Institute of Pacific Relations

New Japanese Efforts to Colonize ManchoukuoAuthor(s): J. C.Source: Far Eastern Survey, Vol. 4, No. 15 (Jul. 31, 1935), pp. 121-122Published by: Institute of Pacific RelationsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3023257 .

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360,000 to 823,000 rubles. In other words, purchases of Soviet goods more than doubled in value, while the value of sales was cut in half. A continuation of this trend will eliminate the large balance of trade in favor of Sinkiang which characterized the year 1933, and restore the import surplus of the period 1928-32.

This landlocked province of Sinkiang ("New Do-

minion") occupies a focal position in central Asia. The balance of economic pressures upon it from the outside has shifted in the direction of the Soviet Union since the signing of a commercial agreement between Sin?

kiang and the U.S.S.R. in 1925, although the Chinese retain their somewhat uncertain administrative con? trol. The recovery of Russian trade has also been facilitated by the completion of the Turk-Sib Railway and the conclusion of a further treaty in 1930. On the other hand, commercial intercourse with China has always been limited by the length of the caravan routes and especially in recent years by lack of politi- cal stability and economic development in the terri- tories through which these routes pass.

Transport is, in fact, the most important consider? ation in the question of Sinkiang trade orientation. Connection with China proper depends on lengthy transportation through country much of which is des- ert. Of the two main routes, one runs southeast

through Kansu province and the other, further north, through Inner Mongolia. Goods on their way from central Sinkiang to China must traverse a distance of

1,600 miles before they reach a railroad. Commerce with India is even more difficult, as it must be carried on over the Karakorum passes which reach a height of 15,000 feet and are open for only a few months each year. The Soviet frontier, on the other hand, is

only 375 miles from Tihwa (Urumtsi), capital of the

province, and the Turk-Sib Railway runs only a few score miles from the frontier. Even before the con? struction of this line, it was customary for light mails and many travellers from the west of China to travel to Sinkiang via Siberia, utilizing the facilities of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The Nanking government is anxious to strengthen the political and economic ties of Sinkiang with the

eighteen provinces. Last year a Planning Commission for the Reconstruction of Sinkiang was appointed and a draft long-term plan prepared. There has been talk of railway construction linking up this frontier area with China proper. New railway financing now under consideration includes the westward extension of the

Lunghai Railway from its present terminus at Sian in Shensi to the border of Kansu. The continuation of this road or of the Peiping-Suiyuan line to the north

into Sinkiang, however, would be a long and expensive undertaking with little prospect of immediate profits.

Motor transport westward to Sinkiang from Suiyuan has been undertaken, but the haul is long compared with that to the Soviet frontier. The Suiyuan-Sinkiang Highway Inspection Commission, led by Sven Hedin, noted Swedish explorer, returned to Shanghai recently from a sixteen-month trip into Sinkiang. Two trunk

highway routes from that province were surveyed. One

extends 1,060 miles from Hami, in eastern Sinkiang, to Kweihwa in Suiyuan, and the other 864 miles from

Hami to Lanchow in Kansu. A Sian-Lanchow highway connecting the capitals of Shensi and Kansu is now

under construction and its completion by the end of

the year is predicted. Air lines offer a third possibility, though their direct

commercial importance is necessarily limited. In 1933

a Shanghai-Sinkiang air route was opened up by the

Eurasia Aviation Corporation as part of its projected Shanghai-Berlin service. This was soon discontinued

beyond Lanchow, however. (See Far Eastern Survey, March 27, 1935, pp. 46-47). In March, 1935, it was

announced that it would shortly be reopened to Hami in Sinkiang, with the expectation that the provincial authorities would operate a service from Hami to

Chuguchak (Tacheng) in northwestern Sinkiang via

Tihwa (Urumtsi). The natural advantages in contacts with Sinkiang,

as has been observed, appear to lie with the Soviet

Union. Its chief exports to the province in 1932 were

cotton textiles, sugar, electrical equipment, crockery and glass, and metals, while imports were principally livestock, hides, wool, cotton, and silk. Civil disorders

have hampered the development of this commerce,

though to a lesser degree than in the case of trade

between Sinkiang and China proper. Despite the pre- dominance of the U.S.S.R. in the foreign trade of

Sinkiang, however, the total value is of little conse-

quence in the entire foreign trade of the Union. In

1933 it was only 3.5%; and in the following year 1.6%. By comparison, the share of Outer Mongolia in

Soviet trade in 1934 was 10%. (See Far Eastern Sur?

vey, February 27, 1935, p. 32; June 5, 1935, pp. 87-88.)

