Ch.103Radio Broadcasting Station

# The Empire of Japan

Japan was closely monitoring Russia’s movements.

Since Russia’s policies in Asia could potentially clash with Japan’s own, Japan had to view Russia as both an ally and a potential adversary.

However, since the recent mediation, Russia hadn’t shown particular interest in expanding into China.

While Russia maintained good relations with the Chinese warlord Chen Jiongming, it showed no further ambitions regarding China.

Instead, Russia was forming a defensive alliance through the Anti-Comintern Pact to counter Germany in Europe, which convinced Japan that Russia had no intentions of expanding beyond Northern Manchuria and Mongolia.

“We too! We too will join!”

After successive victories in the Russo-Japanese War and World War I, Japan—intoxicated with national pride to the point of considering itself equal to white nations—wanted to join the exclusive group of Russia, Britain, and France in the Anti-Comintern Pact, albeit somewhat hesitantly.

However, Japan’s desire to join this elite group wasn’t without ulterior motives.

“The Russian side has agreed to accept our participation in the Anti-Comintern Pact.”

Prime Minister Hara Takashi received news about the Anti-Comintern Pact from Uchida Kōsai.

Given the distance from Moscow, they had only tentatively expressed their desire to join the pact belatedly.

“There must be conditions?”

“They say that Imperial Army troops can only be deployed to Europe via the Trans-Siberian Railway at Russia’s request.”

Army Minister Tanaka Yoshikazu, who was listening to the results of the Anti-Comintern Pact negotiations beside Hara Takashi, was satisfied with these terms.

After all, why should Japan sacrifice its soldiers on the German front?

What benefits would Japan gain from defeating distant Germany in Europe?

At most, they might secure guarantees from Russia regarding their interests in China, but even that seemed of little concern to Russia at present.

“That’s sufficient. The Anti-Comintern Pact is, after all, an organization against communists.”

“But does the Anti-Comintern Pact have any meaning for our Empire? I wonder if we’re just putting shackles on ourselves.”

Prime Minister Hara Takashi questioned whether this pact had any significance. Germany was far away.

Looking at the composition of the Anti-Comintern Pact nations, there seemed no reason for Japan to extend itself to Europe.

What if Russia demanded weapon support to fight communists, and Japan had no choice but to comply?

During the recent Chinese civil war, Japan had made substantial profits selling weapons at high prices, and through mediation, had secured its interests in China.

But that was precisely the problem.

“Why do you think so?”

“Haven’t the Chinese transformed their warlord territories into local governments under this ‘federalism’ movement? The Beiyang government has simply vanished.”

Yes, that was the problem.

Under the guise of federalism, the Beiyang government had completely disappeared.

In this process, Japan no longer knew which Chinese government would be the counterpart to their previous agreements.

With significant funds already invested in Korea and the South Manchuria Railway, they had fallen victim to Chinese wordplay.

As a result, the Hara Takashi cabinet’s approval ratings had declined.

“Prime Minister, you see one thing but miss another. Communists are now running rampant in federalized China.”

“Yes, I’ve heard. Mao Zedong of the Chinese Communist Party, I believe.”

Mao Zedong, called Chen Jiongming’s successor.

His communist party was somewhat different from traditional communist parties, but that was irrelevant.

What mattered was that he was a communist.

The Anti-Comintern Pact was precisely for fighting communism.

And there were communists in China.

Later, even if Russia didn’t call on Japan during its war with Germany, Japan could attack China under the pretext of eliminating Asian communists.

“When Russia engages Germany, we’ll offer our help by invading the mainland under the pretext of eradicating Asian communists.”

That seemed quite reasonable.

“A pretext, you say.”

Hara Takashi didn’t particularly object to this.

After all, Japan’s expansion was beneficial, and no one knew when war with Germany might break out.

It was merely a vague hope that when war with Germany erupted, Chinese communists would still exist.

Even if war broke out, whether China could defeat the Japanese Empire was another matter entirely.

People who couldn’t even properly end their own civil war couldn’t possibly defeat the Japanese Empire.

“By eliminating the communists in China, we can advance into China without interference from the great powers in the Anti-Comintern Pact. By the time the European war ends, China will fall into the hands of our Empire.”

After Germany was thoroughly defeated again and the war ended, China would completely fall into Japan’s hands.

“So it’s a scheme to devour China. But do we really need China?”

Japan had already taken Korea and the South Manchuria Railway.

The expenses for both Korea and the railway were not insignificant.

Particularly in Korea, money was constantly draining due to the Japanese occupation forces. This would have been impossible without the economic boom from the Great War.

Even the South Manchuria Railway, though nominally a Japanese-owned railway company, was essentially a puppet state.

“Can we be satisfied with just the South Manchuria Railway? The Empire must continue to grow, and its future lies in China.”

Though Japan had enjoyed economic prosperity after victory in the Great War, how could they be content with just that?

“The future of the Empire lies in China, you say.”

“That vast, expansive land is too precious to be wasted on the failed Chinese race. Shouldn’t our Emperor rightfully rule over that divided China?”

Taiwan, Korea, and Southern Manchuria. Having come this far, wouldn’t China naturally be next?

Shouldn’t that vast China be made to serve the Emperor and his subjects, like British India?

“Wouldn’t direct rule be dangerous?”

“As you know from Korea’s example, even with Korea, there are many difficulties in making them subjects of the Emperor. It would be difficult to directly rule hundreds of millions of Chinese. Naturally, we should leave them as puppet states while making all that vast land ours.”

