To the Editor of the "Norru-Cuina Dairy News."
Sir,—It is to be hoped that the amazing attempt of the Japanese Consul-General ati Shanghai to establish a censorship of the news will not result in the suppression of facts as related by foreign refugees ar: riving at this port. The official ban placed by the Imperial Government on all messages from Japan immediately following the disaster has caused unnecessary delay and grief to an anxious world. This attempt to muzzle adverse comment is in keeping with the strict censorship ex-excised at all times by the Imperla] Government over the press of Japan, but it does not accord with Western ideas of the right of free speech and free press.
Interviews given by incoming refugees are not the wild raving of half demented nervous wrecks, but are sober, even restrained, statements of responsible men and women of their personal experience and observation after sufficient lapse of time to adins: their perspective. Most pay high tributes: to individual cases of devotion and courage. Are these stories also to be discounted? All deplore attempts to suppress the news of the disaster.
However noble the motive, it would be unfortunate for the press of Shanghai to enter into a conspiracy of silence with the Imperial Government for the suppression of all criticism un/ flattering to Nipponese egotism. It would not only serve to shake confidence in a vital means for disseminating information, but it would give colour and impetus to the wildest rumours. Nor can such ban be placed upon the stories of refugees reaching their home lands. Surely if this extraordinary request is complied with it will create a most unfavourable impression abroad when the facts become known—as in previous efforts of Japanese officialdom to meddle with the news, notably in the publication' ci the Twenty-One demands and the Ishii-Lansing Agreement.
No attempt was made to censor or suppress the stories of re-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.