2
1st. Sunday. Snow―Rain.
3
Seoul home. Granular snow―the first snow in Seoul this winter―from early morning―then some rain most of the day.
5
2nd. Monday. Lovely. Cold.
6
Seoul home. Stayed in bed until 4 p.m. when I had to go to Central Y. to attend a meeting of the Board of Directors. Koo Ja Ok tendered resignation but was returned to him. A committee of three was appointed to investigate the reasons why Koo had to resign
8
3rd. Tuesday. Lovely―Very cold.
9
Seoul home. Stayed in bed. Dr. told wife to keep quiet―as her blood pressure is still high. The great trouble with wife is that she doesn't obey doctor's orders in dietary cautions. Every doctor, Korean, Japanese, foreign, tells her not to eat too hot or too salty food. But she gives no heed to their warnings. Her high blood pressure may prove fatal anytime.
11
4th. Wednesday. Dull sun a.m.
12
Seoul home. Cold little better. Stayed in bed.
14
5th. Thursday. Lovely. Mild.
15
Seoul home. This morning I called on Mr. Shiobara about 10:30. I asked him if he could restore Yu Ok Kyum to C.C.C. as Vice President as he has lately been released from the list of "men of dangerous thought." Mr. Shiobara frankly answered that the general opinion of the authorities hasn't come to the point to give a prominent position in a college. The Educational Director was as tight as a clam, on the question of the presidency of C.C.C.
18
Seoul home. As his request, called on Mr. Shiobara, Director of Education, at his office 10 a.m. Without any preliminary remarks he asked me to become the President of C.C.C. I simply told him I would answer after a day or two of consideration.
19
I must be reasonably sure of three things: 1. To have the hearty approval of Dr. H. Underwood. 2. To have Yu Ok Kyum as my assistant. 3. To have no financial responsibility for running the institution.
21
7th. Saturday. Pale sun. Cloudy―Chilly.
22
Seoul home. The Christian churches, Presbyterian under the evil intrigues of self seeking elders and pastors and Methodist writhing under the same evils are mere dens of ungodly plots and shameful factional quarrels. Jung In Kwa is the leader of intrigues in the Presbyterian Church while Hugh Cynn has wrecked the united Methodist Church of Korea by his positiveleague trickery and treachery. These two born intriguers have succeeded in winning the confidence of the police and they are having their slimier plots forced on the churches by sheer terrorism. Hugh Cynn's ideal hero is Hitler. He wants play Hitler with thee help of the police.
25
Seoul home. Dr. Underwood and Yi Choon Ho called this morning at 11. We discussed what would be wisest thing for me to say to Mr. Shiobara in regard to Yu Ok Kyum. Dr. Underwood thinks if I can't get Yu to help me I would surely fail in putting the college on proper footing. He strongly recommended I should make that a condition of my acceptance. Mr. Nakajima, the 敎學官, who has been working for Yu's restoration, thinks it would be best for me to accept the offer without mentioning Yu's name for the present. Dr. Oh thinks so too.
28
Seoul home. Called on Mr. Shiobara this morning and told him that I would accept his proposal to become the President of C.C.C. I only begged that he would later on give his official help in granting me the permit to use a few men whom I shall need to do the detailed work of the college. He on his part suggested Yu Ok Kyum, and Matsumoto as two head men to help me in the work.
29
By accepting the position I expect and anticipate nothing but worries and botherations world without end. There are so many masters to please the military, the police, the provincial authorities, the central Government General authorities. Then there are implacable factions in the college to conciliate. My only hope is to get some young and strong man whom I can trust as my assistant and whom I may as soon as possible get appointed as my successor. Yu Ok Kyum is my choice but he is disapproved by the police and the military whose opinion the civil officials dare not disregard. Besides, how long will my health hold out?
31
10th. Tuesday. Cloudy.
34
11th. Wednesday. Lovely.
35
Seoul home. 2 p.m. attended the first meeting of the Directors(理事) of the Total National Strength Korea Branch Federation held in the First Conference Hall of the Government General Building. General Minami made a few appropriate remarks. The Vice GovernorOhno presided. The meeting adjourned about 4 p.m.
36
Went to the Japanese Presbyterian Church to attend the funeral service for the mother of prof. Hanamura. Was impressed with the neatness of the church and the simplicity and devoutness of the service.
