Effective to-day all evacuees, both Chinese and foreigners, of the areas west of Shanghai occupied by Japanese forces, will be allowed to return to those districts, a spokesman for the Japanese Army and Navy in Central China announced yesterday.
Hereafter, the spokesman said, all persons engaging in hostile activities and crimes against the Japanese Army forces and the Special Naval Landing Party will be dealt with in accordance with the notices of penalties previously issued.
This action was motivated by the necessity of self-defence, the spokes man declared. "It goes without si ing," he continued, "that the Japanese forces, as has often been stated, will put forth every effort to respect treaties to which various powers are parties, and to safeguard foreigners' lives and properties."
Yesterday. Japanese gendarmes and Chinese policemen under their control, numbering about 150, were stationed in the areas which have been under the control of foreign defense forces, the spokesman revealed.
They will maintain peace and order among the inhabitants in general, he stated, ard perform guidance duties to assist refugees returning to their former homes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.