CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 401

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ow, owing to the existence of the railway, much more convenient, so that a very uge part of the traffic passes through the place. The Tumen Railway is ultimately to be connected with Tienpaoshan, in the western part of Chientao, where are some opper mines worked by a Sino-Japanese company, but the Chinese authorities have ot yet given their consent to the laying of the Chinese section of the line, and the atter is still under negotiation.

into contact. I was furnished with armed guards for my journey and at Paitsackou. where there is no accommodation but Chinese inns, was furnished with a room in thead from Kami Sampo to Lungchingtsun is considerably shorter, however, and is o the opening of the Tumen Railway, as it is called, in January of last year. The magistrate's yamen. Mr. Tao, the Taoyin at Yenchi, who controls the four districts referred to, as well as four other neighbouring districts, was most courteous, and both he and Kao, the chu-chan, or settlement magistrate at Lungchingtsun, readi!! answered all the questions I put to them. Both of these officials speak Japanese well, and Mr. Kao especially seemed to be on excellent terms with Mr. Joly, who tells me that both he and the Taoyin have adopted quite a strong attitude during the past few months in the many points of dispute which have arisen with the Japanese authorities. Mr. Tao has only recently been sent back to Yenchi, where he was, previously stationed for some years, and is evidently considered a good man for the post by the Chinese authorities. The magistrate at Hunchun, on the other hand, has only been recently appointed, and is not very well acquainted with conditions in the district. He speaks no Japanese.

I have, &c.

W. B. CUNNINGHAM.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1.

Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir B. Alston.

(No. 37.) Sir.

Mukden, June 11, 1921. IN continuation of my despatch No. 36 of the 8th instant, transmitting to you. Mr. Cunningham's report on the situation in Chientao. I have now the honour enclose a supplementary report which he has prepared giving an account of his experiences on his journey to Chientao and back.

Sir,

Enclosure 4 in No. 1.

I have, &c.

F. E. WILKINSON.

Mr. Cunningham to Consul-General Wilkinson.

Mukden, June 7, 1921. WITH reference to my despatch of to-day's date reporting on conditions in the Chientao district. I have the honour to append hereto a brief description of my journey from the date of my departure from Mukden on the 12th May last.

et require to make use of the letter of introduction to Japanese officials, which it I was not in any way inconvenienced in my journey through Korea, and I did as agreed I should endeavour to obtain from the authorities in Seoul, and which chief of the Foreign Affairs Section of the Government-General of Korea.

as very willingly given to me upon my personal application to Mr. Matsunaga,

From Kami Sampo the railway line runs for about a mile further to the spot where he ferry crosses the Tumen, and this section of the line was. I understand, put in by the Japanese military authorities during their operations last year, as was also bridge with a line of rails across the river, though its construction was not thorised by the Chinese authorities.

I arrived at Kami Sampo on the evening of the 18th and left the following day for Lungchingtsun, a distance of about 21 miles by cart. On my arrival I called irst upon Mr. P. B. Joly, the assistant in charge of the Chinese maritime customs here. who very kindly offered me hospitality during my stay.

I spent two days at Lungchingtsun, calling on the magistrate of the town, Mr. Kao entertained me to dinner on the evening of the 21st, several other Chinese Mr. Kao, and upon the Japanese consul-general, both of whom returned my call. ficials and the Japanese consul-general and one of his vice-consuls also being resent. Mr. Sakai also gave a luncheon party in my honour during my stay, Mr. Joly and Dr. Martin and the Rev. A. H. Barker, of the Canadian Presbyterian Mission, also being invited. An account of my conversations with Mr. Sakai is

iven in my other report.

On the 22nd May I left Lungchingtsun for Yenchi, the principal town of the istrict, a distance of about 12 miles, spending a day and a-half there.

I duly alled on the Taoyin of the district, who is in charge of the whole area, and was most cordially received by him. I was, however, unable to see the general in command of the troops in the district, as he was away in Kirin.

While at Yenchi I received a visit from Colonel Harada and Lieutenant Motoike, two of the liaison officers stationed in the Chientao area.

The former xplained that he had received instructions from Seoul to call on me, but though he eemed anxious to find out what my business in Chientao was, our conversation was hroughout of the most informal kind, and I did not discuss the situation with him in any way. Later I returned the two officers' call at the small Chinese house they The distance toccupy in the town.

Up to this time I had intended to proceed from Yenchi direct to Hunchun and return from there via Ninguta, in accordance with your suggestion. I was strongly Advised, however, by M. Nadarof, the ex-Russian consul at Yenchi, who seems to be well acquainted with the district and has himself made the journey, not to attempt it at this time of year, as, though it was reported to be safe, the roads were very liable to be bad. I therefore decided to visit Paitsaukon (the most northerly of the open marts in the Chientao district) on my way to Hunchun and to be guided by circumstances as to my return route upon arrival at the latter place.

I left Seoul on the morning of the 14th May (having spent the previous day in completing preparations for my journey), and arrived at Gensan the same evening in time to catch a small coasting steamer for Seishin, from which port there is rail connection with Kwainei (Kor., Hoiryong; Chin., Huining). Seishin is about 200 miles, and by direct boat the journey can be accomplished in a day, but the smaller vessels, by one of which I had to travel as there was no direc boat for two or three days, call at numerous small places on the coast and occupy about three days. I landed on the morning of the 17th at the small port of Tokchin. the last place of call before Seisbin, being advised to do so as, owing to foggy weather, it was very uncertain whether the vessel would reach Seishin that day. From Tokchin there is a line of light rails to Kyojo, the present terminus of the line from Kwainei, which will ultimately connect with the east coast line from Seoul now in operation as far as Kanko (Hambeung) The line from Kyojo passes through Ranan and joins the Seishin to Kwainer line at Yujo. headquarters of the Japanese army in the north-eastern part of Korea and the seat Ranan is the of a division.

The line from Seishin to Kwainei is 58 miles in length, and was constructed! some three or four years ago at considerable expense (10,000,000 yen, I am told) : a high range of hills has to be crossed and there are a number of tunnels. of the line is, of course, mainly strategic, though considerable quantities of grain The value and lumber are transported over it to Seishin, whence they are exported to Japan.

From Kwainei there is a light railway (24 feet gange) to a small and entirely new place on the Korean side of the Tumen, known as Kami Sampo (Chin. Shangshanfeng), a distance of about 25 miles, which occupies rather more than three hours by train. It is possible to enter the Chientao district by direct road from Kwainei to Lungchingtsun, and this was the route principally used previous

I left Yenchi on the 24th May for Paitsaokou, which is a long day's journey of early 40 miles. The Taoyin at Yenchi had kindly furnished me with a letter of introduction to the magistrate of the Wanghsing district, who resides at Paitsaokou, and I was most cordially received and provided with a room in the yamen. I was also furnished with an armed guard of two men to accompany me on my journey,

I stayed only one night at Paitsaokou, as I had been able to see the magistrate on my arrival, and there seemed little object in remaining there for a day. accordingly left on the 25th for Hunchun, the journey of about 70 miles occupying three days owing to the difficult nature of the country traversed, several high hills having to be crossed. I was again provided with an escort and arrived at Hunebun on the evening of the 27th, being hospitably entertained while there by Mr. U. Marconi, acting commissioner of customs, to whom you had furnished me with a letter of introduction.

At Hunchun both the magistrate of the district and the officer in command of the troops came to call on me before I had been half an hour in the place, while the

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