Interview by Gareth Jones
on June 7th 1935
Our Policy is one of great firmness against the Japanese. We
are emphatic on that. We will not yield to the Japanese.
In the trouble of 1931 we asked the Japanese to live in the
concession in Shameen. Since then they have asked that they
should reside in the city. We have refused.
The Japanese authorities have asked me to mitigate the effects
of the boycott. I have replied: “That is a matter for the
masses over which I have no control. If they choose not to buy
Japanese goods then I cannot force them to do so.”
We have a cement monopoly here, but the Japanese sent a large
quantity of cement to Seratow. Because this is against the
monopoly we confiscated the cement.
Major Doihara’s visit was fruitless. As soon as I met him I
asked him how could he expect friendship when Manchuria is still
in foreign hands.
One reason we are against Chiang Kai-shek is that his foreign
policy is weak. We regard Japan’s advance as a result of Chiang
Kai-shek’s weakness. He should have made defence in North China
instead of retreating mildly. The Japanese have taken advantage
of his weakness. |