Evening star., 1927-06-01
SPREPARE
T0F|GHT RATHER
THANQU|T PEK|NG
Opposition to Evacuation of
Imperi|ed North China
Areas Grows.
u. S. ATTITUDE IN CRISIS
STILL YELLED IN DOUBT
Opinion Remains Against Moving
Legation-England Ready to
Send More Troops.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PEkING, June 1.-Chang Tso-Lin's
great strategic retreat before the adj
vancing Nationalists has brought two
questions to fever heat-will Chang
be able to hold the Yellow River line
and what will the foreign powers do
TO protect their nationals remaining
in northern China?
Americas answer to the second
question has not been divulged. 1t
ray has not yet asked for additional
troops, although he Is ready to make
such request if he considers it neces-
sary. 1t is known that he and Brig.
Gen. Smedley D. Butler, commander of
the United States Marines in China,
thoroughly discussed the question last
week while the latter was visiting
Peking.
Moving of Legation Opposed.
Official American opinion is known
to be opposed to moving the legation
from Peking, despite indications from
Washington that such a step Is pos
sible. The legation advocates stand
pat policy, and concerning the evacu-
alton of Americans, told inquirers to.
day that it was not advising evacu-
alton.
The Ankuochun (allied Northern
armies) notified the legations of the
impendent withdrawal of Chang's
armies "a hours before public an
nouncement was made. The diplo.
mats Immediately convened to discuss
the situation, but the results Of their
conference were not divulged.
1t is clear. however, that the gen.
eral attitude of the powers favors
remaining in the Peking and Tientsin
area, regardless of the approach of
the Nationalists. affording the foreign
residents the protection of troops if
necessary.
Japan Prepares to Act.
Japan's reply to the second ques-
ton is already clear. Two thousand
of her troops landed at Tsingtao to-
day, ready to advance to Tsinanfu,
capital of Shantung Province, along
the Shantung Railway, which Japan
surrendered to China at the Washing
ton conference. This advance, it is
stated. will be made only if the Japa.
nese inland requires protection. There
are also indications from Toxic that
1000 additional troops will be sent
to Peking and Tientsin If needed.
Great Britain is ready to dispatch at
least a battalion to Tientsin from
Shanghai, and it is understood the
border regiment has been selected.
The British also have abandoned their
previously announced schedule OF
evacuation of civilians by stages con.
forming with the degrees of the ma
tionalists' advance.
ay@A
other missionaries in the northern in
coast early in April, and large pro-
portion of the American women and
children in Peking left either for the
coast or for Japan at the same time.
r Social Activities Continue.
Otherwise, life in Peking is practi.
cally normal as far as the foreigners
are concerned. There has been the
usual round of diplomatic social
events, although the Summer hegira
to the coastal resorts began somewhat
earlier than usual.
The Japanese seem determined to
remain in Shantung, where they are
estimated to number 10000, of which
10000 are in Tsingtao, 1000 in Tsinan-
fu and the. remainder in small groups
inland, where 1t would be difficult to
protect them without extended mill
tary dispositions.
The Japanese expedition is adverse.
ly criticized by all factions of Chinese
here, who assert that it has even less
justification than the British expedi-
ton to Shanghai, since there is not
single foreign concession in Shan
tung.
The Chinese press strongly de.
nounces the Japanese move, and Off
cial protests are being prepared both
by the Peking foreign Office and the
headquarters of the Ankuochun. The
question is asked by some as to
whether Japan is seizing the present
opportunity to resume her former
privileged positions in Shantung,
which she relinquished at Washing
ton in 1922.