Tientsin, June 8.
An ultimatum has been presented to the authorities of the British Concession here in connection with the assassination on April 9 of Mr. Cheng Shi-kang, Commissioner of Customs, Reuter learns from reliable sources here today.
Renewing their demands for the handing over of the four Chinese alleged to have been involved in the murder, the Japanese authorities are understood to have threatened that unless this is done within two days, they will completely cut the British Concession off from the outside world.
This would be effected. it is believed, by blocking all entrances to the Concession with barricades. and preventing anyone entering or leaving. Opinion, however, differs on whether the ban will also apply to foodstuffs and other goods. The situation is regarded as-serious, Japanese residents held a mass meeting here today at which they passed a resolution demanding action against the British and French concessions.
It is learned, from a reliable source that the Yokohama Specie Bank, which is situated in the British Concession, has been ordered to move its offices to the Japanese-occupied area by June 14. Confirmation direct from the Bank is unobtainable.
It is also reincured that the few Japanese firms still operating in the British Concession have also been ordered to move their offices by the same date.
The British authorities hold the view that the evidence in their possession does not justify handing over the four men wanted by the Japanese.
The Japanese, on the other hand, contend that there is ample evidence of the guilt of these men, who, by agreement with the British authorities, they were recently allowed to question.
The men. the Japanese assert, made confessions of complicity in the murder of Mr. Cheng, and not only were they guilty in this instance but were also implicated in the murder of three Japanese soldiers.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.