| Date | November 2017 | Marks available | 4 | Reference code | 17N.1.BP.TZ0.10 |
| Level | Both SL and HL | Paper | Paper 1 - first exams 2017 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Analyse | Question number | 10 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Source I
An extract from a Japanese government statement, “The Fundamental Principles of National Policy” (August 1936).
(1) Japan must strive to eradicate [eliminate] the aggressive policies of the great powers …
(3) … in order to promote Manchukuo’s healthy development and to stabilize Japan-Manchukuo national defense, the threat from the north, the Soviet Union, must be eliminated; in order to promote our economic development, we must prepare against Great Britain and the United States and bring about close collaboration between Japan, Manchukuo, and China. In the execution of this policy, Japan must pay due attention to friendly relations with other powers.
(4) Japan plans to promote her racial and economic development in the South Seas, especially in the outlying South Seas area. She plans to extend her strength by moderate and peaceful means without arousing other powers. In this way, concurrently with the firm establishment of Manchukuo, Japan must expect full development and strengthening of her national power.
[Source: Republished with permission of Taylor & Francis Group LLc Books, from Japan: a Documentary
History, David J. Lu, 1996; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc]
With reference to its origin, purpose and content, analyse the value and limitations of Source I for an historian studying Japanese foreign policy in East Asia.
Markscheme
Value:
• It is an official Japanese government policy statement dated August 1936.
• It outlines Japan’s intentions for foreign policy in the future.
• It demonstrates the importance of Manchukuo, both economically and strategically, to Japanese foreign policy.
• It indicates that Japan perceived the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the US as being a threat to Japanese policies.
Limitations:
• As it is a statement of principles there are no concrete proposals in the source about how these will be achieved. We do not know from the source whether Japan’s actions followed these guiding principles.
• It could be used as propaganda camouflaging Japan’s real intentions, particularly towards the South Seas area.
The focus of the question is on the value and limitations of the source. If only value or limitations are discussed, award a maximum of [2]. Origins, purpose and content should be used as supporting evidence to make relevant comments on the values and limitations. For [4] there must be at least one reference to each of them in either the values or the limitations.
