The Council of the League of Nation has decided to drop the idea neutral zone.
This important decision, taken after days, of deliberation on the question, was made at an animated Ieeting this The Council further decided to suggest the maintenance of the:
(us quo on the Chinchow front, and a proposal to. this effect will be made inva letter which M. Briand] will address to the Japanese Gov-in his communes dent, of the Cometl plan oonsly" express appreciation of the Zact that the Japanese have withdrawa their' troops. from the Chinchow. region.~-Reuter, an to Hold Manchu Tokyo, Dee. 8. once ar OM Office are in disagreement over policy to be pursued by Jap Fogard to the. Sino-Japanes: flict in' Manchuria, lengthy statement declaring that in the, event Japanese Government Is prepared to despatch troops: to any part of Manchuria to preserve oiler and annihilate bandits.
Tt is also announced. officially'
the War Office and the For-Ofice have decided that ese troops are to be stationed in Japanese Arm; manchuria and that the Imperial is to, assume ent responsibility. infaming order "In view of Mr. Shigemitsu's No Interference with Customs statements, "however, it is neces-Nanking, Dec. sary to call attention to the facts of the case once more. On the Interviewed by the Kuo Min News afternoon of November 24, Dr. Keo Agency in connection with the re-had an interview with the Ameri-Port that the new "puppet"
British, and French Ministers. ment Japan has set up in gee intends to seize the were suggested 'Minister a view to finding a way to void a clash between 'Chinese and japanese troops in the naig have given categorical orders hood of Chinchow which then ai to' the Inspector-General of Cus peared imminent on account toms that if there be any interfer: the "advancing Japanese tree fence with he functioning of the The conversation relating to.
Castoms in Mancharia or the seizure sssible withdrawal of troops of sth sides centred on the precedent "of "a guarantee "from Japan, satisfactory to the' three {time Customs is. the principal credit count that the Japanese forces instrument in China which not only Would not [penetrate into' the Chin-(China but the Foreign Powers look Show: area which was' to remain upon with the greatest solicitude. finder control of, and policed and JAny attempt at wrecking the fsdminiotered. by' the Chinese tegrity of the Customs will be met Jdrastically and Japan will have to "No such phrase ax neutral zone' bear the full responsibility for the was ever used, Dr. Koo made. train of direct. and indirect on-
the purpose of urging them to sour them that his vii wa for sequences resulting, Uherefrom/"—the "views "of their respective Gor-no Tokyo, Dec. 9. finments "Ax none of these Powers 'The allegation that the govern-rar anxious (o give a guarantee of tach "observance: by Japan to proment at Mukden is attempting, oval was ever made by Chinas der Japanese influence, to gain' control of the Manchurian Customs "These are facts not only known! revenues is made by the Chinese here, but equally" understood Melegation ina Note delivered to Paris in Lengue the secretariat of the League to-occasions when Dr.
Jday.—Reuter Designs on Chinchow Nanking, Dee, 9. this polly mht Met tint for the sup on of bandits and other armed disorderly elements.
Duley of te Japanese attitude, the expected to improver—United Press, China Replies to Japan Nanking, Dee. 8.
Foreign Office issued this evening an official statement in reply to the reports of the inter ven recently to the press by higemitsy, the Japanese Minister ini fatement traverses in many important particulars the report of Mr. Shigemitsu's remarks to the eptesentatives and gives in detail the Chinese official attitude regard to. the establishment of neutral zone at Chinchow.
The text of the Foreign Office document is as follows:—"The statement which Mr. Shigemitsu made in an interview with press representatives before his departure from Nanking: has caused much surprise at the Chinese Foreign Office. In several important aspects this state. nent is in direct variance with the facts. "His allegation that the Chin. ese Provincial Government at Chinchow has been instigating, audits and plain-clothes gunmen to inflict injuries on Japanese troops and interests and to carry on all Sorts of machinations behind the scones, is untrac "The continued earnest efforts the Chinese authorities at Chinchow to retrain from taking any action which is likely to aggravate the situation has more than once been confirmed by the el vations and the reports of impartial, representa tyes of foreign powers who are still in. Chinchow.
In fact, the contrary of Mr. Shi sgemitsu's statement is the truth. The world knows clearly that it was} fortnight ago they had been advancing, on "Chinchow, with a view to] Tauhehing an attack on the seat of the Manchurian Provincial capital.
"As regards the question of the so-called neutral zone, no proposal was ever made by Dr. Koo to American, French and British Ministers as alleged by Mr. Shigemitsu. In his interviews with the Japanese Minis ter at Nanking on Novenber 30 and December 3, Dr. Koo made it clear to the Japanese Minister that no proposal had ever been put forward on the Chinese side and Mr. Shigemitsu' acknowledged his' full understanding of the real situation. stand the situation. The principal point of the was for a guar antee by the three Powers, and this being considered unfeasible the Jquestion was dropped. cut. the knowledge or approval of China that this question was. pre-sutod to the attention of Baron Shidehara,—there having been proposal made by China, and it Incorrect to say that what was presented by the Prench Ambassador Tokyo was China's proposal.
"If Japan withdrew her troops on the understanding that China had! made a proposal for the withdrawal the troops on both sides, it. w a misunderstanding on her part ior which no one but "herself could be held: responsible, "Japan solemnly promised at the meeting of the Council of the League Jot Nations, unier che resolution September 80, 'c evacuate her troops ito the South Manchuria railway there should be no ouse for regret in her withdrawal of troops from the neighbourhood of Chinchow. Tt was only an act line ~with her own repeated promis evnexation to the Couneit of the "It is inconceivable that she should condition the first step in this direction with a demand for the withdrawal of what remains. of the Chinese troops in Manchuria."—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.