Tientsin, June 20. FTER lasting 372 days, the blockade of Tientsin was lifted at 6 o'clock this evening and free traffic between the British and French Concessions and adjoining area was restored. This followed the signing of a Tientsin agreement by Britain and Japan.
The formal opening was preceded by a brief ceremony when Japanese guards were drawn up and inspected by an officer, who addressed them briefly, after which they were dismissed. The ceremony was greeted by loud hand-clapping from a huge crowd consisting principally of Chinese, There were a few Japanese and foreigners in the gathering.
A few minutes before the opening trate was stopped by a. barricade drawn across. the street. Crowds, cyclists, cars and trucks" extended about a block on either side of the barriers, Prior to the formal open ing Chinese potice energetically' but politely ordered people and vehicles range themselves on the left aide of the street. At 6 o'clock sharp the barricade was swung aside allowing trafic to pass unhindered in orderly manner, Chinese police regulated trafic while several Japanese soldiers with bayoneted rifles stood bby on the pavement watching impos sively.
Was, interesting to sce Victoria Road suddenly spring to life after a Jong period of somnolence. Cars and trucks were filled with Japanese who hitherto had been subjected to even more stringent restrictions than the average foreigner when passing the barriers Most of the Japanese carried cameras, Thousands of foot of firn must have been exposed both at the barriers and within the concessions.
While nothing is known depnitely Is presumed Japanese banks, firms land shops will gradually. return to their old places of business in the British and French areas.
The British Constl General, Mr. Oswald White, received the press this morning, and read the official British statement regarding the Tiantsia sct-toment.
Mr. James Turner, the Chairman of the British Municipal Counci, in. interview, said that it was the inten tion of the Council to employ a Japanese adviser on Japanese affairs, but he was unable to give further
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.