To all intents and purposes Shanghai is now ringed by Japanese forces which are in military control of the Chinese territory surrounding the International Settlement and French Concession. The position is unenviable, even though it undoubtedly connotes relief from the extreme dangers and hardships of the last three months. The complications attendant on the triple polity of this city of over 3,000,000 people produce anomalies which have their amba rassment for the Shanghailander and a for the military authorities now charged with the dual task of continuing operations in the field beyond Shanghai and yet maintaining order in that part of the City which ha as now fallen temporarily into their hands. General f Matsui is credited with c aments which have been precipitately interpreted as if they were formal announcements of policy So far as can be judged the substance of n be regarded as the outcome of a soldier's desire to emphasize the extent of his recent victory. This journal sees no reason to alter its view that General Matsui is not likely to overlook the peculiar status of the foreign municipal ar He would not lightly attempt to burden himself with problems which would distract his attention and divert his energies from his main pre-occupation—the successful prosecution of operations in the field. Those who have—quite naturally perhaps—been impatient to ensure the restoration of certain amenities at the earliest possible date will have to realize that the Japanese Commander-it Chief must place first the security of h forces and their freedom to continue their offensive. In so far as that object is faci-lirated by the prevalence of normality in Shanghai he will no doubt be disposed to give such matters attention. There is every indication that he will be anxious to avoid an ion which might be calculated to retard the application of remedial processes to the stricken organization of this city, On this point Chinese and Japanese interests coincide. Just as for the Chinese of Shanghai, who have done all that they can to maintain their national sympathies, the immediate concern is the restoration of norality or as near normality as conditions t, so for the Japanese command the ation of Shanghai as a liter; liability is equally desirable. That naturally will be brought about by a general effort on the part of all concerned to ce-operate in pre-g civic equilibrium At this moment the mental distress of majority of Shangh g to the i's citizens ow [occupation of their itary fo: military force is recognized and evokes pathy. They will however. have the practical commonsense to agree that, since the armed forces of their country, after a gallant resistance, are now beyond Shanghai's contact they cannot do more than hope for an ultimately satisfactory outcome of the policy which inspired the general acceptance of Japan's challenge. Here in Shanghai there is much work to be done in the provision of relief for distressed Chinese civilians, in furthering the medical care of wounded soldiers now virtually interned in the foreign areas. Without provoking actions to which the Japanese military authorities, could take logical exception energies can be concentrated on this humanitarian work and still vindicate Chinese Shanghailanders' patriotism. In other respects it is necessary for all citizens, whether Chinese or foreign, to order their occasions in the light of the occupation which has now been established under General Matsui's direction. Activities and expressions of view which might have been proper before that occupation can no longer be indulged without breaching the public peace. Dignity alone demands frank acceptance of that situation for efforts to evade it or to act ds if it did not exist can only lead to aggravation of the general distress and so to an ignominious exposure of their futility, Destruction and worse have been endured by Shanghai with sufficient fortitude to acquit its citizens at this hour of any lack of courage or independence. Shanghai has now to work for Shanghai and by so doing it will best serve the cause of China, It were no benefit to the Government if perversity here were to expose this city to further strife when the means for continuing that strife on the only lines which could possibly be effective have disappeared. If the attitude -of the Japanese military authorities be dispassionately considered from the time that their ring has been placed round Shanghai it will have to be admitted that they have shown considerable restraint, have even displayed anxiety to facilitate the normal working of the administrations of the two foreign-controlled municipality. It will not be denied that this directly benefits the vast Chinese population of those two areas and actually gives a guarantee that, provided reasonable regard be paid to the realities of Japanese military control outside, those administrations can continue to function, That development must greatly contribute to the restoration of such parts of the dislocated machinery as can be put into running order even though the economic end other disabilities of the moment jate irksome. This does not prejudice the view which has been taken of the rights and wrongs of the present conflict, It bars no eventual effort to ensure that due attention is paid to that view when the termination of hostilities leads to discussion of the future.
Indeed the sooner Shanghai can recover some of its main sources of commercial, social and financial activity, the better will Chinese citizens here be able to throw their full weight into the scale of such negotiations. That time unfortunately has not come. For the present Shanghai has to regard itself as an internee. Such a position demands courtesy, respect and consideration for those who have by circumstances assumed certain responsibilities for the administration of areas which no longer are controlled by Chinese authority. Those obligations weigh with special intensity on the Citizens of the foreign areas, for the comparatively greater freedom which they enjoy imposes the necessity for a corresponding restraint in the interests of the community as a whole and of the great city itself. From observation of the conduct of the Japanese High Command here there is ground for the belief that if these principles are observed it will be ready fully to ce-operate in.ensuring the immunity of Shanghai from unnecessary restrictions on its legitimate activities,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.