In reply the Mayor pointed out, concerning the first point that with regard to Sino-Japanese hostilities the various foreign Powers should maintain strict neutrality, yet the International Settlement authorities had not restrained the Japanese from using the area as a base of military operations, and therefore have violated, in principle, their neutrality stand.
In view of the inability, of the Settlement authorities to cope with illegal Japanese actions, the Mayor continued, the Chinese defense forces have deemed it imperative to take equate steps in self-defence, and therefore will not assume any responsibility for whatever consequences may result from these self-defence measures.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.