Tientsin, Dec. 4, 1938 addition to the difficulties both actual and threatening, tsin are much worried over the and restrictions of their trade, the foreign communities of Tien general situation regard to, the British and French Concessi ions, and their fate in the near, future, An atmosphere of foreboding seemed to be hanging over' the port, Tu August last, in accordance with orders issued by their military authorities, Japanese re: sidents began to move out from the two concessions in large numbers. And the ensuing excitement and irritation came to a head in the riots of a Japanese mob against the French authorities, which culminated in the invasion of the French Municipal offices.
However, after a time things quieted down again; it was given out, doubtless in reply to official enquiries at Tokyo, that no official orders had been issued for the evacuation of the British or French concessions; and after a considerable number of Japanese, including the Consul-General, had actually transferred their residence from the Concessions, the exodus gradually ceased. lon the grounds that in former days 'The local Japanese newspapers, me the club had made contributions. to spired no doubt by military' circles, Chinese charities from its earnings at made no secret of what all the trouble Jsuch meetings. But those prosperous was about and what they believed to days are long since past, and the the their grievances against the two Tientsin Race Club was unable to Concessions. They put forward three entertain the request. For some mys-main grounds of complaint. Firstly, terious reason the British authorities, the Concessions were accused of giving shelter to Chinese guerrilla shout five years ago, conceded to the Teaders who, from the safety of these Chinese the right of policing the end neutral areas, conducted the opera-lot the Race Course Road adjoint tions of thelt bands. Secondly, the the course. During the time of this Chinese banks holding the remaining }year's autumn meeting Chinese police reserves of silver belonging to the threw @ cordon out on all the roads Teading to the course, Including. the National Government keep these stocks in their premises in the two Race Course Toad, and all would-be Concessions and refuse to hand them Chinese race-roers were forced {0 over to the Japanese who require turn back. Only a very few of the: them, a3 they say, in order to Duild hardiest. punters managed to reach up a'reserve for the new currency in the grounds by water.
North China, 'Thirdly, the refusal, of 'Again, the grounds of the Country the foreign banks to' recognize. the Club adjoining the Race Course have Federal Reserve notes or to sell for~ been made unpleasant and unsafe. eign currency in exchange for them, [There have been two cases of attacks fan altitude that they are only able to on foreign ladies walking there. And adopt because they operate in the 38 usual nothing has been done. in November the exodus of Japanese" from. the Concessions recom= Minor Complaints menced, and the foreign community There were other minor complaints, has become alarmed once more. Most tout these are the main charges.—An" [of the Japanese firms, with the ex-the course of certain private mectception of the Yokohama Specie Bank ings with leaders of the foreign com-jand the O.S.K., have now moved out munities the Japanese are said.
Although no specific orders seem to have hinted that unless they were have been "issued for this fresh granted joint, police control in the Jevacuation, it Is an open secret that Concessions, the silver reserves were Chinese and Japanese in government handed over to them, and the Federal or municipal employ have been ad-Reserve notes recognized as the vised not to live in the concessions, 'oMeial currency, they would sooner in case anything should happen and 'oF later be forced 10 take steps they could not get out." ions to heel. Against The New Mighway ft, inthe matter Then there is the new highway that fre taking shelter in the Concessions, has been constructed recently by the but that the authorities have been Japanese army. It runs from the steadily suppressing all anti-Japanese Japanese Concession to the ex-Ger-activities, and that kf such men were man Bund, and skirts the British and cally engaged in any active work French Concessions. The Japanese they would at once be discovered and claim that this road has been built arrested. As to the silver reserves, solely to enable the military to bring pointed out that it is impossible jup their supplies "and men without for the Concession authorities to seize, Jhaving to. pass through the conces-or allow the seizure of, property be-sions, which used to lead to constant Tonging to the still legally recognized disputes. Nevertheless, it is regarded government of China. " While the with suspicion by the foreign comply of the banks is quite simple: munity as part of the plan. for a jussiness is business, If the Federal blockade of the concessions. And this Reserve Bank itself were prepared to view has been strengthened by the sell foreign oxehanye against its notes, rumour that the Japanese military we would be quite ready to do the recently tried to get the Maritime same." In one minor point a con-[Customs to move their offices out of cession has been made, for the Tien-the French Concession, {sin British 'Municipal Council now 'Many people believe that, if the accepts F. RB. notes in payment of JJapaneso' military cannot get their fall Tegal dues. But whether the joint so-called grievances aguinst the con-police control could be admitted is cessions redressed, they will proceed nother question, stronger measures, either by an "Than there is the campaign against economic blockade, by stopping ship-foreign newspapers. In August last, ping from coming' up to the British just at the time of the orders for the and French Concessions, or even by evacuation of the Concessions, but throwing a cordon around them and before the paper had made any' com= making it impossible for the Chinese ment whatever on the subject, the to enter. How much truth there is British-owned "Peking" Tientsin in such fears, only the future can Times was refused transmission show. But the situation of foreign through the Chinese post, and its sale trade in Tientsin and of the foreign forbidden outside the two Concessions.
Jeommunity generally "is no less No reason was ever vouchsafed for precarious than in Shanghai and in this ban, and up to date all protests some ways even worse. have been ignored. But it was undoubtedly' part of the plan, not only to suppress all means of criticism but French in Tientsin also to prevent or at least make it dimeult for any unfavourable news
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.