July 4 July ig always remarkable in Shanghai og the month in which are celebrated the national holidays of two of the major communities in Shanghai—the American and the French, in that order. They are both' out-ling because of the characteristic note of rejoicing which is struck, appearing to be more whole-hearted and more thorough than similar festivals of most of the other nationalities, due, probably, as much as anything to hospitable desire to include as many others in the festivities as care to join. To-day is Independence Day, anniversary. of the midsummer occasion when there was promulgated that instrument which not only levelled a bitter indictment against the stupidities of an alien king of England, and his short-sighted advisers,' but voi ed the divorce of many an othe wise loyal colonist from his motherland. Perhaps alittle too much is made of the faults of the Hessian George, but i nevertheless undisputable hu tory that England was not unanimously behind this war on her sons across the water, an¢ that the dying words of the immortal Pitt denounced the hostilities, which led to the separation, in terms rendered all the more' impressive by the immediate fatal sequel to himself. The battle for independence was fought with that Ditterness which so often signa-Vises civil war. Fratrieidal hate, once transformed into the overt act of mutual murder, isa hideous thing upon which Took, It leaves a rankling in the heart which often requires generations to eliminate; and often when the last reek of battle has been swept away in the gentle breeze of peace, there still remains those smouldering ashes which seem to keep alive by reason of their own ungenerous heat, Fortunately even they cannot endure for ever, and though in such matters Time is a slow healer, the wounds do eventually close, the breaches are ulti ly bridged and the sharpe memory dulled by a more perfect understanding.
'That is og well for the world at large. If every country were concerned morely in Keeping alive remembrance of the wrongs it had suffered, there would long have been an' end_to mutual endeavour for the common good, and in its place a fierce, bitter individual nationalist' would have reigned. It is possible for the nations, proud in their loyalty to their own ideals, to live together in unity, Shanghai is a shining proof, of the fact. There may in fact Mi have been, times when communities here have not seen exactly eye to eye on certain questions, but the sweet spirit of rei ableness and conciliation ha: invariably led to adjustments which have merged sectional nationalisms into an international civic pride, The same process is at work in the world at large. Tt may not at the moment seem a very impressive fact. Indeed it may seem that: the discussions in London are amounting to little else than the enunciation of the and intentions of countries there represented. But until the points of view of every' nation are thoroughly _understood, until the causes for mutual suspicion are assessed at, their proper value, it is manifestly impossible that much progress can be made towards the goal which the conveners of the World Economic Conference have in mind. Thus there may be some impatience at the heavy footed progress which is being made in London at the present moment, 4 little irritation, perhaps, at the insistence on certain points by talism is a plant of slow growth, lof no little delicacy, likely to be stunted by the slightest unfortunate breeze that might blow; jit is nevertheless a reality, destined to become more ap-[parent unless.a killing frost nips its burgeoning greatness.
What Shanghai has already] achieved in petro, the world can attain at large. in that achievement the American community has played just as important a part as any otner community.
a very been due to the fine qui ithe men who have represented ithe republic in Shanghai many cap cities. To read the above sentence is to bring to mind many names the bearers of some of which celebrated this holiday only a brief twelve months ago, men who will remain in affectionate memory for many years to come. Possibly a sad note to dwell upon on this day of rejoicing, but, as a tree is judged by its fruit, so is nation by the men it produces.
is not difficult, therefore, ito understand why various nationals can dwell side by side jas they do in Shanghai, preserve jing their national identity and yet contributing to the success which this port undoubtedly is for such reasons that the different communities can take jan interest of each other's celebrations, and are able to tender, fas on this occasion, their heart-jest congratulations to their American fellow-citizens. The North-China Daily News" is proud to be able to voice such felicitations and in its own behalf to extend every good wish vito the Americans in Shanghai land elsewhere for the happy! return of many, many more Independence Days.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.