Tokyo, Sept. 22.
Chinese accusations of Japanese wilful destruction of Chinese cultural institutions were refuted by the Foreign Office in a statement issued today.
The statement admitted that considerable damage had been done to ihe Chinese cultural establishments, but contended that it was the result of their use by Chinese troops for military purposes such as lodging quarters or defence positions.
The statement pointed out that at a convention of Chinese educational leaders at Nanking on July 21 to 25 last year, Gen. Chiang Kai-shek told the assembly that schools and educational establishments were likely to be commandeered. On July 25 last year Chinese troops did occupy various colleges in Nanking, some of which were set to fire or destroyed by Chinese soldiers prior to their withdrawal from Nanking, the statement charged.
Cases where Chinese cultural institutions were occupied by Chinese troops or fortified with anti-aircraft guns and other arms were enumerated in the statement, which said that such educational establishments included Nankai University and Hopei Middle School at Tientsin: Tungehi University, the Commercial Press, Chiaotung University, Tahw School, Kwang Hwa University and Fuhtan University at Shanghai: Jangchin Middle School, Meihua Middle School Kwangya Middle School, Hsieh Lo Women's College, Peichang School Wante Law College, Railway Workers School, Kaoya Middle School and Shih Chan Middle School at Canton.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.