Tientsin, Sept. 4. Chinese officials of the "Provisional Government" residing in the foreign concessions were ordered yesterday afternoon to be ready{ to move out at a few hours' notice' Foreign residents remain calm but are puzzled by the action.
A leading local Chinese daily newspaper, regarded as the mouthpiece of the Japanese, in a recent article suggested that, in the event of war in Europe, Japan would participate in accordance with her agreements with Italy and Germany and might then try to occupy foreign-controlled areas in China.
Individual Japanese and also smaller firms are gradually leaving the British and French Concessions, while some large firms have moved their administrative offices elsewhere, although difficulty has been experienced in securing accommodation.
At present, the Japanese Residents Association is conferring on the situation, but until now has given no indication of its ultimate decision in regard to the original order for all Japanese to retire from the neutral aieas.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.