PERSECUTION DOGS BRITONS IN JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23448, 1 October 1941, Page 6

PERSECUTION DOGS BRITONS IN JAPAN

FAR EAST

(By H. G. W. WOODHEAD, Far Ej SHANGHAI, August 18, During the last few months the Japanese authorities appear to have exercised considerable ingenuity in devising fresh means for persecuting British subjects who remain in Hankow and Ichang. In spite of promises made about two years ago, that the lovver Yangtse would be reopened to third power shipping, the river remains closed to all but Japanese vessels. Britons and Americans can only travel between Ichang and Hankow and Shanghai on Japanese ships; permits for passages are not easy to secure, and if not withheld, are often delayed for weeks on end. A considerable AngloAmerican community still remains in Hankow, which was formerly the chief trading centre of the middle Yangtse, but their business has been brought to a complete standstill by restrictions and permits designed to create a monopoly for Japanese trade and shipping. They even find it difficult to obtain domestic supplies, several consignments of which have been seized by the Japanese authorities even after all the required formalities for their transport up river from Shanghai have been complied with. Ichang was formerly ■ the port at which cargoes from Chungking to Shanghai or vice versa were transferred from light-draught river craft to the special vessels constructed for the passage of the upper river gorges. It has, of course, ceased to be a port of transhipment since the Japanese occupation of Hankow. Japanese troops occupied Ichang on June 11, 1940. They have never been really comfortable there. Intermittent fighting has occurred in the vicinity, and they have never been able to push any further up river. Only a few Britons remained in the port to look after the properties of their firms. The Japanese have made it clear that their room is preferred to their company, but they have stuck it out, in spite of the virtual impossibility of securing any supplies, and frequently mail from outside. One form of persecution enforced by the Japanese has been to deprive them of remittances of funds for their office and personal expenses. The limited funds dispatched to them have often taken weeks, if not months, to arrive. Another form of persecution has been to withdraw the passes entitling them to move about the city, so that for weeks on end they have had to remain within their own compounds. Even in these they have not been secure. Chinese gangsters have been incited to attack their premises, and on one occasion the agent of a British firm had to open fire in selfdefence, when his compound was invaded. His life was subsequently threatened, and it appears to have been only after strong representations in Tokyo that the Japanese military took any' interest in' his safety. Social Bureau as Catspaw In Hankow British and Americans have been subjected to constant annoyances and irritations. They, too, are virtually reduced to the status of caretakers of their firms’ properties, as Japanese restrictions have brought business to a complete standstill. Recently persecution of British subjects has taken a more glaring form. Using the so-called social bureau as a .catspaw, the Japanese organised a movement which aimed at closing down the only British daily newspaper—the “Central China Post”—and the local office of Reuter’s agency. In the middle of July demands for substantial wage increases were submitted by the newspaper’s employees. The management agi’eed to consider them, but the whole staff was immediately called out on strike and quartered on the premises of the Social Bureau. Further demands of an unacceptable nature''were then put forward, and at the same time Reuter’s staff was intimidated into walking out. although no demands had been made by it. About a week later a number of the “Central China Post” employees in a lorry, accompanied by

istern Correspondent of “The Press.”) some disguised Japanese, appeared a| the offices of the paper, broke into the editor’s flat, and wrecked everything they could lay hands on. The Indian watchman was intimidated by one of the Japanese, while a locksmith was sent for who forced the entrance to the paper’s offices, which were then occuV. pied by the strikers. Two of the ec.itor’s servants were carried off when his flat was broken into, and twice since this outrage attempts have been rraae to kidnap him. The paper’s offices are situated in the former British concession, the protection of which the Japanese military authorities took . from the British naval authos.JFra when they occupied Hankow. The sponsibility for the protection of British persons and properties, therefore, rests squarely upon the Japan se Army. It seems obvious, however, that the latter desires to suppress the circulation of all news from British sources in Hankow. For it is reported that following the occupation of the paper’s premises by the strikers, an offer of approximately one-tenth of the value of the building- and plant was made to the owners. It was rejected, but there is as yet no indication that the Japanese and their so-called Social Bureau will permit the resumption of publication. Attempts have been made by the Japanese authorities to represent this incident as an economic issuer It is, of course, nothing of the kind; It is part of a concerted attempt to keep independent news out of Hankow and compel the entire community to depend upon Japanese and Axis propaganda. Britons and Americans who remain in Ichang and Hankow are holding the fort for, their fellow-nationals. Withdrawal, which would be the easiest course, would play right into the hands of the Japanese, who are obviously attempting by every means of persecution in their power to drive out th» Anglo-Saxon communities. Staffs Carry On Britons and Americans in Hankow and Ichang are not the only ones who are holding the fort on the Yangtze. Even more perilous and uncomfortable is the plight of those who remain in Chungking, which is now being subjected to merciless bombing attacks almost daily. Yet in spite of casualties and the destruction of offices and residences, the British and American Embassy staffs remain at their posts, most of the former, including the Ambassador, continuing to reside on the more dangerous side of the river. Sir Archibald Clark Kerr has been in Chungking since early in May. During his stay the embassy offices, and his private residence some distance away, have been completely destroyed* and three member? of his staff have been injured. He continues to carry bn in spite of the discomforts and the dangers. Apart from the latter it can be no pleasant experience to spend hours every week in air-raid shelters during the sweltering summer in the war capital. Supplies of foreign groceries, etc., are almost impossible to obtain, most foreigners having to live entirely on local produce. The new American Ambassador, Mr C. E. Gauss, is more fortunate in having his offices and. residence on the south bank,. which is supposed to be outside the avowed bombing area, but Japanese aircraft have made a number of “mistakes” which have resulted in damage both to the American Embassy property, and to the American gunboat Tutuila. Protests against these bombings of British and American Embassy properties are usually met with psrfunctory apologies from Tokyo, followed by warnings of the perils of con- , tinued residence. The latter leaW- the ,■ American and British diplomats {;unmoved, though they must have nerve-racking time during the ent summer. Is it possible that may remain long enough to see , American or British fighting aero- ■ planes - tackle the t Japanese bombers, V who have hitherto encountered virtually no opposition? , , _ ,