Harold John Timperley
Encyclopedia
Harold John Timperley was an Australia
n journalist, known for his reporting from China
in the 1930s, and the book What War Means (1938) based on it.
He started his newspaperman career in China in 1921 and reported for the Manchester Guardian from 1928, based in Peiping (1921-1936), Shanghai
(1936-April?, 1937, Sept. 1937-April, 1938) and Nanjing
(May?-Sept. 1937). He became an advisory editor of ASIA magazine in 1934 (see ASIA of November, 1938). He married Elizabeth Chambers at Nanjing in August 1937.
After the Japanese invasion, his accounts for the Guardian were some of the first-hand information most easily available in the West. His cables from Shanghai, although at times censored, formed the basis for some early writing on the Nanjing massacre from 1937-8.
Timperley left Shanghai for London
early April, 1938. There, he published the book What War Means, edited by him, which contains direct testimony as well as official documents. It received great attention, being published in the USA under the title The Japanese Terror in China. Its content has been contested by Japanese historians, including Kitamura Minoru.
Timperley became involved in an attempt to stir the United Kingdom
to act on behalf of China. He was close to the Nationalists and Chiang Kai-shek
; it is a matter of some dispute to what extent he was supported by them, or was engaged in propaganda work on their behalf. It is not contested that he took a strongly anti-war line, and on a personal level was friendly with Japanese including the Shanghai Domei News Agency
chief Matsumoto Shigeharu. Some of the statistics Timperley used have been mis-employed by subsequent writers taking What War Means as a source.
In 1939, he gave up journalism and served for the Chinese Ministry of Information
, as an advisor.
He continued to write on topics connected with Japan, including the nationalist thinker Yoshida Shoin
, until the end of the Pacific War
. From 1943, he worked for the Information Office of United Nations
(Allied Powers) .
From 1946, he worked for UNRRA at its Shanghai office.
In 1947, the United Nations Security Council
established the Good Offices Committee for Indonesia
to sponsor negotiations between the country and Netherlands
, and Timperley was assigned to a Deputy Principal Secretary (later to an Acting Principal Secretary ) of the committee (from May 1948?) until 20 October 1948.
After he finished his duty of the committee, he worked for UNESCO
in Paris
.
Leaving UNESCO in 1950, Timperley went to Indonesia as a technical adviser to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However a tropical disease
forced him to leave Jakarta
for London in 1951.
Not long after his arrival in London, he came into touch with the Religious Society of Friends
and was admitted to the membership in 1952. From January 1954, he threw himself into supporting the War on Want
campaign and acted as full-time voluntary office worker. He organized the first War on Want Conference in May 1954.
On 25 November 1954, he was found on a bed in a state of unconsciousness and taken to hospital at Cuckfield
by ambulance, but died on the following day (Nov. 26, 1954).
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n journalist, known for his reporting from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in the 1930s, and the book What War Means (1938) based on it.
He started his newspaperman career in China in 1921 and reported for the Manchester Guardian from 1928, based in Peiping (1921-1936), Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
(1936-April?, 1937, Sept. 1937-April, 1938) and Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
(May?-Sept. 1937). He became an advisory editor of ASIA magazine in 1934 (see ASIA of November, 1938). He married Elizabeth Chambers at Nanjing in August 1937.
Timperley left Shanghai for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
early April, 1938. There, he published the book What War Means, edited by him, which contains direct testimony as well as official documents. It received great attention, being published in the USA under the title The Japanese Terror in China. Its content has been contested by Japanese historians, including Kitamura Minoru.
Timperley became involved in an attempt to stir the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to act on behalf of China. He was close to the Nationalists and Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
; it is a matter of some dispute to what extent he was supported by them, or was engaged in propaganda work on their behalf. It is not contested that he took a strongly anti-war line, and on a personal level was friendly with Japanese including the Shanghai Domei News Agency
Domei Tsushin
was the official news agency of the Empire of Japan.-History and development:Dōmei was the end result of years of efforts by Japanese journalists and business leaders to create a national news agency in Japan that could compete with Reuters and other internationally-recognized news agencies on a...
chief Matsumoto Shigeharu. Some of the statistics Timperley used have been mis-employed by subsequent writers taking What War Means as a source.
In 1939, he gave up journalism and served for the Chinese Ministry of Information
Ministry of Information
The term Ministry of Information may refer to the following:* Ministry of Information , part of the Cabinet of Egypt* Ministry of Information , part of the Cabinet of Equatorial Guinea...
, as an advisor.
He continued to write on topics connected with Japan, including the nationalist thinker Yoshida Shoin
Yoshida Shoin
Yoshida Shōin was one of the most distinguished intellectuals in the closing days of the Tokugawa shogunate...
, until the end of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. From 1943, he worked for the Information Office of United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(Allied Powers) .
From 1946, he worked for UNRRA at its Shanghai office.
In 1947, the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
established the Good Offices Committee for Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
to sponsor negotiations between the country and Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and Timperley was assigned to a Deputy Principal Secretary (later to an Acting Principal Secretary ) of the committee (from May 1948?) until 20 October 1948.
After he finished his duty of the committee, he worked for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Leaving UNESCO in 1950, Timperley went to Indonesia as a technical adviser to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However a tropical disease
Tropical disease
Tropical diseases are diseases that are prevalent in or unique to tropical and subtropical regions. The diseases are less prevalent in temperate climates, due in part to the occurrence of a cold season, which controls the insect population by forcing hibernation. Insects such as mosquitoes and...
forced him to leave Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
for London in 1951.
Not long after his arrival in London, he came into touch with the Religious Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
and was admitted to the membership in 1952. From January 1954, he threw himself into supporting the War on Want
War on Want
War on Want is an anti-poverty charity based in London, England. It seeks to highlight the needs of poverty-stricken areas around the world and lobbies governments and international agencies to tackle problems as well as raising public awareness of the concerns of developing nations while...
campaign and acted as full-time voluntary office worker. He organized the first War on Want Conference in May 1954.
On 25 November 1954, he was found on a bed in a state of unconsciousness and taken to hospital at Cuckfield
Cuckfield
Cuckfield is a large village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England, on the southern slopes of the Weald. It lies south of London, north of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester. Nearby towns include Haywards Heath to the southeast and Burgess...
by ambulance, but died on the following day (Nov. 26, 1954).
Works
- What War Means: The Japanese Terror in China, London, Victor Gollancz LtdVictor Gollancz LtdVictor Gollancz Ltd was a major British book publishing house of the twentieth century. It was founded in 1927 by Victor Gollancz and specialised in the publication of high quality literature, nonfiction and popular fiction, including science fiction. Upon Gollancz's death in 1967, ownership...
,1938. (There are two editions, Left Book ClubLeft Book ClubThe Left Book Club, founded in 1936, was a key left-wing institution of the late 1930s and 1940s in the United Kingdom set up by Stafford Cripps, Victor Gollancz and John Strachey to revitalise and educate the British Left. The Club's aim was to "help in the struggle For world peace and against...
and non LBC editions.) - The Japanese Terror in China, New York, Modern Age Books, 1938.
- Japan: A World Problem, New York, The John Day Company, 1942.
- Australia and the Australians, New York, Oxford University Press, 1942
- Some Contrast Between China and Japan in The Light of History /10 page leaflet, London, The China Society, publication date unknown.
- The War on WantWar on WantWar on Want is an anti-poverty charity based in London, England. It seeks to highlight the needs of poverty-stricken areas around the world and lobbies governments and international agencies to tackle problems as well as raising public awareness of the concerns of developing nations while...
/5 page leaflet, London, Gledhill & Ballinger Ltd., 1953