37
Jung Bong Sup, Grace's husband returned to Seoul from Kyoto. Heaven help me to control my temper and tongue at the shy-lese carrying-on of W.W. with him (for the sake of our precious children) .
39
12th. Thursday. Cloudy.
40
Seoul home. 10 a.m. with Kim Helen and professor Suh called on the Governor of Keiki Province, the Director of Education Bureau, etc. asking them to help pass the petition which the Ewha College is going to present to the Education authorities for the establishment of Zai-Dan Hojin. They all gave gracious answer that they would do their best to get the documents properly passed.
42
13th. Friday. Cloudy a.m.
43
Seoul home. Found a respectable blanket of pure snow on the grounds. They tell me it began to snow from 9 last night.
45
14th. Saturday. Bright p.m.
46
Seoul home. 11 a.m. went to the building which had been built and for years used as the Women's Seminary to train Bible women. Some of the most important meetings which the Methodism in Korea used to be held in this house. Today the whole building is turned over to the Federation of Patriotic Thoughts(思想報國聯盟) to be used as a school to train young men (especially those who have been converted from dangerous thoughts like Communism and Korean Nationalism) in the "Imperial Way"(皇道) and "Spirit of Japan"(日本精神) doctrines. H. Cynn volunteered the information that the building had been rented for ￥4,800.00 a year for the Yamado Zuku(大和塾) .
48
15th. Sunday. Bright. Mild.
49
Seoul home. 10 a.m. Dr. Underwood called with Yi Choon Ho. He told me he had received a note from Educational Director Shiobara recommending me as his successor, Dr. Underwood is to visit Shiobara in a day or two to give his consent to latter's suggestion.
50
Rumor goes round again that General Minami is to resign soon. Do those whose wishes are the father of such rumors, think that a new Governor General will give more benevolent reign to the Koreans than General Minami has done? We must remember the fact whatever hard measures we may complain today, such as rice control, the merciless stoppage of almost all peace-time industries, the drastic contraction of the money market, the compulsory everything are war-time measures copied from Hitler, inflicting sacrifice and suffering on the Japanese people in Japan Proper as well as the Koreans. Whoever comes will not be able to remove these ills for the present. I believe General Minami is really anxious to place the Korean on equal footing as the Japanese. I thank him for it.
52
16th. Monday. Bright. Cold.
53
Seoul home. I invited the sub-director of Education Bureau, Messrs. Nakajima, and Joh Jai Ho to a Chinese supper at the Keijo Hotel from 5 to 8.
55
17th. Tuesday. Snow flakes a.m. Cold.
56
Seoul home. 11 a.m. went to the Chosun-Il-Po Hall to attend the wedding of Mr. Cho In Sup's son. He being a patent medicine "Narikin," the hall was profusely decorated with artificial flower wreaths. Koreans seem to think the more congratulatory addresses (Shukuzi) the more honor and glory. So they had six long winded addresses―of which mine was the shortest. The last man concluded his congratulations by saying, "We can not wish you, bride and bridegroom, had been born on the same day at the same hour in the same month of the same year(不願同年同月同日同時生) but we wish you both will die at the same hour on the same date in the same month of the same year(唯願同年同月同日同時死) .” A smile went round among the men guests but the parents of the young couple must have been quite shocked.
58
18th. Wednesday. Bright―Cold.
61
19th. Thursday. Bright―Cold.
62
Seoul home. The authorities are making efforts to compel Koreans to emigrate to Manchuria. In the District of A-san our native village, Saimal, is ordered to supply four emigrant famines. In case nobody volunteers the villagers are to cast-lots to decide who are to go! Japan Proper is in sore need of laborers on farms, in factories and mines. Korea itself is beginning to feel a shortage in labor-supply. Why then start a compulsory emigration in Korea.
64
20th. Friday. Sun―Cold.
65
Seoul home. Went to Meiji Movie Hall to see the Cynographic description of the valiant deeds and heroic death of 2nd Lieut. Nishizumi(西往少尉) of a Tank Squad. He was only 25 years old. The reel was 2 hours long. I was depressed and oppressed by the fearful scenes of destruction and death which the picture displayed―to stir up the patriotic zeal or enthusiasm of the people.
67
21st. Saturday. Cloudy―Chilly.
