The Second Series of Articles Deals with the Political and General Situation 'IN the second of the series of four articles dealing with the Annual Report of the Shanghai Municipal Police, the Commissioner deals with local Political matters, which became acute following the outbreak of Sino-Japanese hostilities.
The article also deals with Anti-Japanese activities; Refugees; Communism; Strikes and Industrial situation; Film Censorship; Food situation and Newspapers and Publications.
In the section of the report dealing with Political matters, the Commissioner of Police states Following the outbreak of Sino-Japanese hostilities, numerous poll-Weal organizations' such as the "National Salvation Society," "Society to Resist the Enemy", "War Time' Service Group," ete. were formed by. various sections of the Chinese com munity, The common objects of these bodies were In favour of the National Government by letter and by speech, the advocacy of a boycott of Japanese goods, the canvassing of subscriptions for National Liberty Bonds, the soliciting of contributions and articles of comfort for Chinese soldiers and for the relief of war refugees, and the detection of Chinese "traitors". A number instances of illegal arrest in_ the} Settlement of supposed traitors by" agents of Chinese authorities were noted, When the Chinese army withdrew from Shanghai, these societies were either dissolved or moved to the Interior,. Most of the Chinese Government organs in Shanghai were also dissolved, and with exception of the Customs, the Post Omce, " the Special District Court most "other government organs and offices moved to Hankow and Chungking, the new seat of the National Government.
Political propaganda, incompatible with Law and order in the Settlement Wwas suppressed by the Municipal Police as far as possible and control of public organizations was begun towards the end of the year through Munlelpal Notification No. 4878 dated October 21, 1937, which required all such societies to register with the AntlJapanese activity in the early: part. of 1037 was Insignificant, propaganda in this connection, "being confined to isolated oases of chalking slogans. on walls, The fifth anniver~ sary of the Sino-Japanese hostilities january 28, 1097) was observed quietly. In May, a smuggled goods oyeott commit ice was formed and. in June two mass meetings were held in Nantao demanding the release of the seven national salvation leaders lurider detention in Soochow, These prisoners were set at liberty July 31, In July, after Aghting had broken out in North China between the Chinese and Japanese forces, anti Japanese sentiment was intensified and people of all vocations of life urged support of the Chinese troops lid resistance to Japanese invasion Numerous meetings were held, tele rams were despatched by Chinese public bodies and ways and means Were devised for raising funds. In Shanghai propaganda reached its peak in October and November when the Chinese public vociferously demand~ ed resistance to the bitter end, the Severance of relations with Japan, and. the application of sanctions against Japan by the " Nine Power Conference then in session at Brus sels, Police suppression of subversive activities in the Settlement coupled with the change in November in the Joon! political situation following the withdrawal of Chinese forces caused general cessation of political prom
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.