Read on Twitter
1937-1943: The Japanese knew about Jews since the early 20th century when they traveled on the Siberian Railway. Using military intelligence in Manchuria, Tokyo, & Shanghai, the several Japanese officials became "Jewish experts." 1/x #28daysofSHJews
The most known were Colonel Yasue Norihiro and Capt. Inuzuka Koreshige, They encountered Jews and Western antisemitism during their time in Siberia in an effort to help stop the Russian Civil War. They became fascinated with the "Jewish Problem." 2/x
They drew their inspiration from the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a copy that was given to every White Russian soldier. The pamphlet warned that Jews had the powers to dominate the world. Well, for the Japanese with similar aspirations, they were intrigued. 3/x
The Japanese wanted to curry support from the US govt for their imperial expansion. They believed that American Jews controlled FDR & the Treasury. When the European Jewish refugees came to Shanghai seeking relief, the Japanese viewed them as potential pawns. 4/x
According to Inuzuka, the Jewish refugees could be viewed as brownfish (fugu). If prepared properly, the fugu could be delicious. If not, it could be deadly. Relations with Jewish political leaders & capitalists had to be done well for these European Jews to be left alone. 5/x
Meanwhile, Yasue introduced the Protocols of the Elders of Zion to Japan. He traveled throughout Europe in the early 1930s to research Jews. He concluded that Jews should be treated in the Japanese spirit of "Hakko Ichiu," embraced in universal brotherhood 6/x
As bizarre Yasue's and Inuzuka's ideas about Jews were, their policy work in 1938-1939 did facilitate European Jews' arrival and settlement in the Japanese controlled part of Hongkou in Shanghai. 7/x
As the Shanghai Municipal Council contemplated barring Jews from entering Shanghai w/o visas in 1st half of 1939, the local Jewish leaders, Victor Sassoon and Ellis Hayim, pleaded with the Japanese to work with Germany to stop encouraging Jewish emigration to Shanghai. 8/x
Not wanting to upste these very wealthy Baghdadi Jews who Inuzuka and Yasue hoped to exploit, they relented and sent a memo to Tokyo that until a new, revised policy could be formulated and implemented, they would bar Jews from entering their area of Shanghai. 9/x
They also implored Tokyo to negotiate with Germany to stop causing Jews to emigrate. Tokyo accepted the memo, informed its diplomats in Germany and Italy to stop granting Jews visas for Shanghai and Japanese steamships to stop taking Jewish passengers after Aug. 10, 1939. 10/x
Notwithstanding, the SMC's use of "European refugees" meant the Jews with Chinese visas still could enter Shanghai. The SMC did not use "Jewish" to avoid international outrage and accusations of antisemitism. 11/x
The SMC finally settled on a set of requirements for entry in October 1939 (mentioned earlier). The Japanese followed suit -- requiring Jews to obtain entry permits from Japanese consulates. Meanwhile, the French authorities barred new Jewish refugees. 12/x
For Inuzuka and Yasue, the flood of Jewish refugees with very limited means created more trouble than expected such as competition for housing and employment. What should be their next steps? Stay tuned! 13/13 #28daysofSHJews
