Peiping, Oct. 2.
Japanese troops clashed this morning with Chinese forces entrenched three miles north of Tehchow. Fighting continued all.day long.
Only a small Japanese force has so far penetrated Shantung. apparently to test the strength of Chinese troops there. Recent reports estimated about 80,000 Chinese Central Government soldiers to be in the province,—Reuter.
Opposition to any boycott of Japan by the United States, similar to that proposed in Great Britain, was to-day expressed in a statement issued by six peace organizations.
The statement stressed the fact that such a boycott would necessitate arousing antagonism toward Japan to fever pitch; otherwise, it would be ineffective.
The fact that such an attitude would be dangerous, since the primary aim of the United States is to avoid war, was emphasized.
According to the statement, the immediate effect of, any boycott would be merely to strengthen the following of Japanese militarists, while any practical effect would be felt only after considerable delay.
The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, to-day appeared willing to discontinue the interchange of Notes with Japan and there seemed little reason to believe the United States would take further action immediately.
Mr. Hull indicated' that public opinion must decide the merits of the relative positions of Japan and the United States—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.