In quite its best style the "Z'okio Asahi? has been wiping the floor with members of the British Chambers of Commerce here, The latter will learn with real interest that they.are regarded as_ irresponsibles by our contemporary, who further sees in their views regarding the future of Tsingtao only another dees laid scheme for British aggrandizement. Alluding to the remarks at the annual meeting of the Chamber on the question at issue, the "Asahi" says:—
The plan for disposing of the Tsingtao question adopted at the annual meeting of the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai on March 26 is merely one of some irresponsible Biitish merchants, stinted, selfishness and ignores the his-aid ur the, plan is characterized tory of Tsingtao and international faith, ye are not disposed to discuss it in but it at least points to the intentions and wishes of Britons in China.
Later on the "Asahi? discovers the real import of what the irresponsibles would do. Thus to place all important affairs Tsingtao under the control of the Cus. toms means the placing of the whole of the port under the control of the Britons. Such proposals, however, are only a private plan of some British merchants in China, A vastly different opinion is entertained in England.
Local views are, of course, usually so warped, prejudiced and irresponsible that they are at times wholly ignored by governments.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.