London, Aug. 16.
Arrangements for the evacuation of British civilians from Shanghai were decided upon at a conference at the Foreign Office this morning between Sir Robert Vansittart, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign directors of naval and military operations, and a number of technical adv:
Instructions have been sent to the British Consul-General empowering n to make provision for the evacua-ion.
The conference also decided to send a further battalion of British troops {rom Hongkong to Shanghai.
Meanwhile, the British Ambassador in Nanking, Sir Hughe Knachbull-Hugessen, hi strongly protested the Chinese Government regarding the bombing of the cruiser Cumberland the International Settlement, a urged upon the Chinese Gove) ment the desirability of preserving the Settlement from becoming the theatre of war.
A parallel protest w United States Ambas Mr. Nelson T. Johnson.
Reports that Great Britain has bound herself to adopt attitude of neutrality in the conflict a not confirmed in British circles in Lon i pointe at the ment is wat ion Iv to whatever meg its future course may demand ally rethe defence of British inter-is "continually being between the tish, French and United States Gi well as consultation about methods of exercising a pacific influence on the adversary It is hoped the fact that China the most important market for Japanese expo} in Tokyo who m would. caus hinese market. for the same time, anything in the nation " Japan might, at the pre nly rouse nation feeling it for moderate counsels. to Reuter.
~The Times" On Situation London, Aug. 16.
The anxiety with which th ment of the Sino-Japa quarrel. is followed has not_be 1 diminished communique issued meeting of the declares "The Tin 1 this orial Jd declares that designs, 1 will spare no effort to safeguard reign rights and interests. in China.
ration which gu aving interests in China w says the newspaper, "if Kie experience had 1 sceptical of such professions. continues the jo nich in the actions of th horities in the and only, desires on Chit ud Jay harmonious. ¢ ion.
Yo those who attach more import ance to d tions rather than} declarations of policy," it seems pretty nts of which. the adds, it is Tay ating which Japa China concludes, August 7
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.