To the Bilitor of the "Nonri-Curva Datty News."
Su,—The present local situation is so heavily charged with nervous tension among the foreign, especially Britivh, community that it calls for prompt and cool-headed handling by] both responsible Chinese and foreigners interested in the preserva-tice of peace and order in Shangh Tt will not do to let baseless rumours, scare headlines and the natural fears lof violence run amuck in further Jdeveloping hysteria, mutual sus picion, and sullen hostility.
The time has come for the sane Jelements of the entire commui net together, di the situate ing tension is broken and the elec-trifled atmosphere discharged, ans untoward event may set off the spark to the powder magazine upon which we all seem to be sitting. therefore, behooves all persons like-minded is the preservation of sanity. reason and good counsels to act Jonce anc together. towards. re-estabolishing a rational and stable from that will lessen the pos ty of creating "incidents" if hot prevent them altogether. Getting together would in itself prorate batter fealing. The community should not. permit itself to compart into sections, each walling itsd way from the rest, nurturing. its own grievances and engendering] bad blood.
There must be a will to peace. the men of light and leading in this leommunity can help public opinion form it. War clouds can only be dispersed by the will to peace, which will also prevent the present comp-Hicated situation from getting out of hand.
If the Chinese Chamber of Comrmeree enn be induced to invite or convene a popular meeting to plan a ce-operative move to ease the general tenseness of feeling, will the foreign nationalities attend? This is not a "feeler" but a simple suggestion and a query. The writer is not too sanguine that the suggestion will be generally approved, but he submits it in all sincerity of purpose for the public good. If this method lof getting together be thought unsound, one is not s> bigoted as to resent a better plan, but will welcome any good plan' to achieve the object in view. After all, Reason shall prevail over brute force by whoever utilized. The issue is pi ind the whole community, both Chi. nese and. foreign, can have no difficulty in facing it Tam, ete, H.C. Met
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.