Are "Communists"
Tokyo, Nov. 29.
Japanese military authorities have decided to refuse permission for Jews deported from Germany to enter. Tientsin on the grounds that most of hem are Communists, according to a press report received here today.
The authorities' decision was said to have been communicated to various quarters. Jewish residents of the British and French Concessions in Tientsin have organized a Jewish relief committee, the report said, with a view to providing accommodation for about 2,000 Jews there.—Domei.
IHE question of the re-opening of the Yangtze River to general trade, which is being discussed by the Third Powers, was despatched yesterday by Vice-in-Chief of the Japanese China and Italy. It is understood that The Japanese Army and Navy commands in Central China "In view of the fact that since the fall of the Wuhan area, the question of the reopening of the Yangtze River to general trade has become the subject of discussions by third Powers, we believe it may not be useless to express the views of the Japanese forces operating in the Yangtze area about the matter.
"It should be first noted that the present conditions on the Yangtze River are quite different from those before the commencement of hostilities, The Chinese sank or floated thousands of mines along the river, laid booms at Kiangyin, Wulungshan, Matouchen, Shihhweiyao and Tuan-feng, and also built strong defences to protect them. The Japanese forces opened the river to their own navigation by their up-stream operations, overcoming the tenacious resistance of the Chinese forces at a great sacrifice, "Suppose the Japanese forces had continued their operations without breaking the booms set up by the Chinese. No third Power would be in a position to attempt navigation on the Yangtze, at least during the hostilities.
Opened at Great Sacrifice "The Japanese forces opened the Yangtze in order to execute their operations. We believe that the third Powers who did not take effective steps to check the blockading of the river, when that was carried out by the Chinese forces for their hostile purposes, must now be able to realize the fact that the Japanese forces completed at a great sacrifice the opening of the river solely for their military purposes.
phe hostilities have not come to an end yet, The operations are still going on, and the Yangtze, even now that the Wuhan area is under our control, is part of the battlefield and constitutes an artery of replenishment which is of great importance for our operations. The Japanese forces are making great efforts to secure themselves against the obstructions put up by the Chinese forces.
"A large number of Japanese vessels now navigating the Yangtze River are engaged in the transportation of munitions and such articles as are necessary for the maintenance of the Japanese forces and organizations attached: to them, and no vessel is engaged in general trade.
"It is needless to say that the Japanese operating forces earnestly desire that, as the necessity for ex-acuting military operations in Central China decreases, such a state of affairs may speedily be restored as will enable the Powers concerned to enjoy trading on the Yangtze. The present situation, however, is far from our wish, and we shall be compelled to stick to our decision as long as the Chinese forces maintain their present attitude."
Issue Raised by "N.
CDN"
It will be recalled that the "North-China Daily News" raised this issue several weeks ago, publishing facts which indicated that Japanese vessels plied the Yangtze freely, whereas third Power ships were denied that right by the Japanese armed forces. At the press conference yesterday, where the communique was issued, the regular spokesmen—Army, Navy and—Embassy—having associated themselves with the context of the document, correspondents launched a barrage of questions at Rear-Admiral Nomura, who attended. He was questioned for about 90 minutes.
Admiral Nomura stated that all vessels on the Yangtze were operated by the Japanese Army and Navy; they were not engaged in general trade and carried only such supplies and equipment as was necessary for the forces and allied organizations. Replying to a question regarding the export of Chinese products to Japan, he said that the goods were ultimately and entirely for Japanese military consumption—the Japanese nation required a large part of their supplies from overseas. To another question, it having been mentioned in the "North-China Daily News," that large quantities of hog bristles were being shipped. out, he replied that they were being used to make tooth brushes for soldiers and sailors.
Questioned at some length as to the position of the organizations associated with the forces, Admiral Nomura stated that these were auxiliary supply corps, that they were not operating for profit, and that official agencies in Japan were considered part of the services. Any person engaged actively in the occupied areas had to have a permit from the military. Groups, which might not actually be part of the Army and Navy, were permitted to function in the occupied areas solely for a military objective and not for private gain.
Position of Foreign Ships Several foreign vessels had been allowed to proceed along the Yangtze, he said—one to carry oil to a British gunboat and another to make repairs to foreign hulks. Certain other foreign vessels "marooned" above the boom, would not be allowed to proceed until Vice-Admiral Oikawa thought fit, military exigencies allowing. Questioned regarding the replacement of foreign men-of-war, he said that the official memorandum had made this clear.
Would general trading come under the category of "allied organizations"?—Any activities in the occupied areas are being carried out for the ultimate military objective, the crushing of Gen. Chiang Kai-shek's regime and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of China.
(Continued on page 6)
London, Nov. 29.
"The Times" counsels Japan to envisage the possibility of an eventual break in the run of good luck which has attended her in China in a spirited editorial published today under the heading "War Without End?"
Japan, says "The Times," has carried out her ambitious programme relentlessly and with almost complete success. She has not, it is true, contrived at any point to entrap or anihilate a major concentration of amed Chinese troops, though she had everywhere punished the enemy severely.
Nor has her progress been either as swift or smooth as she*expected. A month lost here and two months there have accumulated into a time lag which exasperates the rank and file and causes anxiety to the more responsible of their leeders.
Nevertheless, the newspaper pro-|! ceeds, it is generally true to say that, if the time factor is left out of the question, Japan has been thoroughly successful in every military or naval enterprise on which she has embarked British Civil Aviation Takes Step Forward since the war began.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.