"The murder of Mr, Tang Vu-jen, following so closely upon the attempted assassination of Mr. Wang Ching-wel, and especially in view of the close association of the two men, is a matter of very grave con: cern, It had been hoped that the political assassination which had died down considerably. in recent years had been completely ended, but these two incidents indicate the existence of a body of men who will, be baulked by no obstacle to the attainment of their political desires. It seems clear from the reports to hand that the crime was committed by a group of Chinese, and until further investigations have been made, which, it is hoped, will lead to the arrest and conviction of the culprits, it would be idle to speculate as to which particular group they belonged. Mr. Tang was regarded as having strong pro-Japanese feelings probably arising from the fact that he had received the latter portion of his education in 'Japan, where he had.graduated. As Chief' Secretary io the Central Political Council, and vice-Min'ster for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tang played 'a considerable role in the affairs of his party, and when Mr, Wang Ching-wet resigned from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tang relinquished both his positions, being Jater appointed by the new government vice-Minister of Communications and adviser to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, neither of which offices he had taken up at the time of his death, He was a young man of forty-two years of age and it was confidently thought that he had.a very promising career ahead of him.
There will, consequently be no small amount of grief over the Government's ess, and also for his relatives who have been bereaved by the cowardly hand of the assassin, Such crimes as these cannot be too strongly reprobated.
There are those, it is true who endeavour to find in the motives underlying such murders a grain of excuse on the ground that polities inspired them, "They find in the fact that politi¢al beliefs inspire such acts, not only an excuse but a positive justification, which confers upon the murderers some degree of false glory, which they cannot be said to have in the eyes of all reasonable-Cowardliness and futility brand th murders for what they are, mere crimes which should be punished in exactly the same way as any other murder, where profit or hate are the motive.
It cannot be elevated into some glorious action in behalf of the country, or for the vindication of a principle, sinations are cowardly because their very nature requires that the victim should be taken unawares, generally by more persons than himself. They fave futile because no movement, no government which is really worth while can be stopped or thwarted by the bullet or knife of the murderer. If beneath this dastardly act there was a desire to prevent the government from following whatever polly it has decided upon vis-d-vis that desire will be no now than it has been in the past, for it clear that General Chiang Kai-s k's policy will be dominated only by a full yeallsation of what is to be done in the Lest interests of the country.
Yet this murder has a_iesson which it might pay the Japanese authorities concerned (o learn fully. It is that while the leaders at Nanking are prepared to give Japan that ce-operation which she seriously demands, Nanking fully realises that there is a large body of public opinion which resents what has been done to China Past years, These people are ni suspicious and resentful of any proposal which tends towards a better understanding between the two countries and to accuse General Chiang Kai-shek of "insincerity" is completely to fail to understand the problem with which he and his gov: fernment is faced. Much has to be Jdone in China before the greater: part of public opinion will eagerly assent to a rapprochement with their [Japanese neighbours. The neces-Isary change of sentiment can only: bbe brought about slowly, and, until {it has occurred, there will be many [Chinese who will resent any fundamental change in Chinese policy. Assassinations will not stop [development of that policy, nor even farrest it, and from that point of view Mr, Tang's murder may be Jeonsidered to have little ultimate bearing upon the outcome of these fattempis to secure a better understanding between the two coun twies. Nevertheless this assassina-{ign taken in conjunction with the attempt on Mr. Wang Ching-wel must not in any way be minimised. Met only in the best interests of the leountry, but also for the protection fof ministers who may have to carry Jout a policy which may be temporarily unpopular, it is highly desirable that the culprits shodd be apprehended and brought to speedy fsial. Tt Is necessary that a deter. mined effort should be made to! Stamp out once and for all that [school of political thought which fancies that problems can best be solved by the assassin's knife or bullet, From a local point of view itis also necessary, for the port has been comparatively free from political assassination for some [years past, and it is hoped that that pleasant state of affairs can again be restored. In the meantime it is only possible to offer condolences to the Nanking Government on the table loss of s0 promising an ial, and to the bereaved family sympathy in their sorrow. They have at least the proud knowledge that he died the death of a patriot in the service of his country, just as much as if he had met his end in battle with his nation's foes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.