68
Seoul home. To prevent inflation and to keep down prices of commodities the authorities have adopted drastic measures to curtail the volume of money in circulation. Compulsory deposits, compulsory buying of National Bonds, compulsory contributions to various purposes and causes, compulsory contracts with Government Insurance Bureau etc. etc. One can't complain at this because the alternative evil would be skyscraping prices. But there is such a thing as overdoing a thing. For instance the Government compel the farmers and landowners to sell their rice or barley-in fact all other cereals-at the nailed down price(￥21.90) per "kamani" to the Government rice-collecting agency without paying the money at once. No private trade in cereals is allowed. How are the farmers to get the money needed for paying taxes and debts? Banks and Loan Societies are not allowed to lend money even on good securities. Thus all means of making money on the part of farmers are tightly choked up, while compulsory payments―taxes, contributions, deposits―are exacted or extorted without mercy. Does the Governor-General know that dreadful situation of the Korean?
70
22nd. Sunday. Cloudy. Chilly. Rain 6-10 p.m.
73
23rd. Monday. Thick fog―Misty rain a.m.
74
Seoul home. An unseasonable rain yesterday from 6 p.m. to mid-night. Thick fog and misty rain this morning. Sixty "kamani" of rice from Nam Yang farm came last night in a truck. Thank God for that much!
75
Rained all day. Farmers say this is a good rain.
77
24th. Tuesday. Lovely. Sharp cold.
78
Seoul home. This morning Dr. Underwood called a meeting of the Executive Committee of C.C.C. at Mr. Snyder's home 11 a.m. Messrs. Ryang, Oda, Shin Bong Jo, and Chey Soon Ju and I present. Dr. Underwood reported that Mr. Kim Sung Kwon(金星權) volunteered to donate a rice plantation worth ￥500,000.00 yielding an average annual income of ￥20,000.00 to the C.C.C. Endowment. Mr. Yi Jung Kyu, a former graduate promised to give ￥10,000.00 for C.C.C. current expenses. We all thanked the donors.
80
25th. Wednesday. Bright and cold.
81
Seoul home. Mr. Kim Sung Kwon gave a luncheon to Dr. Underwood and some of the Executive Committee at Chosun Hotel 12:30.
83
26th. Thursday. Cloudy.
84
Seoul home. Flakes of snow began flying from about 4 p.m. Enough snow late evening to keep the streets muddy.
85
6 p.m. went to the official residence of Governor-General who gave a supper party in honor of Admiral Nomura, the new Japanese Ambassador to Washington who is making a tour to peep at Korea, Manchukuo and China. The guests included the members of the British, American, Chinese, and Russian Consulates. Only two Koreans present, Mr. Kim Yun Soo, the Honorary Consul-General of Manchukuo and myself. Adm. Nomura is a fine looking man on a welcome address. General Minami expressed the hope the new Ambassador with the British AmbassadorHolifox may help to bring peace to the world soon.
88
Seoul home. Found a thin coat of snow on the ground.
89
Our two boys from Tokyo returned home safe and sound this afternoon without letting us know beforehand to give us an agreeable surprise. Thank God to see them well. God bless them.
91
28th. Saturday. Bright. Cold.
94
29th. Sunday. Bright―Cold.
95
Seoul home. Messrs. 曺秉相, 元悳常, 李升雨, 朴興植, 閔奎植, 張友植, and I gave a farewell luncheon at 喜久井 Restaurant 12-2 p.m. to Mr. Matsuoka, the Chief of the Jong No Police Station who has lately been promoted to the position of Prefect of Nachin-Fu.
100
31st. Tuesday. Beautiful.
101
Seoul home. As beautiful as an early spring day.
102
This is the last day of 1940. This has been one of the most terrible years in modern history. A great and relent war or series of wars in Europe. A dozen small innocent nations have been crushed under the merciless Prussian lust for conquest and revenge. Where, when and how this big devastating war or series of wars will end nobody but God alone knows. In China, the gallant soldiers of Japan are still fighting to bring Chiang-kai-sek to his knees. Here also nobody seems to know when and where and how the Chinese Incidence will end. In the meantime the drastic measures have been taken to keep materials―metals, cotten, oil coal, rubber, leather etc. from being used for peace-industries. A thoroughgoing sumptuary law has been enforced from the 1st November so that it is impossible now to manufacture or sell or buy a ring made of silvers or gold. Thus except war-like industries nothing can be made, nothing can be sold, nothing can be bought. Hence no industry, no trade, no consumption. We are being Hitler hit-hard. Japan having joined the Axis Powers―Germany and Italy―she can't help following the example set by Hitler.
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