of Peking Shanghai, Mar, 9.
Mr. 8. Yada, the Japanese Consul-General, who has been on short eave in Tokyo, accompanied by Mrs. Yada, returned to his post yesterday by the N. ¥. K, S, Sawa Maru, Interviewed by. "pressmen with reference to the rumour that the local Japanese Consulate-General will be raised t" the status of a Legation, Mr, Yada said that the rumour was unfounded, for, he added, the government organization of the Tokyo Foreign Office did not permit two Japanese Legations to be established in any one foreign country. He went on to state, however, that there was an opinion prevailing in the Foreign Office that, it would be better to raise the position of the Japanese Consul-General in Shanghai to that of a Minister so that he may be authorized to conduct affairs relating to Japanese citizens residing in a wider area, "Before this plan can be put in force," Mr. Yade continued, "it ix necessary for me first to draw up a draft proposal and to send the Foreign Office. In short, the dea of the Japanese Government is to allow the Japanese Consulate: General in Shanghai to conduct affairs in a way which will not be subject to any restraint by. the Japanese Legation in Peking—oF rather independently of the latter, considering that from commercial and political points of view, Shang hai ix such an Important place in this country.
It is understood that two or three higher officials will shortly be added to the existing sta? of the local Japanese Consulate-General under S. Yada, who is expected to in here for the present.—East-News Agency,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.