June 27.
Sir John Wardlaw-Milne—he was created a K.B.E, on the King's Birthday—has done a real service, in his letter to "The Times," by helping to clarify the issues' regarding the proposed Round Table Conference on Shanghai. He empha point that the future hai was, in effect, under dis. cussion before the Sino-Japanese Jdispute, in its earliest form, was attracting earnest attention. He does not refer to the Feetham Report for, no doubt, he takes it for granted that that document cannot ignored in such a connection. He relies on a belief that the present Government of China is anxious for the maintenance of the stability of Shanghai. That has been made abundantly clear by the specific declarations of that Government in taking part in the recent conference which led to the Shanghai agreement. He rightly detects in the attitude lof the Government at Nanking a desire that a new spirit should generated out of the recent troubles. Thereby he shows his leonviction that Chinese partifeipation in a Round Table Conerence must be on the basis of equality. No question of im-1g a settlement on China is This makes of considerable importance the framing of fan agenda agreeable to all parties. Both the League resolutions and Mr, Justice Feethat Report are in accord on point. Support for the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce's proposal thus comes from a forward schemes for meeting from the withheld revenue a proportion of the service of the Foreign Loans. The question too of the use made by the Chinese Government of revenues obtained by it is plainly irrelevant. The chief point is that the Japanese have now started developments which may (in fact wi unless there be a rapid restoration of the position) undermine the Chinese Maritime Service and all for which that service stands. The feeble statements now being made frame Tokyo and from the Japanese Legation at Peking would not convince the simplest schoolboy. The whole affair is equivalent to robbery under arms, as the stout but bland resistance by Mr. Prettejohn at Harbin has convincingly shown, Member of Parliament who has won for himself a sound reputation, not so much by his speeches in the House—although they have sot been nogligible—as by his admirable work in, Committee—an asset of much political value. No one will quarrel with hi istence on the urgency of the issue for, plainly, he qualifies it_with recognition lof the meed for securing the Nanking Government's support, while rightly asserting the importance of Shanghai's stability to the acquisition by Nanking of the strength so much required for handling the present exceed~ ingly complex political situation, charged as it is with highly vexatious economic difficulties.
Apart from the fact that the Feetham Report has been before the Powers, concerned in the The contention that the issue International Settlement since is solely between China and jast Autumn, the creation of a Japan cannot be accepted. Every Round Table—Conference to foreign national who has business reserve the safety of the Inter dealings here is vitally interested, national Settlement and the The strong protest of the Chinese French Concession was specific Bankers Shanghai shows how concerned they are at the cally mentioned in- the League of Nations "'plan,", known now,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.