Abstract：
With reference to the unpublished confidential files of the 228 Incident kept by the Secrets Bureau, Taiwan Branch and other related historical resources, this articles examines the 228 Incident Settlement Committees established all over Taiwan. In addition to the 228 Incident Settlement Committee in Taipei, which functioned like the headquarters at the provincial level, there were 26 other settlement committees, with 14 in counties and cities and 12 in villages and towns. During the outbreak of the 228 Incident, these 27 committees undertook the responsibilities of collecting public opinions, maintaining social order and carrying out political reforms. The members and organizational structure of these committees, their roles and their interactions are all issues worthy of further study. It was found that although the 228 Incident Settlement Committee in Taipei did not have any actual power as the control center, it did play the leading and coordinating role. The lists of committee members came mainly from “confidential reports” of intelligence agents but the authenticity of the lists was questionable. Among all the groups in the committee, the two noteworthy ones were the Provision Group which controlled food supply while the Security Group which possessed arms and weapons. The committees were often infiltrated by intelligence agents, revealing that seeds for doom had been sown since their establishment.

Keywords：228 Incident, Cigarette and Murder Investigation Committee, 228 Incident Settlement Committee, Intelligence Agent

Abstract：
This article explores the roles and reactions of mayors and magistrates during the outbreak of the 228 Incident through examining how these local government officials responded towards people’s resistance, what preventive measures were undertaken, and how they reacted and adapted to the circumstances during and in the aftermath of the Incident In the early years after the Nationalist Government took over control of Taiwan, the Chief Executive Office of Taiwan Province adopted the administrative divisions implemented during the Japanese colonial era. A committee was established to handle the takeover. Following January 1946, local government officials were selected. However, most of them were originated from Fujian Province, had studied in Japan, or had received training from the Kuomintang (KMT). They were considered top-notch in terms of their educational background and working experience. Nevertheless, in less than 18 months after the takeover, the 228 Incident broke out due to the confiscation of contraband cigarettes. During the Incident, the demonstrators shouted provocative slogans “Down with corrupt officials.” It was clear that the actions and policies of the government officials did not receive universal support or recognition from the people. In face of growing resistance, the government officials adopted different strategies including active intervention and negotiation, military repression, collaboration or confrontation with the 228 Settlement Committee. Nevertheless, the conflict between the people and the government further intensified with serious repercussions. In the aftermath of the Incident, some local officials continued their terms of office, others were relocated or stepped down voluntarily. The upheaval in administrative personnel undermined the implementation of government policies. Beyond doubt, Chen Yi, who flaunted his superior martial and political power, should bear the greater blame for causing the social turmoil due to his inappropriate administration and hiring decisions. Subsequently, he resigned from the position as the Chief Executive and Garrison Commander of Taiwan in April 1947. Nonetheless, neither Chen Yi nor any local government officials were penalized for the outbreak and spread of the Incident, reflecting the official stance of the authorities concerned toward the 228 Incident.

Keywords：228 Incident, Local Government Officials, 228 Settlement Committee, Commandant of Kiirun Fort

Abstract：
From the legal perspective, this article examines the pre-war practices of “Guilt-redemption” and “Self-incrimination” applied to bandits and communist rebels in China and the related current laws using selected cases from the 228 Incident archives. The practice of “Guilt-redemption” was widely applied in the aftermath of 228 Incident involving several thousands of individuals. Its legal effects were poorly defined and the legal procedures remained ambiguous, thus leaving much leeway for human maneuver and manipulation. It served as a flexible conciliatory measure implemented under Draconian military oppression and its nature violated the principles of “Rechtsstaat” The case studies reveal that individuals subjected to “Guilt-redemption” would be released on bail only after accepting state-imposed conditions and obligations. They would remain under surveillance or undergo ideological reeducation. The name lists of these individuals on bail for “Guilt-redemption” were important intelligence for the government for state control. Some of them were recruited as informants or were given missions to accomplish, thus turning them into state instruments for social surveillance in post-war Taiwan.

Keywords：228 Incident , Guilt-Redemption, Self-incrimination

Abstract：
In contemporary society, the naming of a place is a key component in the relationship between a place and its political identification. In this sense, to name is to norm; and street names reflect the symbolic meanings and spatial orders bestowed upon a place by those in control or in power. Taiwan has been ruled by different regimes; and political changes were often accompanied with and manifested by alterations of street names. This paper examines changes in street names in Tainan, the oldest city of Taiwan, in light of regime transition or change in government. Because nomination makes a fundamental gesture of possession, the naming of streets in the city affords one more opportunity to affirm or to contest, control of the city. With reference to concepts of cultural politics, the practice of naming and renaming of streets in Tainan was analyzed to reveal street naming as a means to institute/consolidate ruling power.

Keywords：Tainan, Street Names, Power Transition, Spatial Allocation, Culture Politics

Abstract：
The article introduces nature and characteristics of historical materials on the 228 Incident solicited by the Institute of Taiwan History, Academia Sinica in April, 2008. These historical materials were part of the legacies of an intelligence officer of the Secrets Bureau, Taiwan Branch and comprised investigation reports from the head of the Bureau as well as operatives of its different divisions. These reports constituted one of the channel through which the Central Government in Nanking obtained information and intelligence regarding the 228 Incident. They were also the only prototype of intelligence reports currently known. However, the reports were provided by agents using aliases and the decision-making process of the headquarters of the Secrets Bureau in Nanking remained largely enigmatic. These problems made the authenticity of the intelligence hard to verify and posed limitations to the research. Hence, special caution must be taken and detailed investigation had to be conducted when using these historical materials. Analysis of the 223 reports of more than 1,600 pages began in April 2009. An academic seminar was held in November 2013 and 7 related research articles were published in two special issues of Taiwan Historical Research. The first volume of 228 Incident Historical Materials of Secrets Bureau, Taiwan Branch will be published in June 2015.

Keywords：“Secrets Bureau, Taiwan Branch”, 228 Incident