Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-01-26
CANADIANS ARE
WARNED NOT To
ASSIST KOREANS
Japanese Colonel Tells Mis-
SionarieS That Aid to In
dependence Movement
Would Strain Relations.


letter written to Canadian mis-
sionaries in Chientao, China, by
Colonel Mizumachi, chief of a Jap
anese military mission, which was
sent to Chientao to investigate
charges made by the missionaries
that the japanese troops had com
mitted "diabolical deeds in indis-
criminately shooting the Korean
Christians in that district and
burning schools, churches and
homes, has been received here.
1t says that Colonel Mizumachi
not only warned the Canadians
against giving any assistance to the
independence movement or anti
japanese sentiment in Korea as has
already been cabled, but that he
informed them that such mali
cious acts" would be detrimental to
friendly relations between Great
Britain and Japan. who are now
allied by treaty.
The Japanese investigator called
the attention of the Canadian mis-
IAN undesira BILE fact that there are
numerous different peoples in your
own dominions who frequently plot
rebellion against your government,
such as the recent non-co-Operation
movement in India.
Urges Cooperation.
He pointed out 10 the mission
aries that England and Japan were
in similar positions In having racial
troubles and that therefore at IS
advantageous to us both that we
should cooperate from our heart
of hearts, strictly refraining from
any words or action which may
cause harm to either country"
In warning the Canadians against
giving assistance to the Korean in
dependence movement, Colonel
Mizumachi said that if they did
not refrain from doing so, the
BuSdhists in Japan would be able
to find a legal reason for giving
anti-British assistance to those be-
hind the Incorporation move
ment in India. The same thing may
be applied to the Irish problem"
he added.
The Japanese colonel also re-
ferred to English methods of deal
ing with subject peoples by say
ing that the utmost care has been
taken since the commencement of
operations Gin Chientao) that in
nocent citizens should not be
killed, such as General Dyer did
last year at Amritsar, India"
since disavowed responsibility for
sentiments expressed by the col
onel and has declared it had no
knowledge of the latter and that it
was the work of one man.
Should Support Japan.
Colonel Mizumachi endeavored to
show the missionaries the advisa-
bility of supporting the attitude of
Japan toward Korea. He told them
in the letter that if they refrained
from interfering with any politi-
cal matters devoted themselves
strictly to religious works and to
efforts in cooperation with the
Japanese authorities to educate the
Koreans to be loyal subjects of Ja-
pan, he could assure them of the
aid of the japanese government
and people.
The rise and fall of your work
in and out of Korea depends solely
upon whether you will cooperate
with the Japanese government or
not" he wrote.
The colonel also undertook to
define the policy of the Chinese
in Korea, saying: "If
the Korean peninsula should ever
be brought under the influence of /
any other power than Japan, it .
would be the greatest possible me-
mace to the national defense of |
Japan.
Japan. Japan can never permit Ko-
rea to be independent.
He declared that the law defying
Koreans had established their base
n the Chientao district and, in
eague with Chinese bandits, had
been driving the 100000 Korean
,olonists in that district to join
hem. Japan, he said, had asked
he Chinese government to con
rol these rogues," but the Chinese
did not do so but, on the con-
rary, maintained a secret under
with them"
Says Koreans Defiled Churches.
The Japanese investigator ex-
pressed regret that churches and
ohools had been burned, but de-
,lared they had been used as sinks
If iniquity" by the Korean malcon-
ents.
Replying to the missionaries
charges that innocent men had
,een shot down without trial by
he japanese troops, Colonel Mizu-
nachi wrote: 1--WE regret that
here may have been some inno-
ent ones among those shot but I'M
Ter the circumstances, it had been
hardly possible to tell insurgenti
rom innocent. 1t is unavoidable
hat some innocent might have
,een executed by mistake. This, {
However, of course, is against the
cal will of the japanese army"
such slow measures as appealing
o the Japanese courts or to court
martial were impracticable, the
colonel declared, as many of the
focused would escape.
Therefore, he added. the Jap
nese troops executed these insur-
,ents on the spot after single
rial and after undeniable evidenced
lad been secured, backed by the
tatements of villagers.