thin the Great Wall. Upon the proposal to that effect being officiall; Made on the 26th, this Government signified their readiness to accept in prineiple—at same time instruct the Japanese minister in Shanghai and the Legation at Peking to open conversations on. the matter with the Chinese Foreign Minister ard with Marshal Chang Hsuehing. respectively.
'The Japanese Minister in China had several conferences accordingly with the Chinese Foreign Minister between November 30, and, Decem-In the midst of these con-lions the latter withdrew the' overture and declined further negotiations. Marshal Chang Hueb-liang' with, whom our repre. sentative in' Peking carried Negotiations, from "December onwards either directly or thro: the Marshal's subordinates, ox: pressed on the 7th, his willingness to call in his Chinchow forces spontaneous move of withdraw: ud he has since given repeated as-ances as to speedy execution of his promise. In point of fact, however, there is no sign of any such withdrawal. On the contrary the defences of Chinchow have since strengthened.
Accordingly at present moment, Chinchow troops, there appears obtaining any result.
owing entirely to want of geod tary faith on the Chinese si the same time the increased, activity above described on the part of mar. anding bands threatens to about a complete destruction of peace and security throughout the Whole extent of South Manchuria. In. these circumstances, Japanese forces "have now begun' general movement with a view to campaign against bandits on a more extensive stale than hitherto. "It ts obvious from what has been said above that the Japanese army, if itis to achieve anything like adequate success, will have to advance to points west of the River Liao where bandits have their bases.
Certainly Japanese forces in deference to the resolutions of the League Council adopted September 30, and December 10, are not in the hocesaties of the pervading in Manchuria, the continue their operations against contin there operations agalast the lawless elements. This*is the. point on, which the representative of Japan atthe recent session of the ouneil. of the League on December 10, made a definite declaration. So long as the Cuinchow Iilitary authorities, while simular-_ ing an unaggressive attitude, continue to instigate and manipulate the movements of bandit organisations against the Japanese army a8 well as Japanese and other peaceable inhabitants and so long as the off-ears and 2 mingle in bandit group: latter
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.