The Bismarck tribune., 1937-07-23
CONTRARY REPORTS
INDICATE CURRENT
CRISIS IS SETTLED
Tokyo Returns to Norma! az
Tension Eases After Re-
ported Agreement
JAPANESE CALL PARLIAMENT
Strenuous Nipponese Military
Preparation Is Reported 7
Near Tientsin y
tBy the Associated Press)

Diametrically opposite reports
from Chinese and Japanese threw
the current North China crisis
into new confusion Friday just
Is the two weeks Of tension was
thought to have been ended.
In Tokyo, the government re-
ceived reports Of Chinese troop
Withdrawals from Peiping and was
disposed to consider the immedi-
ate danger Of war past.
But in Peiping, Chinese listed
new Japanese military activity and
expressed fear 1t foreshadowed
major Japanese drive to consoli-
date the enhanced influence
gained because Of the present
incident.
Peiping, July 23 -(R- The fear
was growing Friday among Chinese
here that major Japanese drive
was impending against North China.
According to advices received In
foreign circles from Tientsin, the
Japanese army Is making elaborate
preparations for large-scale troop
movements. Hundreds Of carts, mules,
horses and equipment for q pro-
tracted military campaign In the In
terror have arrived at Tientsin from
Manchukuo.
The Japanese army headquarters
at Tientsin has placed orders for
100000 gallons Of ordinary gasoline
and all available aviation gasoline In
China.
Complete Airports
Chinese sources reported the ia.
panese army had completed three
aifports In the vicinity OF Ttentsia
and one at Kaoliying, 20 miles north
Of Peiping.
Troops Of the Chinese 37th division,
considered by tho Japanese to be
inimical to them, were continuing
their withdrawal from the positions
they have held west Of Peiping
since July Z. On that day they
clashed with night maneuverinR Ja-
panese and have been fighting them
intermittently until two days ago.
The withdrawal was understood to
have been ordered In compliance with
an agreement between local military
authorities to end the tense situation
by mutual evacuation Of the con-
tested area.
A japanese army spokesman at
Tientsin declared, however, that the
agreement did not provide for the
Japanese to Withdraw, but instead
solely for the Chinese to withdraw"
JAPAN SETTLES
DOWN TO NORMAL
Tokyo, July 23.-(P-Japan rapidly
returned to normal Friday as gen
eral belief grew that war with China
had been averted and lasting settle
ment Of the long existing differences
between the two countries was near.
A foreign spokesman declared Ja-
pan was ready to consider any pro-
posal from the Chinese government
to open negotiations for q settlement
Of the fundamental Sino-Japanese Is
sues and would respond to any change
in the Chinese foreign policy.
Tokyo will insist on retaining the
present method Of working through
the Hopeh- -Charhar political council
for full cleanup Of the present trou-
BILE by local authorities. The real
agreement will come, however, when
the Marking government, shortly af-
ter the plan Is worked out, endorses
this local agreement and gives 1t !
force. i
Newspapers called for the govern /
ment to send one Of Japan's most
prominent diplomats to Marking to
negotiate permanent settlement Of
the question Of economic spheres on
the Asiatic continent and the special
rights Japan claims should be hers.
In the relaxed atmosphere special
two-week session Of parliament was