London, Jan. 11.
The imminent declaration of war fon China by Japan which was persistently rumoured here yesterday is regarded as highly doubtful in Aiplomatie quarters here.
'Such a measure, these circles state, would' mean the enforcement of American neutrality, thereby pre-Venting Japan from purchasing war material from the United States.
Observers here, however, are per plexed'as to the results of the Imtial Conferene held in Tokyo yesterday.
The main preoccupation in political circles In London is whether the Far Eastern conflict will be shifted southwards and whether the Japanese will endeavour to isolate Canton from Hongkong or merely establish a naval cordon at the mouth of the Pearl River.
The general opinion is that such a measure will provoke a British pre-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.