In our correspondence columns to-day we publish a letter from Miss Betty Graeme on the subject of the communication made to us the Japanese Consul-General_ regarding unfortunate rumours which have gained currency. She suggests that the Japanese Consul-General is attempting to exercise a censorship, or to curb the freedom of the Press, so in order to allow the situation to be made clearer we publish the letter. The position, after careful inquiry we believe to be as follows:—Certain people have brought back from Japan ugly stories, but as it happens these stories are not confined to one nationality. The stories have not been given an equal circulation, but on.the contrary the detractors of Japan have been the loudest in their asseverations. Now these facts were undoubtedly-known to the Japanese - Consul-General, as they were to us, and all he did was to ask that the journalists and public of Shanghai should for the time being preserve what might be called a judicial attitude until there is time for the facts to be known. This is perfectly reasonable, for if we draw on our own knowledge of common events and appreciate the fact that what seemed at first blush proof positive has often been entirely upset when the facts came before a judge and jury, we must inevitably conclude it to be the same in the case of the earthquake. There is no occasion to suggest.that what the refugees have counted has been exaggerated, but when did a great calamity ever occur without its unhappy episodes? In a case of this sort the gaols have to be thrown -open—shame on any authority that would not do so—and generally in gaols there are leaders of men, of a type. And the incidents that happen under their auspices must necessarily colour the whole outlook of those unfortunately present. We ought to remember these things, and we ought to remember that the whole story has not nearly been told yet, and until it is told, the Japanese Consul's request that judgment be suspended. is not only proper from his own point of view but in the interests of all.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.