At the present time when a war is being waged all over China, and yet is technically not a war, it should not be difficult to explain the position of the women and children who have been evacuated to Hongkong. The final notice which led to their evacuation is within recent memory, but from information filtering back to Shanghai it seems that several of these evacuees are being unnecessarily distressed by assertions that their evacuation was purely voluntary and that therefore there was on them no obligation to make the journey. The evacuation was, of course, voluntary in the technical, or should it be called the Pickwickian, sense. It was necessary for that point to be made clear because otherwise the authorities might have rendered themselves liable for legal claims which they were not prepared to meet. At the same time no reasonable or intelligent reader of the notice can deny that, like a royal invitation, it conveyed a virtual command. For the sake of record let it be quoted:
In view of the serious situation which has arisen in Shanghai, the loss of lives that have occurred in the Settlement and the vital need of reducing commitments to a minimum so that the limited defence forces available can concentrate all their efforts on measures of defence, the Commanderin-Chief of the British Naval Forces, in ce-operation with His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General, Shanghai, will start the evacuation to Hongkong of all British women amd children as early as practicable.
This journal was in no doubt of he meaning and strongly endorsed the need for the evacuation desired. It said:
The statement makes it abundantly clear that ihe evacuation thus proposed is essential for the proper defence of the Settlement. This is where women know how to do their part, By removing them and their children from the affected area, their menfolk will assure themselves not only of the safety of those dear to them but of their own best chance of coming through a perilous situation which demands concentration on defence should not be any week if the arrangements proposed are faithfully and loyally supported by the community, In certain circumstances which are admitted by the responsible authorities to be cogent, the presence of women end children may be a positive menace to the lives of their menfolk.
Since those lines were written there has been no criticism of them; in fact they have been virtually endorsed by the actions and considered statements of the authorities. It is therefore a cruel perversion of the facts to suggest that the evacuation was voluntary except in the sense already explained. As the authorities are anxious that these women should continue to show the fine sense of discipline which has animated them by patiently waiting until the situation permits of their return, it is only fair that they should not be exposed to criticism which might tend to undermine their fortitude and drive them to take the very action of returning prematurely against official wishes. The authorities cannot have it both ways.. They cannot appeal to the good sense and loyalty of the community which looks to them for guidance and at the same time fail to protect those who have responded to such an appeal.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.