In spite of the heavy preoccupation of the Ethiopian crisis and the distraction of a recent election, the British Government is not Inclined ignore the course of events in North China, This is clearly shown by the brief message from this journal's well-informed political cor-Fespondent who shows too that a similar alertness is discerned at Washington. Although this inform: ion is not surprising it must be regarded as a significant development the light of the uncertainty prevailing in Peiping and 'Tientsin. Fortunately the premature disclosures fof last week Have completely precluded any success in suggesting that the so-called "autonomy movement' has @ spontaneous origin, Moreover the situation seems to show that the traditional differences of outlook which have marked the relations between the North and Nanking are, for the moment, relegated into the background and Northern leaders, recognizing the advantages of Nan: king's policy of regional tolerance, are more inclined to walt upon the views of the Central Government than, has usually been their habit. The diiculty of the problem cannot be ignored, but, so far, there is no reason to believe that sane diplomacy, such as "been happily displayed In the conversations between General Chiang shek and Mr. Ariyoshi, is une equal to the task imposed upon it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.