793.94/8462
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23.]
Sir: I have the honor to submit, as of possible interest to the Department, the following comment on the subject of the expansion of Japanese activities as observed in the everyday life of Peiping.
The number of Japanese soldiers which one sees appears to be the thing which most impresses foreign visitors to Peiping. The permament residents have, on the other hand, become so accustomed to seeing the north glacis of the Legation Quarter thronged with Japanese infantry and cavalry indulging in their daily exercises and maneuvers, that they almost fail to note how very many more Japanese [Page 397] soldiers are in evidence now than was the case two or even three years ago. Japanese troops are constantly on the march, usually to the accompaniment of shrill bugling, and one rarely walks along Legation Street, especially in the early morning or evening, without meeting a number of Japanese officers, often mounted, their orderlies trotting along behind on foot. It is a noticeable fact that Japanese officers are now more often seen on their mounts on the main streets outside of the Legation Quarter than was formerly the case.
Officers’ motor cars bearing the flag of the Rising Sun are much in evidence and it is a daily occurrence to see Chinese coolies dragging truck loads of military supplies from the Chien Men Station to the barracks of the Japanese Guard.
There are several officers’ messes in the Legation Quarter situated outside of the Japanese Embassy compound. One is in the former Chinese-Eastern Railway Building. (See Embassy’s despatch No. 3130 [3530], April 23, 193570). Others are situated in the Ewo Building (Jardine Matheson & Company) on Legation Street, the ex-Belgian Bank Building and several houses in the Customs Compound on Rue Marco Polo.
The influx of Japanese has created a shortage of houses in Peiping. In many of the hutungs, especially those east of Hatamen Street, one observes a profusion of Japanese flags. Japanese flags have been observed flying over small farms east and particularly to the south of the Chinese city in the direction of Nan Yuan. Recently a Japanese interested in producing cotton in the province of Hopei called at the Embassy in regard to a certain farm in this district which he had been informed belonged to an American citizen. He stated that he was very anxious to rent the property in question for the purpose of cotton cultivation.
On Morrison and Hatamen Streets, and in the environs thereof, as I have previously reported, numerous Japanese shops and cafes have opened, not to mention Korean opium dens and brothels.
The Japanese civilians are quite as much in evidence as the military and not only frequent their own cafes and hotels but also the larger hotels such as the Grand Hotel de Pekin, the Wagons-Lits Hotel and the Hotel du Nord.
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of civilians and tourists traveling on the trains arriving in and departing from Peiping, and the First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Peiping informed a member of my staff that he is kept constantly on the go entertaining important visitors from his homeland, business delegations and numerous other Japanese who flock here for reasons ranging from mere curiosity to search for investment opportunities. During [Page 398] the past summer a visitor to the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace or any of the tourist landmarks would have encountered groups of Japanese school children here on conducted tours the itinerary of which as a rule included Manchuria, Jehol, and Peiping. As the Department is aware, the Japanese bus service now runs daily between Peiping and Jehol and the recently inaugurated airline (see Embassy’s telegram No. 555, November 18, 12 noon71) between this city and points in “Manchukuo” will undoubtedly augment Japanese travel to and from North China, as will also the newly constructed streamlined trains which have been placed on the through service between Peiping and Mukden. These trains, of which there are three, were constructed by the South Manchuria Railway Company and are the latest in de luxe air conditioned equipment.
The Japanese residents do not mingle freely in the community life of Peiping, presumably finding their own colony sufficient unto itself for social diversion and recreation. However, the men, at least, appear to enjoy the golf course at Pa Pao-shan where by far the predominating number of playing members are Japanese. This also is true of the Tientsin golf course.
Respectfully yours,