Isn’t this dream too grand?

Even if it were realized, what about the war expenses and international relations?

No, by then a new cabinet would be in place, so why worry?

Hara Takashi gave up on these thoughts.

* * *

A few days after burying the Romanov family in the Archangel Cathedral.

[Static crackle—Today’s radio program features our motherland Russia’s national anthem.]

A Russian woman’s voice flowed from the radio installed by Prince Yusupov in the Kremlin Palace.

It’s amazing to be able to listen to such things on the radio in this era.

“The radio in this era is truly fascinating.”

Though quite different from the radio I know.

It’s remarkable that this is possible because Prince Yusupov ventured into the radio business.

Moscow Radio Broadcasting Station.

A radio broadcasting station opened in Moscow, which had recovered from the civil war’s damage.

In actual history, it was established in Moscow in 1922.

At first glance, it seems like radio technology is two years behind, but Moscow wasn’t the first.

In this world, Yekaterinburg was the first.

After the civil war ended in Yekaterinburg, a station was installed there in 1922.

It makes sense since everything restarted centered around Yekaterinburg. My base was in Yekaterinburg, so I wanted to take care of that area.

Of course, in actual history, the White Army couldn’t even properly attack Moscow, so there was no civil war damage there, but here Moscow was heavily hit during the civil war.

Anyway, that’s why a broadcasting station was established in Moscow this year.

[Today’s song is “Farewell of Slavianka”! A song that was sung like a national anthem among some White Army soldiers during the civil war!]

The song “Farewell of Slavianka” flows melodiously from the radio.

In actual history, it was known as a White Army song.

Though called a White Army song, it was widely sung throughout Slavic regions.

I looked at Prince Yusupov, who had provided this entertainment.

“Hmm, radio is quite wonderful.”

“I’m glad it pleases Your Majesty.”

“Radio business is certainly helpful. We should increase radio distribution rates, though that might be difficult given Russia’s vastness.”

Though it hasn’t spread throughout all of Russia yet, we should gradually increase radio distribution.

Come to think of it, wireless technology is really good.

Fortunately, radio seems to be spreading well in Russia.

“It’s thanks to the legacy left by physicist Alexander Popov.”

“What did he do?”

“He was a physicist and wireless researcher during the Imperial era. One of the inventors of wireless receivers.”

“Wireless, yes. Wireless is something this vast Russia needs.”

“Recently, Dr. Tesla has been working with engineer Guglielmo Marconi. They’re striving to achieve a wireless revolution in their lifetime, so something should come of it.”

Who is Guglielmo Marconi?

He must also be involved in wireless technology.

I don’t know much about that. I just throw everything at Tesla and ask him to handle it.

Come to think of it.

“It would be nice if telephones could also be wireless.”

“Ahem.”

Judging by his expression, it seems that’s still too difficult.

“Ah, I may be asking too much, but I’m just saying. Anyway, wouldn’t wireless telephones be militarily advantageous?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Don’t push yourselves too hard. By the way, who’s leading the Moscow Radio Broadcasting Station?”

“I am the first president.”

First president. Yes, that makes sense since he started it.

Prince Yusupov is really involved in many things.

Of course, there’s no problem since Yusupov creates everything in my name while running the businesses himself.

It’s vexing. What’s vexing?

I’m always grading papers, while this man is doing whatever he wants.

Even during the civil war, he was enjoying himself in another country.

I think I need to put him to work on something.

“Prince Yusupov is doing everything.”

“Ahem. Still, my wealth is ultimately yours and belongs to the Romanovs.”

Yes, that’s true.

Come to think of it, there are many ways to use radio.

We can use Prince Yusupov’s Moscow Radio Broadcasting Station for anti-communist propaganda.

Currently, anti-communist propaganda consists of slogans like “Let’s defeat the Communist Party!” or hanging banners.

Additionally, schools provide anti-communist education.

They teach how futile communism is, with everything detailed in textbooks.

They’re raising all growing students to be anti-communists.

“I know that. I’m well aware that the Prince is working for this country without any self-interest. But.”

“Yes?”

“What about increasing anti-communist propaganda through radio?”

“Anti-communist propaganda?”

“Yes, using examples from the revolution in Germany.”

Let the United States citizens know what’s happening in Germany.

That it’s a communist country without freedom.

That it appears to be for workers, but it’s just a glossy facade.

That communism is actually an ideology optimized for authority and dictatorship.

What if we broadcast all this through radio?

Prince Yusupov nods, suggesting he thinks this is a good idea.

“I understand. I’ll take that into consideration.”

“And it would also be good to inform Russians about various news from Europe. At least to show that Russia isn’t like that.”

It could be called propaganda.

We need to highlight Russia’s differences and strengths while also informing people about the situation in other countries.

This way, we show that Russia is better than other countries.

“As it happens, I have good news.”

“Good news?”

“One of our station employees once visited ‘Radio Paris’ in France regarding radio broadcasting.”

Radio Paris? A French radio station?

Yes, perhaps they received some help from France regarding radio.

“And?”

“There, he happened to separately learn news from Britain and France.”

News from Britain and France?

If it were ordinary news, Prince Yusupov wouldn’t have mentioned it.

It must be news that I would like.

“Is there a problem?”

“Recently, communism has been gradually spreading in places like French Algeria and the African colonies of Britain and Belgium.”

In the colonies?