Kerosene, it is stated, is still obtainable in Canton, notwithstanding the decision of the three leading oil companies to stop all de-Niveries into the province until the internal tax recently announced by the Kuomintang is withdrawn. Nevertheless @ few days ago was learned that practically all the garages had been put out of Jcommission through the absence of petrol, and there can be no doubt that @ very serious inconvenience the public has been caused. This, of course, was what the companies anticipated, trusting that thereafter public opinion would so assert itself that the tax would have to be withdrawn, The authorities, however, appear to have hardened their hearts, for the "Canton Gazette" says: inconvenience Hin, being it'may be foreign business. firms are arranging fo"lport li from sources of Supply tee thatthe pablic requirements are innet at reasonable rates and the new Importers ted proper facil tien to. esta brands int In the controversies which have taken place over the price of petrol, this entry of rival firms into market is exactly what many people have been wishful of, so doubtless they will welcome the state of affairs brought about in Canton. Japan as a permanent exporter of oil, however, seems a somewhat doubtful affair, for in the past it has generally been reported that her policy was to conserve strictly Jher domestic supplies. As _for Vladivostok, i is not generally sumed that' she is in a position to give supplies, graph that she fs. Bu from whichever source the supply is to be obtained, will the companies find themselves any better off than the A.P.C. Standard Oil or Texas companies? Once any of these new concerns: gets a footing, it is as likely as not that the local government will want It to pay the new tax, and the case will start all over again. rds the Panchen Lama, organon Easter Sunday. Had this ceremony taken place on a week day, it might have passed without comment. But that Dr. Reld should choose the day of the greatest festival in the Christian calendar is tolerable. In to us on Saturday Dr. Re ated that Dir. Kok's letter was actuated by personal animus, not by. principle. We know nothing of Mr. Kok's motives, though his letter bore no trace of what Dr. Reid suggests. But there is certainly a very great principle at stake and Dr, Reid has been far too long in China not to know what it is, He knows perfectly well that the Panchen Lama regards himself and is regards by millions of others as the Living Buddha; would regard the thr ing Stainer's "Crucifixion" music on such oan occasion, we do not. know: we 49 know how most "non-Buddhists would consider it. "To sum up, Dr. Reid and. his associates have. in: duced a large number of people of the Christian community—of whom the kindest thing to say is that they allowed their eurfosty to. outrun their scute of decency-—to. combine in an act of public worship of the head of another religion, to the Accompaniment of music, dedicated mare pecillarly than any other to the Head of their own. To talk, in these circumstances, of attempts bring the different religions think with respect or tolerance of each other, oF whatever' the formula may be, is mere _hypoerisy.! We have no' wish whatever to ap: pear to speak slightingly of the Panchen Lama, far from it, or of the Buddhist religion, "Bue that religion is fundamentally alien to the Christian and those who desire to be loyal to the latter, especially in the land of China, where double caution needs to be preserved, will
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.