Third Party National is Asked to Distinguish Their Property and Avoid Zone of Hostilities IPLOMATIC representatives Shanghai, Oct. 18, of third Powers were requested yesterday by Mr. Masayuki Tani, Japanese Minister-at-Large, Jacting at the instance of Japanese naval authorities, to take steps to warn third Power Nationals to avoid the zones of hostilities in South China and to mark foreig: property clearly so that it can distinguished from the air.
Severe fighting was expected to take place within @ radius of 200 kilometres around Canton and 100 kilometres around Swatow, and third Power nationals were requested to refrain from travelling in those ately provided with marks large and distinct enough to be discerned from the alr.
'The note was addressed to the following: Sir' Archibald Clark Kerr, [British Ambassador to China, Shan; hal; Monsieur lo Baron Jules Gui Mr, Tani also sent to the diplomatic representatives copies of a memoran~ dum in which the Japanese authorites expressed appreciation for the information which the various Powers had given regarding the location of their vessels on the Yangtze, The Japanese naval authorities expressed a hope that, with the pro-ress of hostilities toward Hankow, those Powers which had not given euch information on the movements of their vessels would do so in the future, Mr. Tani's communication to diplomatic representatives concern ug the South China zone of hostili-tes follows:
have the honour to inform you that T have been requested by our Naval Authorities to notify our honorable colleagues concerned of the following:
"Severe fighting is expected within 'a, radius of 200 kilometres around Canton and 100 kilometres around Swatow. According to past experi-fences such as the unfortunate incident involving Mis Excellency Sir Hughe Montgomery _Knatehbull-Hugessen, it is impossible for airmen to identify the different signs painted or hoisted on roots of motor cars belonging to nationals of Third Powers, In this connection we may mention that it has been proved that the same can be said of trains. Therefore, the nationals of Third Powers are earnestly requested 10 refrain from travelling in these areas as the Japanese Forces are not in a position to guarantee their safety.
This request is based on the sincere wishes on the part of our Naval authorities to preclude any possibility in the course of our mili-{ary operations of causing injuries to Jnationals of Third Powers and thus jing about untoward incidents between Japan and Third Powers, which they are anxious to avoid. It fs earnestly hoped, therefore, that Jnationals of Third 'Powers concerned would, on their part, ce-operate with Jour Naval authorities by' complying [voluntarily with the above request" aume, Belgian Ambassador to China, Shanghai; Monsieur 1. T. Luganotz-JOrelsky, Soviet Ambassador to China, Chungking; Baron G. W. de Vos van [Stecnwijk, Netherlands Minister to China, Shanghai; Baron Johan Beck-Friis," Swedish ' Minister of China, [Shanghai; Mr. Nelson Trusler Johnson, JAmerican Ambassador to. China, Chungking; Monsieur Paul Em Naggiar, French Ambassador to Chi JShanghai; Dr. Joao de Lebre Lim Portuguese Minister to China, Shanj nak; Monsieur Georges Barthel Weydenthal, Polish Minister to China, Shanghai; Dr. Renato de Lacerda Logo, Brazilian Minister to Chins, Peiping; Monsieur Jan Seba, C2echi slovakian Minister to China, Shanghai Jand Monsieur L. F. A. Oscar. de Oxhoim, Danish "Minister to China, The memorandum issued by the Inaval authorities expressed gratification over the fact ihat notideation of ship movements on the Yangtze had prevented incidents in the zone of hostilities above Wuhu such as might impair friendly relations. between [Japan and third Powers, Two Counterfeiters
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.