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5. Though the withdrawal of the Japanese troops was complete, everything pointed to the fact that, if a favourable opportunity again presented itself, Japan would not hesitate to avail herself of it to add both the Chientao and Hunchun districts to her possessions.
I find myself in complete agreement with the views expressed by Mr. Cunningham on all the above points. It would seem from his report that the Chientao district possesses great agricultural and mineral possibilities it is rumoured that oil has been discovered somewhere in the locality while Hunchun is of considerable strategic importance to Japan owing to its situation immediately behind Vladivostok. The desire, therefore, of Japan to annex these two localities is a very natural one on her part, and one which in time she will no doubt realise. A pretext for a second expedition could be easily obtained by stirring up the hungbutzus in the neighbourhood to renewed activity; or Japan may at any time make a dispute with the Chinese Government an excuse for occupying the locality until her demands are acceded to. Though it might in many ways be to the benefit of the locality to have it pass into Japanese hands, since its resources would then be developed, of which there is little hope under the present régime, the danger in such an eventuality would be that the possession of Chientao and Hunchun would in all probability merely whet the appetite of Japan for further conquests in Manchuria.
With regard to the hunghutzus in Chientao and its neighbourhood, my information is that they are not, as Mr. Cunningham asserts, peaceful agriculturists when the harvests are good and brigands only in bad times. In the districts of Fengtien and Kirin infested by them there are no bad seasons. Most of these hunghutzus are ex-soldiers and ex-criminals, and the only agricultural work any of them do is grow opium, though the majority are content in bad times for brigandage to make a living by blackmailing ofther opium growers.
Mr. Cunningham appears to me to have accomplished his mission most successfully, and I have every hope that the result of it will be to improve the relations between the missionaries and the Japanese. Owing to the incurably suspicious trend of the Japanese mind, I have no hope that the Japanese themselves will ever be convinced that their charges against the missionaries were unfounded, but the fact that we have enquired into these charges officially and regard them as absolutely without justification should prevent the recurrence in the future of such unpleasant incidents as the publication of the Mizumachi letter.
I may mention, in conclusion, that Mr. Cunningham was very favourably impressed with the work which the missionaries were doing in Chientao, and especially with that of Dr. Martin. Their withdrawal from the district would be a calamity for its Korean inhabitants.
I have, &c.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
F. E. WILKINSON.
3
The country along the Tumen river consists of fairly high rolling hills separated from each other by wide valleys. Towards the west and north it is more mountainous and the valleys are narrower and more closely shut in by the hills. It is said that only thirty years ago the whole country consisted of virgin forests, though now the first thing that strikes one on entering the district is the entire absence of trees of any kind. It is only when one reaches the high hills that any traces of the original forests remain, and even here the process of deforestation seems to be rapidly proceeding as a result of the ruthless destruction of trees by the natives with a view to the provision of fuel for the severe winter. The soil, on the other hand, is exceptionally fertile, being almost black in colour and of a rich loamy character, and produces during the short summer excellent crops of beans of all kinds, wheat. kaoliang, millet, &c., while in many of the valleys considerable quantities of rice are grown. The inhabitants show remarkably energy and industry in the cultivation of the land, and in many places the hillsides are utilised almost to the top and in spots where one would think it would be impossible to use a plough.
Principal Towns and Population. The principal towns in the Chientao district are Yenchi (the capital), Lungchingtsun, Towtaokou, Paitsaokon and Hunchun, all of which are marts open to international trade. The estimated population of the four districts of Holung, Yenchi, Wanghsing and Hunchun is about 350,000, some 300,000 of whom are Koreans, who in increasing numbers have migrated from Korea during the last twenty years or so in search of a livelihood. The remainder are, of course, Chinese. The Koreans are much more numerous in the three western districts than in Hunchun, where the majority of the inhabitants are Chinese. They are also more numerous in the districts bordering Korea, and the further one goes from the Tumen the fewer Koreans one sees, though even as far north as Hamatang. about 15 miles to the north of Paitsaokou, there are many Korean villages chiefly hidden away among the hills. The total number of Japanese in the district is about 1.200.
The following figures (obtained from a Japanese source) show the estimated population of the three western districts during the last four years:--
Year.
1917
1918
1919
1920
Koreans.
Chinese.
Total.
185,279
41,826
227,105
202.385
43.639
246,024
227,382
42,916
270,298
245,964
43,866
289,830
It will be seen that while the number of Chinese inhabitants has remained almost stationary, the number of Koreans has considerably increased. Fewer Koreans
appear to be entering the country at present, however, and one or two of the missionaries expressed the opinion that latterly those leaving the district were more numerous than the new arrivals.
The following is the estimated Japanese and Korean population (1920) of the five open marts:-
Lungchingtsun
Yenchi
Towtaokou
Japanese.
Korean.
676
4.411
162
632
95
1,605
8 160
26.1
400
Sir,
Mr. Cunningham to Consul-General Wilkinson.
Mukden, June 7, 1921. I HAVE the honour to report as follows in regard to the present position of affairs in the Chientao district as found by me during my recent tour therein, details of which are given in my other despatch of this date.
The expression "Chientao," or "Kanto" as it is known in Japanese, is one of recent origin, the name being one somewhat loosely applied to the whole of that part of the province of Kirin bordering Korea which lies between the Tienpaoshan and Paitoushan districts and the north-eastern corner of Korea. The name is derived from the Chientao agreement between Japan and China, concluded in 1909. after the dispute which arose between those two countries as to the rights of jurisdiction over an island, named Chientao, lying in the stream of the Tumen some few miles below Kami Sampo. The district, roughly speaking, includes the three districts of Holung, Yenchi and Wanghsing, while the district of Hunchun is also frequently, though not properly, included in it. A rough sketch map of the district is appended to the report in which I have described my itinerary.
Paitsaokou
Hunchun (approximate)
Lungchingtsun contains in addition about 2,500 Chinese, Yenchi about 5,000, and Paitsaokou and Hunchun about the same number.
There are also about 100 Japanese residents at Tienposhan, where are situated some copper mines worked by a Sino-Japanese company. Tienposhan is about 30 miles west of Yenchi and is eventually to be connected with Kami Sampo by rail. Communications. These are as yet in anything but an advanced state. Roads, such as they are, do exist, but they are mere tracks across country or up the valleys, and in bad weather are atrocious, being little short of quagmires in many places. During summer there is therefore comparatively little traffic, but during the winter when the ground freezes to a depth of 5 feet or 6 feet the roads are good, while the larger rivers are also freely used for the transportation of goods. I saw no bridges except one at Yenchi, and the rivers must be forded or crossed by ferry, though in summer many of them are impassable in wet weather.
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