Aug. 21.
The departure to night of Mr. Hewlett to re-establish the Bri tish Consulate in Nanking puts an end to a breach in relationships which will have lasted seventeen months almost to a day. It is an event which all alike should welcome. Whether the ultimate settlement of the Nanking "incident" did or did not please everybody in all respects, we wish to forget it and to let the dead past bury its dead. It appears that to some Chinese also the settlement is not wholly agreeable. We can only hope that they will be able on reflection to take the same attitude in this respect that we mean to take ourselves. What good can -come to anyone of making new disputes out of the settlement of an old. one? Is it not better to forget and forgive? The incident is settled, compensation is to be arranged by joint investigation and paid. At least let us hope that the past may be put behind us and that a new era of cordiality is being ushered in, Nobody, we would venture to say, is better fitted by nature and by long and friendly associations with the Chinese than Mr. Hewlett for the post he is now to fill; and we believe that the leading men in the Nationalist party, with whom he will have to deal, will bring to the task the same good will that he undoubtedly will juse.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.