"In a manifesto dated January 22 the Nationalist Government declared that it was their wish and intention to have all question relating to treaty and other. cognate matters settled by negotiation and agrecment, This impliedly covered, and was 0 intended to cover, the Jquestion of the future status of the International Settlement at Shanghai, which, it is not and has never} been withia the contemplation of the Nationalist Government to occupy.
"It was believed that this de-
Jclaration of policy might lend to the cessation or at least to the slowing down in the massing British forces for service jin China, And, accordingly the Nationalist Government—decided to take no notice of what might appear to be, not only a menacing, but provocative operation. by the British; and negotiations for the settlement of the specific question of the Ifankow British Concession were proceeded with.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.