盧溝橋事件についての一考察 : 「兵一名行方不明」問題をめぐって

Abstract

The degree of explanation given, regarding the sequence of events, in the Lu Gou Qiao 盧溝橋 incident (July, 1937) seems to be inferior to that given in the Liu Tiao Hu 柳條湖 incident (September, 1931). Even to-day, many parts of the instigating incidents, i.e. the so-called "First Shot problem" and the "Missing Soldier" incident remain unclear. This paper will focus mainly on the "Missing Soldier" incident, but will do this from three different positions. Firstly, from the Japanese side. It will be revealed that it was one year after the occurrence of this incident that an official announcement, regarding the facts, was made. This paper will inquire into why the details were only released one year after the actual events. Secondly, the Chinese side. Regarding the "discovery" of the "missing soldier", it will be shown that, with the exception of one or two newspapers, it was only after one year that this fact was reported. The reasons for this will be followed-up. Thirdly, the differences between these two sides will be clarified by referring to various memoirs of Wang Lengzhai 王冷齋, the governor of Wan Ping county 宛平縣 at the time of the incident, and by referring to "affidavits" etc. presented at the Tokyo War Crimes Trial. Also some documents held by the Japanese will be verified and some problem areas in the historical records will be pointed out.