the heart of China, called the "Middle Plain," With its seven great cities had also fallen into Japanese hands. Adverting to an old Chinese saying that "he who controls the middle plain con¬trols the whole land," KONOYE added, "The Chiang Kai-shek Govern¬ment is no longer anything but a local regime.In an official statement by the Japanese Government of the samu date, the con¬quering of the main territory of China "was publicly announced and the declaration was made that "as long as the regime continues the anti-Japan and pro-Communist policy, Imperial Japan will never lay down arms until the regime is completely destroyed.,t4"l On December 22, 1938, another official statement was made by Prime Minister KONOYE in which it was stated that the Japanese Govern¬ment was resolved to carry on military operations for the complete extermination of the anti-Japanese Kwomintang Government, and at the same time would proceed with the wqrk of establishing a new order in East Asia with the assistance of those Chinese who shared in Japanese ideals and aspirations.42 STRENGTHENING OP POSITION IN THE NORTH While the foregoing aggressive action was being exe¬cuted in the South, Japanese plans were not being neglected in the North. The accused TOJO, Chief of Staff of the Kwantung .ny, Exhibit 460-A, TP 5,254. Exhibit 1291, TP 11,695. Exhibit .972'-H, TP 9,527.