To the Editor of the "Nonru-Cunwa Dany News"
Sin—These days in which we live are filled with events the significance ut which we barely perceive and the possible outcome of which fills vast masses of people with misgivings and fear. History is in the making—so Tet the makers thereof read aright the lessons of the past.
What the Japanese are doing China to-day, and the manner in which they do it, should determine effectively whether Japan is te remain that position of eminence and power which she has attained in such an jeredibly short period of time through her own industry, the genius and spirit of her people, their loyal Gevotion to national ideals, their indomitable courage and capacity for self-denial and self-sacrifice, not less than their admirable leadership and vse statesmanship.
The military conquest of a semis dependent. Manchuria might, with will, be "regarded purely as "tocal" affair, "but a campaign of political banditry in China proper would at once become the genuine concern of the whole world. What about Britain's position? For many years Britain nobly and eMciently lied the role of elder brother and tuler to 2 new Japan emerging from centuries-long seclusion and feudalism and eagerly absorbing the fruits of Western scientific civilization, The actual results of such guidance and uch diligent application are enough To amaze the world. With admirable discernment and judgement Japan thas adopted all that is best in Oceidental culture with out apparent in" jury to her own national spirit. her own national life er national institu tions, thereby achieving a_ synthesis of East and West which China and, Indeed, the whole world might well emulate, Her stately ships ply the seven seas, the products of her ustri¢s find a market in every coun try on this globe. In the councils of the nations she is now capable taking her rightful place, on a basis of equality, and as a respected mem-Ler of the family of nations. Truly this isa record of which she might justly feel proud, To suppress. to inhibit or diseriminate against such 4 people a3 the Japanese would be tantamount 10 perpetrating a gross injustice against them. The genius and the ct of the Japanese people given full and free scope for their expression. This most certainty can bbe done without prejudice or danger to the existence of other nations, and in the Dresont crisis ways and means to that effect can, and must, be found, Japan's special position in Far Eastern Dffairs might well be conceded without political or economic injustice oF injury to China, Tt would not be Gisadvantageous for a united and Independent China were Japan to fill towards her that same role which Britain so well filled towards Japan, Nor do the indications justify the view that the work of militarists and political schemers in the North forms. part and parcel of the considered Icy of responsible—Japanese leaders. Such political adventures, connivance or complicity in which would perforce have to be utterly disavowed by Japan's friends, would mean a complete reversal or negation of those sound principles of state manship upon which Japanese policy built and by the exercise of which she has attained her present status fas a first-class world power. On the contrary, Japan on more than one occasion in the past has given proof of her ability and desire to keep her given pledge or undertaking. And the Chinese have had it amply borne in upon them that it will not do to offend the highly developed sense of honour of the Japanese. None should know better than the Japanese, themselves Orientals, that it will not 0 offend the equally triglily developed sense of justice of the Chinese, nor to Impose too great a strain on the conscience of the world at large.
Bearing in mind these basic facts, the present tension and uneasiness might well give way for a feeling of confidence and optimism for the future, The Chinese should take heart, reposing such faith in their leaders as the Japanese have theirs, and so should we whom fate or circumstance has, brought hither live and to work amongst them. Instead "of sanguinary strife and mutual destruction we may yet enter pon an era of mutual constructive ana benefit, based on mutual respect, ce-operation, for mutual advantage
confidence and trust." We may yet be treated to the edifying spectacle of seeing these two neighbouring peoples settle their differences in a Spirit of reconciliation and mutual esteem, with just consideration for each other's claims and with injustice to none. For as. in the physical world "water ultimately finds natural level, so in human affairs the force or principle of reason and of justice ultimately prevails, Whatever men accomplish in accordance with these elemental principles capable of standing—and of standing {or all time—as creditable monuments to human sagacity. Whatever Is not thus accomplished must ever stand ugly, repulsive and repellent monuments to human folly.
'S, PETERSON Wet0, Shanghai, Nov. 25.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.