative youth. American forces landing In the Islandshat the elders were generally friendly, having been opposed orto the Japanese regime, while some of the younger nativessullen and their loyalty has been questioned. The Japanese presumably continue to sponsor youth groups in the islands still under their control.
Youth associations in the Marshalls, Carolines, and Marianas were avowedly founded to awaken the islanders to their civic and socialas Japanese subjects, with an emphasis on spiritual and physical development. Public schools in the villages and towns formed the nuclei of young men's and young women's associations, of alumni societies, and of associations for younger people. Guidance was provided by Japanese government school teachers, assisted by police andofilcers and interested Japanese civilians. The Japanese expected the young people to contribute voluntary labor on communityIn some areas, members wore uniforms and drilled and paraded to the accompaniment of band music and school songs.
East Indies
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The training and indoctrination of young Indonesians are major objectives in the program of the Japanese authorities in the Netherlands East Indies, and the Japanese have been extravagant in their descript
of tbe immediate and ultimate purposes of the youth organizations in the different islands. While they are apparently not yet completely satis-fled with the results, the Japanese undoubtedly havetrong appeal to the young Indonesians-
Prewar Indonesian youth societies, often branches of religious or political movements or of the Boy Scouts, have been revamped andinto organizations which the Japanese could dominate, with the alleged alms of "Increasing the warreconstructing Java,"for the Indonesiannd promoting self-sufficiency. The youth of the Indies arc urged not only to cooperate with the military administration for the successful prosecution of the QEA War but to "enlighten, guide, and encourage" others to support Japan's QEA aims because they lead to the independence of Indonesia. Prominentnationalist leaders are reported to have encouraged the young people to join the Japanese-sponsored organizations. Membership in the youth organizations, although claimed to be voluntary, actually appears practically compulsory, especially in the groups stressing labor andservices. Recruits range from primary school age to youths
The Japanese use the numerous organizations for indoctrination of the young people in Japanese war alms and Japanese language, and also to provide labor and defense services like guard duty, air raid precautions, military drill, and antl-espionage activities. Tbe formationeath-defying suicide corps, modeled on the Japanese Kamikaze groups,preparation for actual military participation by Indonesian youth in the defense of the islands. The Shock Troops of the Java Public Service Association emphasized propaganda advocating obedience to theArmy. The Java Studentrganized in5 to give students military training, and training centers where "selected youthspecial course to make them better understand Japan's Ideals and the significance of the QEA Co-Prosperityere also parts of the Japanese attempt to rally young people to fight for QEA. Nineteen groups of Indonesian students. Including sons of prominent Indonesians, have been sent to Japan since3 for study andmilitary system ofEI youth corps membersEA Youth Conference in Tokyo in4 where resolutions "calling for the construction and defense of Oreater East Asia through the mobilization of youth to arms" were passed.
The Japanese apparently are not yet satisfied with tbe results of their indoctrination of NEI youth They frequently announce newcall for the federation of existing youth groups, deplore the fact that some young men and women are still outside the organization, and urge all members toore active part. In some cases theand the work as well as the lack of compensation seem to have proved unpopular with the Indonesian youth. However, many young Indonesians may welcome the opportunities for technical training In the fields of agriculture, industry, communication, and navigation and training in leadership offered by the Japanese. Advantages derived from this traln-
ing along with familiarity with the Japanese language may prove an important factor for the post-war re-establtshment of cultural contacts with Japan.
French Indochina
Japanese efforts to "enlighten" and win the support of the younger generation in French Indochina were greatly hampered by the existenceocal youth movement organized by the Decoux Government before tbe Japanese Invasion. This movement, which appealed strongly to the sporting spirit and social ambitions of the growing generation, alsoto make young people aware of their future responsibilities in social, economic, and political fields, and at least initially stressedand subjection to leadership control. Following their recent assumption of full control In Indochina, the Japanese have intensified their propaganda effort and have been trying to enlist native support with promises of 'Independence" as soon as conditions permit. However, even the younger generation, mindful of the material privations suffered under the Japanese, is unlikely to respond to the new propaganda effort.
Prior0 when Admiral Decoux came into power in Indochina, sports were the privilege of the elite, physical education was conducted only in certain schools, and the efforts made to organize young people suffered from lack of coordination and official support. The newtherefore was able to gain youth interest by sponsoring physical education, attempting to "strengthen the health and moral character" of the youth, and establishing various types of organization. In the large "Youth Assemblies" young men overears of age who had notbelonged to any group were organized into Rescue Teams, Civilian Defense Teams, Public Order Teams, and Traffic Control Teams, each with Its own leader. Young people with common interests Joinedfor Friendship and Excursions, societies for social work, groups for mutual instruction, or the Young Men's Buddhist Association. In addition to the more thanillion school children who participated in some way in youth activities, the Sports and Youth Organizations at the end3 reportedly had moreembers, about half of whom belonged to tbe Youth Assemblies. Through these organizations the Decoux Government attempted to give prestige and socialto military service and to manual labor.
The Japanese have tried in various ways to offset the success of this French-sponsored youth movement. For example, although the youth movement is open to all French and Indocbincse young men and women from all social levels, the Chinese have apparently been excludedertain extent. The Japanese reportedly have taken advantage of the resulting Chinese discontent by trying to enlist Chinese youth in pro-Japanese organizations, under tbe slogan "Asia for theheyederation for the Chinese Residents in Cambodia and the Haiphong Peace Preservation Corps in Tonldng, and are also reported to have provided Chinese schools within the Confederacy with Chinesechosen by the Japanese.
