Insist That Alleged Terrorists Be Handed Over; British Concession May Be Cut Off, Tientsin, June 8. N ultimatum has bean 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 the 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 foodstutts 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 con-
It is Jearned from a reliable source that the Yokohama Specie Bank, which is situated in the British Concession, has been ordered to move its femices to the Japanese-occupied area by June 14, Confirmation direct from the Bank is unobtainable.
It is also reincured that the few "cut off the British concession from the outside worl British reports that a 48-hour dead-fine had been set in a Japanese uullimatum to the local British Consular authorities for the handing over of four Chinese alleged assassins, delivered yesterday, could not be: confirmed "from ofeial Sopanese sources, The Kokusai Unyu Kaisha, principal Japanese transportation firm; the Osaka Shosen Kaisha, and the Kinkai Yusen Kaisha, have nevertheless begun to move goods in their care from the British and French concessions.
They have notified their headquar: ters in Japan of the changed situ ton in order to prevent confusion in 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 fof 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 it the murder of Me, Cheng, and not only were they guilty in this instance but were also implicated in the murder fof three Japanese soldiers, Reuter.
"cree Mand" Claimed Tokyo, June 8.
Following the British ' refusal deliver the alleged assassins of Mr. Cheng. Shi-kang, the Commissioner of Customs who was killed In a theatre in the British Conces on April 9, the Japanese authorities in Tientsin have decided to "take 3 free hand in suppressing lawless elements there, according (0 3 Japanese press message from that city, "The force of circumstances." it adds, "apparently compelled the Tapanese authorities to cut off the British Concession from the outside world."
The message predicts that the har-hour facilities now centred in the British and French concessions will be transferred to a special district downstream from them.
'AE the same time, the message con: cludes, Japanese concerns. namely: the Yokohama Specie Bank, the Mfitsttbishi Trading Company and a branch office of the Federal Reserve Bank, have also decided to transfer their 'offices from the British and French concessions to some other part of Yokohama Bank
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