Source: Yad Vashem Archive O51/OSO/41 Hanseatisches Reisebuero [Travel Agency] Vienna IV BerlinW30 Prinz Eugen st. 16 Eisenacher St. 113 Tel: U 46 497 Tel: 27 27 78 Vienna IV, 5 March 1939
Re: Jewish emigration to East Asia. Following my ongoing negotiations with the Japanese Embassy, I have been notified that circumstances do not as yet permit the development of immigration of Jews to Chinese provinces other than Shanghai…. I will renew my efforts with the Japanese Embassy shortly. During my negotiations with the Chinese Embassy, I had the impression that one may assume that they will be more co-operative in the future… In what regards actual immigration to China, they demand a "landing fee" of $500 for every merchant or other "unproductive occupations". If the immigrants are productive elements, such as engineers, machine-builders, technicians, architects etc. as well as physicians, a visa for the family will be granted for $200. They raised no objection to my bringing immigrants to Tientsin, Canton, etc., and did not object to my proposal that special ships be chartered. However, I cannot yet take upon myself such big transports, as long as the Japanese administer the region through their military authorities, because I fear that it may bring immigration options to an end. Emigration should be possible if it is conducted in small groups, without the Japanese demanding a change in international agreements. Both countries, in other words, must permit German and Japanese passport holders free entry into their countries. When I mentioned the preparations for a transport of emigrants on the chartered ship "Usaramo", I was told that according to Japanese reports the people on that transport will not be landing in Shanghai, but in Wusung, where they will be employed in road construction.
