A feature of the (transfer were the sttiet precautions taken by the French police several days before the actual assumption of control by the Nanking regime, Rumours that many Chinese oticers of the French police have been affiliated with the new Nanking government have been "ir~ talared in. Shanghai for some time past and, although there is no official miirmation of these reports, the fentval China Daily News" taised this question while" reporting the irunsfer_ of the courts yesterday Chungking reaction to the tra suis not known yesterday. in Shang-tio but reports here indicated that the move was anticipated and tnat the jtidges had been warned to with: draw when the situation had become intolerable, The judges, it was stated, would be paid by the Ministry of Justice in Chungking.
Chinese recldents in the rene Concession were uncisy as news of the transfer was circulated and it is believed that many may move to tie Fettlement. Several Chungking ganizations took this step after the Cupitulation of France and the entry Japanese troops into Indo-China.
"Armed Camp"
Vie district surroundings the Sec~ and "Special District Court in Route Stabislas Chevalier had the appear ince of an armed camp—yester~ chay. with three armoured care in attendance, while a number of police, hot Chinese and foreign, were on duty. in the vicinity. The policemen were In steel helmets and the fore igners armed with automatic rites. No incidents, however, are known to have occurred during the transfer of the court to the Nanking authorities.
French Police, however, were retigent'on the affair in the morning and. would give no information whatever as {0 the proceedings that were taking place. When one newspaper photographer told a French chief-inspector that he believed the court would be handed over at 11 am, the police officer answered that the press had always been better informed than the police. -Photographers, meanwhile, were not welcome fat the scene and two of them, it is known, were prevented from taking pictures during the day, Th est happened. in the morning when Mr. B, Schwartz was taken to the French Police Headquarters where he was threatened with having his camera confiscated, while another _photographer, from a Chinese paper, pass-fed through the same experience In the afternoon.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.