Nanking, Apr. 23.
Tokyo, Apr. 20.
Regarding the despatch of troops to Shantung, the Government issued a statement to-day, a transla~ tion of which follow:
"The Japanese—Government specially declared at the time of the withdrawal of Japanese troops from Shantung last year that, hough the Japanese Government absolutely refrained from support-ug any party or faction in civil wars in China, the Government would be compelled to take adequate measures in self-defence should peace and order in districts where many Japanese are residing be disturbed, and their lives and property endangered.
"With the sudden change in the war situation in Shantung, the disturbances are about to extend to the districts where many Japane fare residing. In view of this, the Government, in accordance with the principle of the foregoing declaration, have decided Aespatch a force of some 5,000 men from Japan to the region along the Kinochno-Tsinan Railway by way of Tringtno in order to protect the Jnpanere residents, and have also decided immediately to send three companies of troops to Tsinan from the Japanese garrisons stationed in North China ay an emergency measure pending the fal of the division from Japan.
"hus the Japanese Government -ngain Leen compelled to take this step in self-defence, but the Government has no unfriendly and Hostile feelings towards China and her people, nor has it any intention whatever of interfering in the military movements of either of the Northern or Southern Armies.
"Phe Japanese Government here-declares that the troops will be withdrawn immediately the Govern-anent considers it unnecessary to keep them there any longer."
Statement to Foreign Ambassadors Mr. Debuchi, Vice-Minister for] Foreign Affairs, invited the British, American, and French Ambassadors to Tokyo to the Foreign Office this} afternoon, to explain the cire stances which compelled the Japanese Government to call out troops to Shantung.
After explaining in detail the war in China and the dangerous condition with which Japanese residents are confronted, Mr. De-puchi sought an understanding with the Ambassadors about the des-
The Standing Committee of the Central Executive Committee, at its 128th meeting, discussed at length the dispatch of Japanese troops to Shuntung and decided upon certain appropriate measures us a protest against the unwarranted action of the Imperial Japanese Government, General Huang Fu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, reporting events of the past few days, stated that he had received several urgent. telegrams from Yin Lu-kan, special representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan, disclose Ing the Japanese Government's plan Fin sending troops to Shantung, though, General Huang said, the exact number of Jupanese troops already in Shantung and on the way has not yet been definitely ascertained, Various members present at the meeting also spoke, the consensus of opinion being that the action of the Imperial Japanese Government on this occasion is palpably a direct interference in the internal affairs of China and has no bearing upon the protection of Japanese nationals in Shantung inasmuch: as the Nationalist Government has assumced full responsibility for the safety of.foreign lives and property,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.