JAPANESE POMP

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 9, 12 January 1938, Page 7

JAPANESE POMP

REVEALED IN PEKING

Peking, once the capital of China, has been treated to an exhibition of Japanese imperial pomp, says,..-the

"New York Times." Chinese watched as the streets were cleared o£ all traffic while Colonel Shitei, 'vthe Japanese Emperor's aide-de-camp land personal messenger, visited the captured city. He brought a message from Emperor Hirohito and imperial gifts to Japanese officers and troops.

The Chinese were convinced X the Emperor Kang Teh had. returned, for, according to old Chinese custom, the streets never were clearedu-ex-cept for the imperial ruler. vc

(Kang Teh, ruler of Manehtikuo under Japanese protection, once.^vas the "Boy Emperor" Hsuan Tung of China and sat on the Dragon Throne in Peking, He abdicated in 19125.

Many foreigners were isolated^ for hours from their homes or offices. American and other foreign automobiles, including embassy vehicles flying flags and bearing diplomatic immunity licence plates, were stopped and ordered off the streets, the same as beggars and street venders. Japanese cleared the streets, at the point of pistols in preparation for the reception of Colonel Shitei, while Chinese police roughly handled jinrikshaw pullers and civilians. :'.' A Japanese said: "It is strange that Japanese army officials insist-this is still China, yet expect the populace to submit to a purely Japanese. ,';custom of clearing the street when >snyjage connected with the.. irn^eSial iitwsehold'iappears->ini public.* '"