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21.
population of 4,245 persons cultivating an area of about 7,500
hectares. The cost of settlement averaged Yen 1,400 per house-
hold so we may take it that the initial costs of the experi-
ment are about 3 million yen. When it is considered that the
Chinese settler costs the government little or nothing, it must
be admitted that the experiment is a costly one. If on the other
hand the first settlers prosper, successive waves of immigrants
can presumably be brought over more cheaply. The Japanese
Government is reported to be vastly pleased with the results to
date and to be planning to settle 1,000,000 households in the
next twenty years.
54.
Japan is also sending over picked young men who are to
receive training at special farms in local husbandry and in
military duties. Disaster struck one of these special settle-
ments in the summer of 1938 when an outbreak of dysentery aff-
licted 600 out of 1,000 settlers. These figures were given in
the press but there were no subsequent reports as to the number
who succumbed. The temporary barracks in which the settlers
were living, lack of hygiene and want of skilled doctors were
stated to be the cause.
56. It is too early to judge of the success of the experi---
ments. Newspaper and magazine reports indicate clearly that
the settlers have a hard life of it and at present eke out a
bare existence. But the Japanese peasant is inured to a life
of toil and these settlers have come from poverty-stricken
districts in Japan. It would not be safe, therefore, to take
it for granted that they cannot live under these conditions.
What would seem to be the main handicap from an economic point
of view is that the settler can scarcely hope to be left to
till the soil in peace and security. He will have on occasion
to defend his life and property against bandits and it is
possible that his services would be requisitioned by the
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