The opening of all areas north of Soochow Creek for residence and business to non-Chinese, 8 announced on Sunday evening, may be something of a "belated Christmas gift," but, looking this particular horse in the mouth, may be remarked without discourtesy that it is not much of a present. All that has really happened {s that what has already been granted will no longer require the passes and such like Paraphernalia. that were required under the older rules which have now been superseded. It represents but a very small advance towards solution of the problem which has been created by closing these areas to the public, a problem which wilt remain unsolved unfit Chinese are allowed to return there to work and live. The explanation given at yesterday morning's Press Conference concerning the proposed Iniction
the Japanese military law does not clarity the dearn and, other penalties according matters. It is unthinkable that any foreigners who may cafe to live in the reopened areas would be so foolish as to commit any of the offences described by Japanese military law, and if they did the Japanese would be perfectly entitled to seek redress, But where those foreigners are under the protection of extrater~ ritorial rights, which according to the Japanese official spokesman there was no intention to override, administration of these military rules {in the ease of an extraterritorial foreigner would effect amount to an Interference which can of be justified in the circumstances. It is con~ ceivable that such a foreigner doing something had a perfect right todo under his own Jaws might incur a charge of violation of the Japanese military rules, Is ho then to be taken before a Japanese court mart charged and sentenced? Chinese such a thing occurred then not only would there be Interference with exterritorial rights, bhut they would have been completely set ai naught and over-ridden. Tt would seem that the most the Japanese authorities could possibly do in such circumstances would be to hand the man oyer to his own consular authorities, who might find no grounds upon which to take
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.