SHANGHAI, Now. 14.
Awoxa the telegrams received at the close of Inst week was one that thas not, perhaps, received the attention' which it deserves. In answer to a question in the House of Commons, we are told, the Financial Secretary to the' War Office said that, before the fall of Shanghai, " the Commander of the China Squadron had suggested the eventual necessity of landing troops to protect foreign interests. He reported that the German and J had made a Now there is no question but that this recommendation goes far beyond what has ever been dreamt of by those responsible for the defence of Shanghai: indeed, there is good reason for believing that it is) directly opposed to their expressed opinion. It is as unnecessary as it would be inadvisable to give details of the scheme of defence that has been arranged. Suffice it to say that the Volunteer Corps can master over one thousand men and officers in a high state of efficiency, while the European police and Sikhs amount roughly to 700 more, and that Sbanghaiis perfectly capable of taking care of her own borders. In writing thus we feel constrained to add a word of explanation to the de facto rulers across the frontier. Not against them assuredly, but against the possible disturbance of bad characters is defence organized. In point of fact the revolutionaries: are fally aware that it is as much to their interest as to that of the foreign community that order should be maintained within the Settlement, and there should be no reason to fear repetition of the misdemeanours by irresponsible sections of the party against which it was necessary to protest last week. It would indeed be idle to pretend that there may not be parties who would welcome an excuse for landing troops in Shanghai. For that very reason, however, it is im-
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