AUTHORS OF TRUCE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1932, Page 13

AUTHORS OF TRUCE

CONSULS-GENERAL

ANXIETY IN SETTLEMENT

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 30th January, 11 a.m.)

RUGBY, 29th January. Tho British and American ConsulsGeneral at Shanghai to-day interviewed the Chinese and Japaneso military authorities and arranged for a cessation of fighting to come into effect at S p.m.' local time. The latest reports received indicate that a truco is being observed and that in the small hours of Saturday morning conditions continued comparatively quiet. Fighting in Chapei between Japanese and Chinese soldiery had continued for many.hours through last night and today, and a considerable loss of life occurred.

Tho Japanese version of the clash is that when occupying positions as-, signed them under tho.'Settlement defence scheme they were attacked both by Chines'© regulars and armed men in i plain clothes. They thereupon took extremely drastic action, and newspaper reports state that many bombs were 'dropped and fires 'started in the populous native • area of Chapei, north of the western district of the International Settlement. The north railway station was bombed, and it is stated that a bomb also fell in the French concession, killing five people. These events naturally caused repercussions in tho Settlement, to which hordes of refugees had made their way, including, it ia stated, parties of .Chinese solSiers. The Settlement .defence forcti were, however, able to maintain complete control of a difficult situation. -Although conditions of extreme tension continue, therp are hopes that a .renewal of fighting w will bo avoided, and Consular.' officials aro directing; efforts to this end.