Self-sufficiency, isolation, and political instability condition the trade of Sinkiang. The scanty popula? tion, engaged chiefly in primitive agricultural, pas- toral, and trading pursuits, offers no extensive markets for the goods of outside regions, while resources which

are reported to include gold, oil, copper, coal, and iron

remain largely unexploited. Commercial develop- ments in Sinkiang on a substantial scale seem unlikely in the near future. K. B.

NEW JAPANESE EFFORTS TO COLONIZE MANCHOUKUO

Further plans to increase Japanese and Korean emi-

gration to Manchoukuo, have recently been announced. The Overseas Affairs Department of the Japanese

Government has projected the forrnation of a Japanese colonization company with a capital of 15,000,000 yen to be supplied by Manchoukuo, the South Manchurian

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Railway, and private interests. The Government, according to reports, hopes to send about 500,000 agri? cultural emigrants to Manchoukuo within the next fifteen years, and has decided to commence investiga- tion of lands suitable for the establishment of new set- tlements immediately.

The authorities of the Overseas Affairs Department have also conferred with the Government-General of Chosen upon similar plans to further Korean

emigration to Manchoukuo. According to the plans drafted by the Government-General, and announced in March, 1935, an emigration company with a capital of 30,000,000 yen is to be formed to promote the emi?

gration of 800,000 Koreans over a period of fifteen

years. This estimate comprises 500,000 "planned emi?

grants," or 100,000 families, and 300,000 "free emi?

grants," or 60,000 families. It is proposed that the new company, whose capital is to be put up either by the Government-General and by private interests

jointly, or by private interests only, purchase land in Manchoukuo and lease it to Korean settlers, the rent to be redeemed by annual installments over a period of fifteen years. Later reports state that the emigra? tion company expects to obtain a three-year subsidy from the Korean Government-General.

In line with the proposed increase in Korean emi?

gration, an agreement has recently been signed be? tween the Government-General of Chosen and the Finance Minister of the Hsinking government, simpli- fying tariff procedure and inaugurating through train service over the Chosen-Manchoukuo border. Reduced

railroad rates to encourage travel to Manchoukuo have also been arranged.

Since 1931, approximately 40,000 Japanese people have gone to Manchoukuo, but the majority of these have consisted of officials, merchants, engineers, and white collar workers, who have settled chiefly in the cities. The Japanese Government, according to press dispatches, still hopes to encourage agricultural settle- ment on a large scale, despite the disappointing results of past efforts.

In 1932 and 1933 attempts were made to establish self-sufficient colonies of armed Japanese immigrants. In each year a carefully selected group of 500 ex- service men, picked to include carpenters, blacksmiths, and other tradesmen as well as farmers, was sent from

Japan to settle in pioneer areas of Manchoukuo. Each

family of three received 790 yen for a seventeen- month period. In addition, the communities were pro- vided with dormitories, bath houses, medical and other

equipment.

Japanese colonization in Manchoukuo along this line has not been expanded. Of the first group, according to press reports, 11 were killed by brigands during the first winter, 11 died of an epidemic the following sum-

mer, and 158 returned home discouraged. The second

colony of 500 men has also been considerably reduced in number. The comparative failure of this experiment is presumably indicated in the fact that it has not been

enlarged and in the recent announcement that the new

plans for large-scale settlement do not include "self-

supporting" colonies. J. C.

INCANDESCENT LAMP IMPORTS FROM JAPAN

In the course of a recent article in the Far Eastern

Survey (June 19, 1935, p. 95) dealing with American

imports of Japanese lamps, reference was made to a

ruling by Judge Paul J. McCormick of the United States District Court of the Southern District of Cali-

fornia providing for an injunction against the sale of

Japanese electric lamps within the district by three

importing firms. On May 24, 1935 the court held the sale of these lamps to be an infringement of patent rights assigned to the General Electric Company, the

plaintiff. Our reference to this decision was based on

press dispatches which carried the implication that all

Japanese lamps are likely to be barred from the United States as a result of the court's order.

This inference appears to be unwarranted in the

light of more adequate information now at hand. The decree concerns only the sale within the district of

tungsten lamps containing the filament covered by the so-callcd Pacz patent, issued March 21, 1922. This fil?

ament, which is said to have the quality of resisting both "sagging" and "off-setting," is now used in 90% of the lamps manufactured in the United States. Im?

ports of electric lamps containing other types of tung? sten filaments, however, are not affected by the decision.

INDUSTRIALIZATION OF THE SOVIET FAR EAST

FAR EASTERN SURVEY?April 10, 1935 Price 25 cents

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