June 23.
Tue evidence we publish to-day—f the close cooperation between ne representative British and American institutions of Shang-vai in respect of the Lincheng outrage is most welcome. That vho Chinese Chamber and the Thinese Bankers' Association ave felt themselves bound to spudiate connexion with the telegram to Washington cannot ecasion surprise. From the yoginning there has been a mark-(contrast between the private pressions of opinion of the members of these two organiza-ins and their official attitude, hich, frankly, has been one of hat is politely termed masterly activity. But this does not iter the fact that the reforms hich the foreign communities of hina are trying to bring about 1 the result of Lincheng are directly in the interest of the hole Chinese people and that iis is well recognized by an in-easing number of the best ainds in China.
The common cause made by te four American and British stitutions is of the first import-nce, because these bodies now institute China's main hope. It practically public knowledge lat the replies hitherto received om Home, no less, we believe, om Washington than from london, to the earnest appeals tade for timely action, have been the most disappointing kind. "This, moreover, is reflected in the Diplomatic Body's continued delay in publishing the Lincheng sanctions. The public were told hat it would be injudicious to make these terms known while the captives remained in durance, but they very naturally expected that the penalties to be inflicted would be ready for announcement directly the prisoners were free. In all conscience the Diplomatic Body had time enough to make up their minds. That they have not done so is most charitably to be explained by the assumption that their respective Governments would consent to nothing commensurate with the extreme needs of the case.
Tu these circumstances the representative institutions of the foreign business community are now the only hope. It is easily imagined that both London and Washington find no want of excuses for doing nothing. They; both have plenty of other problems nearer home, and those to whom they lay occasionally turn for unofficial expert advice on China are too often utterly out-of-date in their knowledge of her, and are prone to view her through that haze of sentimental _re-prospect which commonly afflicts the old China hand cast up in retirement upon the preoccupied shores of a land that has forgotten him. The only recourse is to endeavour to rouse the big business concerns which are trying to trade with China. The commerce of the Far East is worth a struggle and the cost of saving it to-day is infinitesimal compared with what it will be if the officials of this country are encouraged in the idea that they may play ducks and drakes with their responsibilities, with impunity. It is a very false friendship which will not exert itself now to save China in spite of herself
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.