Peking, June 18.
Newspaper comment in Peking and Tientsin with regard to the Japanese communique on the subject of Shantung is generally adverse.
The "Peking Daily News" des cribes it as a Japanese whine.
The "Peking and Tientsin Times" says: Although little interest has been displayed in Far Eastern affairs up to the present by the European and American press, the latter must have heard of the campaign of passive resistance, which has been in progress for more than a year. What opinion will be entertained of Japan's singleness of purpose when it is common knowledge throughout the world that the Chinese Government dare not take up negotiations, even if they would? The Tokio ich communique seems to us to do nothing to improve the relations between China and Japan but by its evident insincerity makes matters worse. The fundamental agreement, 2 which so much stress is laid, stands morally on no higher level than the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk."
The "North China Star" says: "The majority of Chinese and foreigners in China read the statement with the belief that somewhere in it is concealed some am®guous phrase which nullifies the entire general sense of the document. As we have previously mentioned: Japan's position in the eyes of the world would be stronger, if she quietly redeemed her international pledges instead of vociferously offering to negotiate them."—Reuter.
Mr. Alec L. Davidson has been appointed Hon. Secretary to the Peking British Chamber of Commerce, vice Mr. E. Clarke.
TT
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.