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 relatively inaccessible by the Japanese consular officials, have become naturalised as Chinese. Others, incidentally, when migrating beyond the Manchurian borders into Soviet territory, have become citizens of the U.S.S.R.

This problem of dual nationality of the Koreans influenced the National Government of China and the provincial authorities in Manchuria generally to look with disfavour upon indiscriminate naturalisation of Koreans, fearing that they might, by temporarily acquiring Chinese nationality, become potential instruments of a Japanese policy of acquiring agricultural lands, in Regulations issued by the Kirin Provincial Government. September 1930, governing the purchase and sale of land throughout the province, it was provided that "when a naturalised Korean purchases land, investigation must be made in order to discover whether he wants to purchase it as a means of residing as a permanently naturalised citizen or on behalf of some Japanese". The local district officials, however, seem to have wavered in their attitude, at times enforcing the orders of the higher authorities, but frequently issuing temporary naturalisation certificates in lieu of formal certificates requiring the approval of the provincial government and the Ministry of the Interior at Nanking. These local officials, especially in areas far removed from Japanese consulates, often readily consented to the issuing of such certiﬁcates to the Koreans who applied for them and, on occasion, no doubt actually compelled the Koreans to become naturalised or to leave the country, their actions being influenced both by the policy of the Japanese and by the revenue derivable from the naturalisation fees. The Chinese have asserted, moreover, that some Japanese themselves actually connived at this business of naturalising Koreans in order to use them as dummy land-owners or to acquire lands by transfer from such naturalised Koreans. Generally speaking, however, the Japanese authorities discountenanced naturalisation of Koreans and assumed jurisdiction over them wherever possible.

The Japanese claim of right to maintain consular police in Manchuria as a corollary of extra-territoriality became a source of constant conflict where the Koreans were involved. Whether the Koreans desired such Japanese interference, ostensibly in their behalf, or not, the Japanese consular police, especially in the Chientao District, undertook, not only protective functions, but also freely assumed the right to conduct searches and seizures of Korean premises, especially where the Koreans were suspected of being involved in the Independence Movement, or in Communist or anti-Japanese activities. The Chinese police, for their part, frequently came into collision with the Japanese police in their efforts to enforce Chinese laws, preserve the peace, or Suppress the activities of "undesirable" Koreans. Although the Chinese and Japanese police did co—operate on many occasions, as provided for in the so-called "Mitsuya Agreement" of 1925, in which it was agreed that, in Eastern Fengtien Province, the Chinese would suppress "the Korean societies" and turn over "Koreans of bad character" to the Japanese on the latter's request, the actual state of affairs was really one of constant controversy and friction. Such a situation was bound to cause trouble.

The Korean problems and the resulting Sino Japanese relations over the Chientao District had attained a peculiarly complicated and serious character. Chientao (called "Kanto" in Japanese and "Kando" in Korean) comprises the three districts of Yenchi, Holung and Wangching in Liaoning (Fengtien) Province, and, in practice, as evidenced by the attitude of the Japanese Government, includes also the district of Hunchun, which four districts adjoin the north-east corner of Korea just across the Tumen River.

The Japanese, describing the traditional attitude of the Koreans towards the Chientao area, have been disinclined to admit that the Chientao Agreement of 1909 closed once and for all the issue whether this territory