'THERE can be no question of [the wide agreement that Mr. Rodney Gilbert's le%ter to-day will evoke. It is in days such jas these, when lawless individnals and armies are roaming the country bent on loot and destruction wherever they go, tha' the advantages of an ordered system of. government are recognized and appreciated. It is all very] mice for certain missionary idealists in "the piping days' of to tickle the ears of their lents and other loose thinkers -on international problems by urging the abolition Jof extra-territoriality. and the handing over of well-governed Concessions and Settlements to Bolshevized rabble, but, "when {the guns begin to rattle"—well, is not quite so easy to be idealistic and put one's fancies! into practice, That would seem to be the conclusion of at least one of our} local missionary residents, who in and out of season, particularly in the columns of a certain _|Dy the desire on the part of our preached' anti-foreignism like a [their support and sympathy not fellows of other nations to voice crusade.
In these most anxious days it {only for what has passed, but for|is as necessary for us in China that which seems likely to come|to think clearly and to face the comparatively near future. }More than that, such an express /sion has a peculiarly local value in that it brings home to those Britons who are anxiously peering into the future, a sense of solidarity in that community of which they form but a part And in that sense of solidarity there io a strength which will enable us, locally, to proceed on ithe tortuous paths which are pening before us, and which, we hope, will bring' us to a state of order again upon which the prosperity of this important city'
There is, again, another and important aspect, The presentation of a united front against those who would deprive us of our birthright here, tends to the ultimate vindication of our policies, Tha' there have been divisions of opinion we are only too well aware. That many of} these have already disappeared we know, too, and are gratefully thankful' for the fact, and this new evidence that the non-Bri-realities as we are always urging people in Europe and America to do, At Home, Governments, unsble to deny the rising power of Communism, cling to the hope that the moderates of the Kuomintang will yet assert themselves and suppress the extrem mists, It would be most unwise to put any reliance on such expectation. All evidence points to the increasing power of the Communist party. They have already succeeded in driving a wedge between General Chiang Kai-shek and General Tang Sengchi who were formerly united in opposition to them; and there is no doubt that the Communists will further do their utmost to unseat General Ho Ying-yin and General Pei Chung-hsi, whose authority promises some protection and justice, Already steps are being taken in the Shanghai area te set up a Communist administration, which will take things out of the hands of the Generals. This is being done under orders from the centre of the Mar.24.
Eugene Chen, in signing the|iocal missionary magazine, has|tish communities are behind us, Party in Hankow and with the "With the arrival of Generaljagreement with Mr. O'Malley, advocated the early abolition of Doin. i: may be said that{ "Tal of Eugene Chen, Sun Fo Pei Chung-hsi and the Southern|meant and hoped to carry out/:1! the privileges which extra-|, Perhaps may be s a;|and others, the power of the troops, order has been restored his part of the bargain, but it in thus endorsing the suggested territoriality ensures to foreign Reds will be supreme. telegram we are canvassing sup-in Chapei and' the unfortunate is perfectly clear that be is un-residents in this land. Instead It will be obvious to all that port for our own cause in a district is left to lick its wounds able to do so. From place to of showing his willingness that power, acting from such a somewhat shameless manner. and recover as best it may. Gen-place the Nationalist Government share the dangers which resid-centre as the Shanghai district, eral Pei's assurances for the|flits, now in Canton, now in|cnce outside the Concession in-But if we cannot talk frankly maintenance of peace are what|Hankow, presently in' Shanghai,|yolves in these days of tumult,|*™ons: ourselves in such a cri8i8}¢9 a1) China than even it is from must be infinitely more dangerous 2
mulght be expected of a subor-|to-morrow it may be in Nanking. and throwing to the winds the|®S een the Powers of the world this, when may we?
We havélitankow. The wealth of the Chi dinate of General Ho Ying-yin, always with big professions and rights which the so-called "un-nese in this district has as yet who has certainly established a loud talk but with no reality ex-come forward to protect their equal treaties" confer, our ardent hardly been tapped and the Com-reputation for fair dealing and! cept mob law and disorder and nationals in Shanghai, we advocate on Wednesday evening. munists will not hesitate to avail for doing what he can to repress: ruined trade. seen the smaller nations hur transferred his residence from themselves of it without merey the Communist mob. But unfor-'These are statements of fact ing to our support with conting-beyond a certain boundary line lor moderation. 'Even those new: tunately there is no guarantee which cannot be disputed, and ents, perhaps not great in num-to a well-known building within papers which' have been loudest that either General Pei or Gen-they ar giment for Iter, but replete with encourage-the Settlement closely identi in enthusiasm for the Red cause ment for those who have insisted eral Ho will continue to control protection of the fied with missionary enterprise, begin to moderate their tone as the Shanghai area.
For two or! existing constitution of Shang-guarded by the foreign police, on protecting this outpost of they see the Reds at their doors, three days they may do s But hai. Whatever views our respec-_ sanity against the machinations volunteers, troops and marines while the apprehensions of the Governments may have for lof the Reds. Therein we have sent from abroad.
Chinese business community ave Jour future status, let us combine seen a degree of official encour extreme, With so wealthy a base We would be the last to cen-Soong, Sun Fo, and the usual in urging them, with all the; agement which leads us to hope from which to operate as Shang-sure anyone for taking wise Political Bureau are on their way [strength and unity we command, for brighter things in the future, hai the Communists may look forzon Hankow to take charge. If, first to require of the Nationalist precautions in such times as but in the suggested telegram, [ward to the conquest of further those through which we are and when they come, we may Government that it should prove telegram which re hope will be passing, but we hope tha' in his} fields, especially with the forces expect 'a renewed outbreak of itself a Government in the or-en' to all Governments concern the mob violence customary at|#anic sense of the word. There th quiet retreat in the Settlement of Feng Vu-hsiang in northwest advocate ed, we see a means of we see bringing bringing China now preparing to come Hankow and wherever Southern|can surely be no offence, noi Ut erstwhile advocate of the] nome to doubters in all landslinto action. So long ax Shan politicians establish themselves, 'ounding of the tender suscepti- ni amy tient ar taod for re, Uaamimous, belies tain, in doing what she has done, Bri-lromains under the control of the At thi critical juncture it bilities of Nationalism. in saying thought, and. when these days of, more moderate men, there is still has gained the support of others of the first importance that the: something like this:—"We turmoil have passed into history hope for China, but once i be= besides her own nationals—the foreign community of Shanghai! that while you are fighting a comes a Communist base, the last should have a clear-cut idea of|¢ivil war, you have no time for he will emerge chastened and that 083 support of all good men on the bulwark against Moscow's invond they stands The Mantetpat details of Internal administra[(line to recognize that a system spot, has gone.
Council inthe Manifesto publish- tion; but in view of the tremend- 2's cn'a time is not the mistake The inference to be drawn ed to the world yesterday have ous interests at stake, those of yom these remorseless facts wil which he has hitherto suggested. given us a splendid lead and it your countrymen quite as much And when the N. C. C, delegates
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.