In a statement to the "North-China Daily News," Gen. Chi gives an assurance that he will not attack his neighbours, but that he will defend himself and his position if necessary. He does not, however, think that Gen. Lu or Gen. Ho will attack him.
"Tt has always," he states, "been my aim to maintain peace and order in Kiangsu and I shall continue to carry on my efforts in this direction in order that my people may receive the benefit thereby. For if there is warfare it will only be the people who will suffer. I have always maintained friendly relations with my colleagues in the different provinces and we have always got on well together. I have tried my best io prevent disorder both inside my province and outside. You might please convey this statement to all concerned that I assure all that, unless this province is attacked from the outside there will be no fighting in this part of the country. We must not be attacked by others, and I do not think that we shall be."
Gen. Chi says that he was willing to accept the suggestion of Mr. Fu Siao-en, managing direc-for of the China Merchants' S. N. Ca. and the Commercial Bank of China, to meet Gen. Lu and Gen. Ho in a conference at which an reement may be brought about whereby the peace of Kiangsu and Chekiang may be assured as was done during the Boxer Rebellion. He did not, however, think that such a conference was necessary because he would certainly keep his promise to maintain peace and order; the rest remained with the other two generals.
"In any case," he concluded, "there will be no war along the Shanghai-Nanking Railway as far as I am concerned and certainly Shanghai will not be involved."
Gen. Chi strongly denied that he is sending or has sent any troops to Soochow or Quinsan, either in uniform or in civilian costume.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.