FO371-23516 — Page 66

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Construction of Ja anese Kilitary Hospital at Tsingtao: reports on survey

~ (306/600/39)

No. 19

Copied to! –

Foreign Office No. 4

B. R. Tokyo

of site.

116

British Consulate-General,

Tsingtao.

January 24th, 1939.

0. in. C.

British Gen. Staff

sir,

The

I have the honour to enclose herewith copy of a

nemorandus by Mr. Acting Coneul Buastead regarding the

preparations being made by the Japanese silitary for the

construction of a hospital to the east of Tsingtao.

renoval of graves has been going on for about two months,

but it is only now that the actual use to which this Memo by Aetk. Consul Bumstead area of ground is to be put has been declared.

24/1/39.

2. The Japanese celebrated the first anniversary of

their occupation of Tsingtao on January 10th, and it was

a subject of general comment at the time that although

they undoubtedly wish to keep a fire hold on the place

they had allowed a year to clapse and had shown little

sign of actually "digging themselves in" in a military

way. The construction of this military hospital would

seem to know not merely the obvious fact that the Japanese

consider they are permanently here, but also that they

intend to use Tringtao as a military base for operationa

likely to extend over a ide area and a long period.

I have the honour to be,

His Excellency

Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, F.0.16 0.,

etc., etc., etc.,

his Majesty's Ambassador,

British Embassy,

BANORAI.

sir,

Your Excellency's most obedient

humble Servant,

(signed) A. J. Martin.

Consul-General,

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