893.0146/461
The Consul General at Shanghai ( Davis ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 16, 1935.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith four translations from the local Chinese press51 relative to the maneuvers conducted by the local Japanese Naval Landing Force in various areas of the International Settlement on the morning of December 4, 1934.
[Page 343]Since the Shanghai Incident of 1932, and the completion of the fortified Japanese barracks on Kiangwan Road in the early part of the year, there has been manifested on the part of the local Chinese populace a growing apprehension over the maneuvers carried out periodically by the Japanese forces. In this particular instance the alarm of the public was intensified owing not only to the extended scale on which the sham drill was carried out but also to the failure to give advance notice to the local authorities. While the tone of the press articles transmitted herewith tends to exaggeration in some particulars, still it is felt that the articles indicate to a fair degree the attitude of the Chinese public on the situation. It will be noted that the Chinese press interprets the continued silence of the Shanghai Municipal Council with reference to the drilling of the Japanese troops in the International Settlement as a further relinquishment of authority in the International Settlement by the Powers, with a corresponding increase in that of Japan, a situation by no means desirable to the Chinese.
The foreign press of Shanghai has not commented on this phase of the maneuvers, contenting itself with a thorough discussion of the incident involving the Japanese Naval Landing Party and Alexander Buchman, an American news reporter, who attempted to obtain photographs of the maneuvers, which has been separately reported by this Consulate General.
Respectfully yours,
- None printed.↩