TENSE HOUR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 62, 6 December 1937, Page 7

TENSE HOUR

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Japanese Defied HALTED BY FRENCH Attempt fo Traverse the Concession HOT ARGUMENTS ENSUE

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(Received 6, 8,45 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Doc. 4.. Four lorries guarded by Japanese troops attempted to enter the French Bund this morning. They were stopped by French armoured cars, troops and armed police. A tense situation developed, the streets in the neighbourhood being cleared .The French placed three armoured cars end to end across the French Bund, while French and Chin•se police with rifles formed a human Ting 30 yards in front. Six Japanese officers poxleyed for an hour with. tho French officers, while more Fronch troops were mshed up. Hot arguments enBued, the French pointing guns at the Japanese lorries. The French xefused the Japanese troops thoroughfare except on condition that the convoys were not heavily armed and submitted to a French police eseort through the Concession. The Japanese consularofficers eveittually persuaded the Japanese miiitury authorities to accept the conditxons, whereupon the French police boarded the trucks and conducted lliem through the Concession. The French police chief statos that the Japanese have no right to traverse the Concession except when given permission, after wliieh they must comply with all the French requirements. It is believed that the Japanese had hoped to establish a precedent for the movement of troops and supplies across the Concession. They appear to have ■ucceeded as regards supplies, but not troops. The Concession is actuallv French territory thus enjoying a different status from the International Bettlement.