Furthermore the Japanese have given Intensive training in the Japanese language to various groups.2 theyumber ot Japanese language schools chiefly among theillion Annamites. They also set up the Japanese Language Popularization Association which recentlylass in the arts of the tea ceremony and floral arrangementseans of introducing Japanese culture among thet the end4 the Japanese claimed that "not only Annamites but Frenchmen are now attending Japanese language classes" andtudents were enrolled.
Thailand
The Japanese,esult of the theoretical treaty relationshipThailand and Japan, have not actively sponsored any of the three youth organizations in Thailandthe Boy Scouts, the Yuachon and the Military Cadet Corpsor established any new ones. Nevertheless, during the regime of pro-Japanese Premier Pibul, the unmllitaristic Boyigerreviously under direct government sponsorship, received little encouragement. The Military Cadet Corpsunior officer training corps attached to the regular army rathereal "youthn the other hand, the fascistlc Yuachon Youth Group, modeled after the Hitter Jugen to foster militarism among young Thai, was consistently promoted.
Yuachon was founded by Pibul5 when he was Minister of Defense. Its original purpose was to train "youths in physical culture, general discipline, and organizedfter Pibulhai National Assembly member declared that the chief aims of the Yuachon were "to Instruct and train youths in military courses, while at the same time trying to Inoculate them with the Idea of militarism and blind obedience to Pibulhe organization was made up of volunteers attracted by smart uniforms, practical training with military materiel, the resulting partial exemption from required military service, and increased opportunity for becoming officers in the Thai Army. The membership in Yuachon, conservatively estimatedas reported in4 tof whichercent were in the youngest age group. The Yuachon wasime jointly controlled by the Ministries of Education and Defense, but is nowa "department" of the Thai Army, and4 was renamed the Department of Preparatory Military Affairs. Since the Aphalwong regime came Into power Inowever, Yuachon activities nave not been publicized.
Burma
In Burma, while the Japanese early organized an "East Asia Youthhis youth organization for sometime has been unwilling to accept Japanese or Governmental direction and during the last year appears to have assumed an Increasingly anti-Japanese point of view. Burman youth haveong tradition of political awareness andthe treatment they received from the Japanese authorities.
Prior to the Japanese Invasion, the loosely-knit but stronglyBurman Student Movement was active chiefly In organizing school strikes against an unpopular examination system or in dramatizingdiscontent. The principal objective of many Student Movementwas to project themselves Into the political limelight, and organizers often became the tools of politicians. They frequently joined thepro-Independence Thakin Party, and most ofriginal recruits of the nationalistic Burma Independence Army were probably Student Movement personnel.
Inollowing the Japaneseroup of young Burmans in consultation with some young Japanese leaders organized the Burma East Asia Youth League. The League was dedicated to the tasks of "uplifting Burma and the peoples of Free Asiaighteous and unselfishpromoting cooperation, cordial relations, and love among the youths of oil East Asiaticnd "working for the peace and prosperity of the peoples in Eastonth later, however, Japanese military authorities were forced to dismiss the Burma Independence Army, causing great dissatisfaction among formerwho refused to join Japanese-sponsored organizations.esult, the East Asia Youth League remained inactive untilhen Burma's "Independence" was declared.
In the interim period the Japanese organized the Young Men'smodeledighly disciplined patriotic organization of similar name in Japan. The new associationemi-milltary body organizedixed chain of command. Members were to serve their country and their fellowmen even at risk of life and limb without thought of benefit to themselves, strive toealthy mind, suppress all evil habits, and assist the authorities of the government on all occasions. During the first three months the organization. Its orders backed by police threats of harsh punishment, worked hard on the price control and air raid precautions programs. Membership was never large, and theitself seems eventually to have been absorbed by the government-sponsored Civil Defense Corps.
Following3 declaration of Burma's politicaltbe East Asia Youth League was reactivated. Subsequent to this act attractive appeals for the cooperation of Burman youth could be made In the name of Burman Independence. Officers of the League went to Tokyo for extended visits to study Japanese youth organizations. The Youth League absorbed both the enthusiasm of the nationalistic Student Movement and the social Idealism of the Boy Scouts, and began to demonstrate real vitality. In theory membership was limited toof character" who were really willing to work for their country, and branches were to be authorized only In places where real work could be done. Inhe Leagueranches,0 regular maleegular women members,pecial (over age) members.
The activities of the Youth League at the outset includedsocial service, defense, economic assistance, and policing. League branches staged numerous rallies to enlist support for collaboration with the Japanese in behalf of Burma's Independence. They recruited for the Burma Army, raised money for its support, promoted physical training, and gave instruction in the use of the rifle.
During the first halfowever, patriotic enthusiasm began to wane. The youth resented making greater sacrifices than the rest of the population, and felt that the Oovernment was trying to circumscribe and supervise Itsnhe League, in apparentof Japanese-controlled foreign and domestic news, stronglythe organizationrivately-sponsored Foreign Policywhose declared purposes were to keep Burma "fully Informed on the situation In foreignnd to acquaint foreigners "with the true state of affairs Inhe Inauguration of night classes in military training, taught by former members of the Burma Independence Army, strengthened official suspicions that branches of the League were centers of democratic and anti-Japanese agitation.
Friction between the EAYL and the pro-Japanese political authorities at Rangoon came to head innd puppet authoritiesthe Thakln-Sinyetha coalition with the Mahabama Asiayonc (Greater Burma Association) as the official political party. The Youth League, no longerlace aa an unofficial defense agency, was disbarred from all political activity. It did notepresentative to the Japanese-sponsored general youth meeting at Nanking In the fallhe EAYL Executive Committee officially instructed the various branches to disband their emergency units and extend full cooperation to the Government's agencies. Although the separate branches of the League continue to function, they are under suspicion and no longertheir activities. Some members, although still strongly nationalistic, are now known to be cooperating actively with the anti-Japanesemovement In Burma.
Original document.
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