Evening star., 1939-12-23
Americans Report
On Japanese Cruelty
In Occupied Areas
Heart of Chino Feels
Economic and Moral
Pressure of Invaders
Ry A. r. STEELE.

by "A. i. SlEELE,
CHICAGO Daily News Foreien Correspondent
SHANGHAI. With Japanese
propagandist doing their best to i'm
prove American understanding" of
the sc-called new order in East Asia,
a group of American observers on
the spot has come forward with
timely and devastating survey based
on facts rather than made-in- Toxic
theories.
Prepared for the Institute of Pa
ciflc Relations, the report sum-
marizes the findings of 10 Ameri-
cans living in scattered cities and
towns of Kiangsu and Anhwei prov
inces, in the lower Yangtze Valley
This region could be called the heart
of China and includes much of the
territory directly tributary to
Shanghai.
The survey shows that after more
than two years of japanese Army
overlordship the people Of this popu-
lous area are worse off in almost
every respect than they were before
VIC oo Jo1lCSC Sc111C LII
Monopolistic exploitation, confis-
cation, official corruption, gangster-
ism and puppetry are still common
features of Japanese army rule in
Central China, the Americans find.
Use of opium and narcotics is en-
couraged and the puppet govern
ments are deriving much of their in
come from this source. The popula-
ton is compliant but completely un-
sympathetic to the new order of
things.
Control Not Wide.
The report points out that al
though the Japanese army holds the
chief cities of the area surveyed,
its control does not extend over
more than one fifth Of Kiangsu
Province and one twelfth of Anhwei.
But let the authors of the report tell
their sordid story in their own
words. Here are a few high lights
from their findings:
With the exception of one-third
rank city, in which the deteriora-
ton is only slight, all reports in
dicate a personnel sadly inferior to
the nominal Importance of the
places held and likewise to the type
Of officials who governed before the
war. The number of old men and
of men without modern training is
notorious. Opium smokers are
prominent in all ranks. There is a
fair sprinkling of aged gentry and
other property holders whose main
concern is to lessen the risks of con-
flscation by taking an apparently
active part in the new regime. Yet
in smaller localities they are often
outnumbered by men who previous
ly had no visible means of support
or were definitely classed with
criminal and other low elements.
Popular support for the new Or
der was made impossible by the Jap
anese Army. In the area controlled
by Japan large percentage of all
Chinese families suffered within
their own experience the murder
wounding. rape or beating of one OF
more members; the burning of theil
houses. shops or farm stores anG
equipment; the looting of part or al
their possessions; and above all
months of terror, hunger and de.
spair.
Economic Distress General.
I'm smaller places some of thu
terror continues to this day; in al
places the economic distress is gen.
eral, and the effects of the military
occupation and its methods beal
upon daily life to an incredible de.
gree. Everywhere among coolies ane
farmers one can hear the question
often in whispers: When will tn,
Central Army come back? Is ther,
any hope for China?'
Nevertheless, the traditional &C
ceptance of authority and the provet
defenselessness of the ordinary cit
izen combine with economic needs tt
turn many of the uneducated ava,
from active resentment against tn
regime. Among the lower groups o
society there is tendency for hos
tility to drop into latent form. I
Chinese activity brought any imme
diate revival of hope, mass rising
might be expected. But, meanwhile
the claims of hunger and of cryin,
children require accommodation.
Hostility Is Rising.
Among educated persons, mer
chants deprived of opportunity ant
property holders who have suffere,
looting or expulsion, hostility ha
not sensibly diminished and indeed
is continually recruited by new deed
OF exploitation. Contempt ant
hatred for the low quality Of Chimes
in the administrative Offices is com
mon, and there Is fervent talk of tn.
destruction that awaits them whel
genuine government is restored.