The Japanese army have halted their advance in Hopei at points just south of Paotingfu and Tsangchow.
Major-General Doihara, it is understood, flew to Tsinanfu immediately after the victory at Peotingfu to offer peace terms to General Han Fu-chu, Governor of Shantung, whose province is the next in the path of the Japanese advance.
The future action of the Japanese troops depends on General Han's answer, but the Japanese are evidently very anxious to spare hostilities in Shantung because of the large Japanese interests there, Moreover, the Japanese military authorities have, for many years, sought General Han's adherence to the idea of an autonomous federation of the five northern provinces. They consider that the time is now ripe to realize an agreement in this regard.
The Japanese have also approached Genera] Yen Hsi-shan, overlord of Shansí'and Suiyuan, but General Yen lost his power of initiative when the Chinese Central Government troops arrived at Taiyuanfu. The Kwantung Army, therefore, is continuing its offensive in those provinces.
Meanwhile Reuter learns that Major-General Kita is making slow progress in the formation of a "shadow government" which is to take office immediately the conquest of North China is completed.
The post of Chief Executive has been refused by several notable persons, including Marshal Wu Pei-fu, once a leading figure on the North China stage, but Major-General Kita's problem will be solved if General Han Fu-chu adheres—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.