(Delayed in Transmission.)
The " Kokumin Shimbun", commenting upon the declaration of independence by the provinces and cities of China, thinks that the result will be most serious and that plomatic difficulties will arise in the future, inasmuch as such declaration implies disapproval of China' sovereignty and territorial integrity, the maintenance of which by international understanding has hitherto largely sustained China's existence, and without which the Chinese Empire practically ceases to exist.
While Peking does not recognize provincial independence the Powers will also refuse to recognize it, as it means the breaking of their Te} ments and frustrates their fundamental diplomatic policy in the Far East, if the provinces prefer complete decentralization.
Certainly, more moderate methods than these would be preferable and equally effective for reform. If the fighting is long continued, the Powers may recognize the revolutionaries a8 a belligerent body and declare their neutrality, but this) does not. imply that the revolu-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.