M. Poincaré, who has just been succeeded by M. Deschanel as President of France, has been questioned as to his future, and he finds rather difficult. The average lot of an ex-President, which is to preside at social gatherings and charitable meetings, does not appeal to him in the least, and one section of opinion inclines to the belief that he would be happy in resuming his practice at the bar. But here trouble again arises, because very properly M. Poincaré sees the unfortunate position in which he would place him. sele were he to plead before judges whom he himself has appointed. At the same time, too, he is under the necessity of earning his living, for unlike the politicians of certain other countries, he has not found himself enriched by his tenancy of office. He is, in fact, in a position which hardly seems to have been foreseen in France. For the present it is quite probable that he will turn his attention to journalism, writing for the reviews prinipally, but later it is just possible that he might find a place in the Feb. 6.
No Vacancies who fear of Shenghai's becoming a dumping ground for all the needy ones of the Far East is undoubtedly within the practical politics of the moment. At the very time the Refugee Relief Committee was laying down that it would be useless for further refugees to hope for similar assistance to that already afforded, a telegram was arriving with the news of the hurried flight from Vladivostok of two men-of-war an4 the refusal, for the time being at least, of the authorities to allow their passengers to land at Tsuruga. The Refugee Relief Committee has said plainly that refugees must not regard Shanghai as the dumping ground of the Far East, and the Tocal position has not been put one whit too strongly. It is difficult to recall a time when an_ appeal of one sort or another, all for the most humane purposes. has not, been before the public of Shanghai, and when it comes to a choice of objects we must allow the claim of Ching the very fullest weight. Will such a statement as that of the Committee keep refugees from Siberia away? It is to be doubted, for the number of gifts which Shanghai has sent to the poverty-stricken districts of ingly attractive place in many eyes. The warning may have some effect, but so far as we are concerned it is rather a grave warning of what may be in store for ourselves. The subject requires the immediate attention of the authorities in Peking, for the recent quick change in the Siberian situation is-liable to create a succession of the most unfortunate
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.