The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-29
JAPANESE COLONEL
THREATENS BRITISH
British Missionaries Warned to
BE Careful How They Act in
Korea


Toxic. Jan. 2i.-The text of let
ter written To Canadian mission
aries I'm Chienta, China, by Colonel
Ntizumachi. chief of a Japanese mill
tary mission. which was sent to
Chientao 10 investigate charges made
by the missionaries that the Japanese
uocps had committed "diabolicai
deeds" I'm indiscriminately shooting
the KOREAN Christians in that district
and burning their schools, churches
and homes. has been received here.
IL says that Colonel Mizumachi not
only warned the Canadians against
giving any assistance to- the indepcnd-
cnce movement. or auti-Japanesc SEN
timent in Korea as has already been
cabied. but that ne informed them
that such malicious acts" would be-
detrimental TO friendly relations be-
tween Great Britain and Japan who
are now allied by treaty.
The Japanese investigator called
the attention of the Canadian mis-
sionarics To what he described us IAN
unueniabie fact that there are numer.
ous dinerent peoples i'm your own do
minions who. frequently plot rebellion
against your government such as the
India"
He pointed out to the missionaries
that England and Japan were i'm sim
ih'r positions I'm having racial trou-
blcs and that therefore lit is advan-
oageous To US both that we should
cooperate from our heart of hearts,
strictly rcfraining from any words or
action which may cause har1u to
either country"
In warning the Canadians against
giving assistance TO the Korean in
dependence movement. Colonel Mizu-
machi said that IL they did not refrain
from doing SD, "thc Buddhists I'm Ja-
pan would he able to find u legal rca-
son for giving anti British assistance
To those behind the cooperation
movement i'm India. The samc thing
may the applied To the Irish problem"
he added.
The Japanese colonel also referred
10 English methods of dealing with
subJcct peoples by saying that "Nhe
utmost c'trc has becn taken since the
commeuccmcnt of operations Gin
thtcntaol that innocent citizens
should not be killed. ,uvh as General
Dyer did last year at Amritsar, In
dia."
The Japanese foreign office has
since disavowed responsibility for the
sentiments Expressed 10y the colonel
has dccalred that IL had no knuwl-
edge OF the latter and that IL was the
work OF one man.
Colonel Mizumachi endeavored To
show the missionaries the advjsabilty
OF supporting the attitude of japan
toward Korea. He told them i'm the
letter that II thcy rcfrained froni in
tcrfcring with any political matters.
devoted themselves strictly TO relig-
ious works and TO efforts i'm coopera-
fion with the Japanese authorities to
educate the Koreans To be loyal sub
Jects OF japan. he could assure them
OF the aid OF the Japanese govern
ment and people.
The rise. and fall of your work I'm
and out OF Korea depends solely up-
ON whether YOU will cooperate with
the japanese government or not" ne
wrote
The colonel also undertook To define
the policy ot the Chinese government
IN Korea. saying: IF the Korean PEN
Ursula should ever be brought under
tho influence Of any other power than
Japan. II would be- the greatest pos
sible menace to the national defense OF
Japan. Japan can never permit Ko-
rca TO bc independents.
lie declared that law-dcrying Ko-
rcans had established their base i'm
tho Chicntso district and. in league
with Chinese bandits. had been driv-
Ing the 300. 900 Korean colonists In
.af f.4.
said, had asked the Chinese govern
meni TO control these rogucs" but
The Chinese Ibid not do So but, on the
contrary. maintained u secret UNDER
sanding with them"
The Japanese investigator cXpresS-
ed regret that churches and schools
had been burned but declared they
had been used as sinks uf iniquity"
~ the Korean malconteuts
vRcplying to missionaries charges
that innocent men had been shot
down without trial by the Japanese
Hoops. Colonel Mizumachi, wrote:
We regret that there may have been
scre innocent ones among those shot
Dut under the circumstances. IL has
been hadrly possible to tell inslmscnt
from innocent. It is unavoidable that
some Innocent men might have been
executed by mistake. This however,
of course. is against the real viii of
-tife JAPANESE army" Such slow
measures as appealing To- the cstab-
iished courts or To cuurtSmartial were
|imPr,cticnbic. the colonel declared. as
many 20 the accused would escape.
N Therefore,, ne added, the Japanese
[hoops. executed these insurgents on
ne spot after a simple trial and after
<nndcniablc evidence had been scCur-
|td. bnckcd 10y the statements Of VII
1agcrs"
WQshlDrton Ian 2.An tu,-,StI-