To the Editor of the.
Nonra-Cuixa Dany News?
Siz—The latest North Herald—of January 2—just to hand, contains a very alarming article, dated December 17, from Mr. Rodney Gilbert. The length of time at present occupied by mails in transit between Peking and Shanj hai, takes off considerably from the effect of such articles upon even the most impressionable readers hhere, for much may or may not happen—generally -not—in the interval between writing and reading.
Meanwhile Peking continues to be as calm and peaceful as ever—in spite of such alarms and terrors as are hinted at—under the protection and discipline of the 1st Kuomin chun, who carry on as they have heretofore, with.or without the presence of their leader and organizer, under the efficient control of his subordinates.
The same sort of alarmist reports were common in your columns—and I think from the same pen—a year or so ago, following the "coup" of October 23, 1924, and now, as then, are being happily proved to be groundless. But while Pekinz residents, owing to the interruption or delay' of communieations—it_ is} an ill wind that blows nobody any good—are spared the main effect of such published rumours and alarms, it is not so with our friends at a distance and especially at] Home who naturally place great reliance upon reports appearing the gplumns. of the "N. C. Daily News," and whose fears and apprehensions for our safety are s0 much the more aggravated. As ona who has lived for a good many years in Peking, among the Chinese in the Hutungs, T would respectfully suggest that' such sensational speculations as to what might happen, are quite uncalled for, and that a' more moderate tone would be acceptable. Compared with other places in China, Peking has been.and is better controlled than most, and the: powers that be deserve credit for the good order generally maintained, Journalists, like other folk, must live of course and the legitimate writing up of the situation is desirable, "while we all enjoy Mr. Gilbert's admirable and lucid style, but protest is timely as to the: frequent appearance of stich unnecessarily alarmist articles. T am reminded of the old lady of Rennes, at the time of the Dreyfus invest igation, who remarked to her board. ers—some of whom were journalists Just arrived to report on the inquiry,—"Well if there be all the fa men: they made all trouble in 1870 and they will again.'
Tam, ete,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.