Mar. 24.
'The warning to motorists be particularly careful how they drive in Chinese territory, on which we published a letter on Saturday, gives food for much thought,' There is nothing par ticularly confidential about this notice, however it may have been worded in some instances; and without seeking to inquire exactly whence it emanates, it is obviously, as our correspond: ent said, officially inspired, Let us say at the outset that we entirely agree with it, and. as applying to other things besides} motoring. When foreigners ge! into trouble in Chinese territory, there are unfortunately cases it which they largely Have themselves to thank for it, "Please" and "thank you" carry one further in China than almost anywhere; and to keep one's head and use the same courtesy that one would in any foreign country will smooth over many an awkward predicament. But accidents may happen in which the foreigner is a perfectly innocent offender, when, with all the care and reasonableness he may use, he is not treated as such and when he may be put in an intolerable situation from which his country's representatives might have the utmost trouble in rescuing him, That is what the warning to motorists means for foreigners, and it is unhapptiy impossible to say that it was given without cause. But have Chinese off cials thought what it means for them? It is in the first place a clear intimation that the declaration of the abolition extraterritoriality of 'December 28 last is not the mere gesture' that Nanking pretends. net know what, if any, instruc: tions have been s2u from Naa king on this subject to provin cit} officials, but it in necessary to prepare ourselves for the great probability that the latter will act as if extraterritoriality were abolished and will claim the protection of Nanking's de claration in doing so. In the second place, the warning motorists admits frankly that if. foreigner does something which gets him into trouble with local officials, it is impossible to rely on his being fairly treated, on his not being shut up in an abominable cell, possibly injured, and only released on payment of an utterly unjust and extortionate fine. We admit that this may happen without the knowledge and against the wishes of -the Chinese official at the top. But the difficulty of getting Chinese authorities to repudiate improper behaviour by their subordinates is too well known to need dwelling on, and it is probably greater to-day than it has ever been, So that, while western Governments continue to discuss with China how extraterritoriality may be aboli ished, and appear willing to accept her promises that she will afford foreigners the same protection that they would get in any civilized country, in practice it is frankly admitted that that protection cannot be relied upon and foreigners must be) recommended to be careful not to put it to the test.
We write in no spirit of hosti ity to the Chinese. We merely call attention to plain facts, one of which, it may be added, is the absurdity of pretending that China, after -all she has gone through in the past eighteen years and is still going through, can be expected to function 2s a well-organized country. Not a little blame for the present state of affairs attaches to some of the foreign representatives in China. Tt appears o be assumed by them that because the Powers wish to be friendly to China and will certainly use no force against her, there is nothing to do but give way on every point. To show any sign of displeasure, to insist that China shall respect not only just rights but the ordinary de-conoies of behaviour of any civilized country, is, it is held, to imperil friendship and risk "incidents." This is not so.
Instances could be quoted, and from recent years, of foreign representatives who, with no power or intention of using an ounce of force, have obtained complete satisfaction where their countrymen have suffered, simply by insisting on the tice of their case and refusing to be bluffed and imposed upon. There can be no doubt that these are the men whom the Chinese respect and in whom they put confidence. Effusiveness, an exaggerated assumption of bonhomie, earns nothing but their contempt and secret resent ment. Its artificiality they a quick to perceive and they not fail to see that they being treated, not a: responsi people, but like spoilt chil who must be wheedled and hi ed with sugar-plums. There are plenty of men in the Nationalist administration who sincerely desire that China's promises shall be made good and that she shall take her rightful place in the world, In due time we may hope and trust that they will gain the mastery over the forces that now defeat—their efforts. Their hands will only be strengthened and the process of reorganization hastened by firmness on the foveigner's part when rights are outraged anti wrong done.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.