Peiking, July 7.
Not for some considerable time has there been such a flutter in the diplomatic dovecotes in Peking, as occurred on July 2, when the news of the bombing of the first through Peking-Mukden train trickled through.
"There was the usual wild crop of rumours as to possible action on the part of the Japanese, and it was generally feared that' the incident Svould be utilized, as many others ave been, to impose a series of sanctions that would result in the Japanese assuming full responsibility {for the guarding of the railway from Peking to Shanhaikuan, This would have resulted in virtual control.
"This fear was fully dissipated, however, when Colonel Shibayama, Japanese Military Attache, declared lat the Japanese authorities had no intention whatsoever of taking any steps. The whole incident was being treated og a. "local incident, stated, and It would be "liquidated" once the perpetrators had been seiz~ ed, In the meantime every assurance would be given that adequate steps had been taken to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy.
Questioned as to whether there was any intention of increasing the exist fog train guard of seven Japanese, the Japanese Military Attache stated that, although the matter was not exactly within his province, he could nevertheless affirm that there was! not. In fact, providing there were no. further occurrences, it was very probable that the guards would be withdrawn very shortly.
'The final result of it all, is that the whole incident is being' treated in 1 sensible, logical and friendly ner, #0 that extremists on either side have every reason to, feel disappoint ed—the perpetrators of the outr: fand those who sought to make capital out of the affair.
Highly Significant may' seem superfluous to have dwelt on the details of an affair that now has slipped from the memory of most who follow the events with more than a glancing superciliousness, But, it 1s considered as being extremely' important here in the and Chinese quarters consider being highly significant, They view the speedy denunciation of any attempt to exaggerate what after all could only be, considered ax fa "regrettable incident," as a sign of the desire of both Chinese and Japanese authorities to avoid any There Is certainly every evidence of this di The settlement of th through traffic problem was but the rat of the steps, Materlally the postal problem has been solved, although there appear to be difficulties in the way of an arrangement covering parcels posts, and remittances. Letters do not circulate freely as yet, though they changed in a hay taxed, but above al factor in the resignation. There is possibly some truth behind this, for uring Dr. Kung's passage here, he roundly condemned the system prevalent whereby certain taxes had been collected years and years in advance. But, it is surely not the main reason, especially if one takes into consideration the report that Gen. Chang Chun is to succeed Vu Hsueh-cheng as Governor of Chihli.
Japanese quarters have long. in cated that they might favourably regard any move resulting in the transating of the Governor of Hupeh to the seat of local administration in Chihtl. For sure, there is no longer that bitter animosity evidenced [Japanese authorities towards the Young Marshal, but there yet remains a feeling of bitterness and applies also to his former lieutenants.
On the Chinese side there is every] evidence of a desire to. take one fence at a time. Careful of—publie sentiment, they are not anxious to rush matters, and they do not believe that the present apathy justifies them speeding up the general settle-[ment that must eventuate,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.