Japanese authorities in Shanghai have assumed control over the funds of Jewish refugee relief organizations there and have stopped the distribution of relief to destitute refugees, according to unconfirmed reports reaching here today. At the same time it is revealed that the Japanese arrested 1,800 Jewish refugees in Shanghai within the first two days after the declaration of war against the United States.
The Gestapo has requested the Japanese secret police to trace political refugees from the Reich and to seize them for deportation back to Germany, according to the information received here. Many of the Jewish refugees attempted to move from the British and American concessions to the French concession, it is reported, but the French authorities, who cabled Vichy for instructions, were ordered by Admiral Darlan not to allow the Jewish refugees to enter.
Generally, Jews in Japanese-occupied territory are being treated as American, British and Russian agents. A violent campaign has been emanating from Berlin against the Shanghai Jewish refugees who are pictured as a danger to the Japanese war effort.
Meanwhile, in Japan proper, the reports add, Nazi anti-Jewish films are to be shown shortly with the purpose of “explaining” to the Japanese the danger of the “Jewish menace.” These will be utilized to assist the government’s campaign against the “Jew-minded Roosevelt.” These films were shipped here by Dr. Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda Minister, some time ago, evidently in anticipation of Japan going to war against the democracies.
Anti-Jewish demonstrations by students and other pro-Nazi elements in Harbin, in Japanese-occupied Manchukuo, were staged by Japanese officials there shortly after the declaration of war, it is also learned here today. The demonstrators distributed leaflets demanding the expulsion of all Jews from Manchukuo and the confiscation of Jewish property. Harbin has a sizeable Jewish population consisting mostly of Russian emigrees.
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