In view of the growing gravity of the situation, the Japanese "Civil Delegate on the Joint Commission asked for another meeting of the Commission, which was held on August 12. In his opening statement, the Japanese Civil Delegate said "in spite of the statements of the Chinese Civil Delegate to the contrary, he had received definite information_to the effect that units of the Peace Preservation Corps since last evening had taken up various positions in areas quite close to the International Settlement, Moreover troops of the 88th Division were now at a position off Haskell Road near the North Station, with the result that the position to-day had taken suddenly a turn for the worse, This heavy concentration of Chinese armed forces all over the territory covered by the Truce Agreement of 1832, to say nothing of various points in close proximity to the International. Settlement "has caused grave anxiety and fear of an unfortunate clash between the Sino-
Japanese forces. In the face of this sudden entrance of Chinese armed forces the Japanese Naval Landing Party who up to the present had confined their activities to the protection of Japanese nationals, would be obliged to take up suitable protective positions, In these circumstances he thought the düty devolved on" the Joint Commission of taking immediate steps towards averting the grave danger threatened and with this object in view, he suggested that the Joint Commission form an investigation party composed of members of the Neutral Friendly Powers, accompanied by both Chinese and Japanese delegates, to look into the state of affairs now obtaining in the areas in question. He would like to add that this was not a moment for discussions, rather a single moment should not be lost" (quotation from approved minutes).
A "Fatuous Statement"
The Chinese Civil Delegate (Mayor) replied with a fatuous statement that
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.