To the Editor of e "Nonru-China Dany News" since the outbreak of the local hostilities it has been impossi-Die for British merchants to enter the China Merchants' Central and Lower "Wharves to either inspect or remove their goods.
Lists of goods stored in these godowns were forwarded to the British Consulate and the Chambers of Commerce many months ago and as far as one can learn no progress has been made in obtaining permission to move cargo. Surely the time has come for the powers that be to take a strong line and demand that repute able British merchants be permitted to remove their goods without further delay. Many firms here are being slowly strangled by having to pay interest on drafts and other holding Charges for goods they cannot get delivery of and from present appeavances it looks as if the impasse will continue for months, Since Consular negotiation appears to be futile is it not possible to obtain speedy action by our naval and military leaders taking this important matter up with the Japanese naval and military authorities direct?
I wish Italy all the wealth and prosperity her people need so much but, personally, I think that she is not likely to get anything but bloodshed and hardship and poverty by playing the infant terrible of Europe ard Signor BARZINI'S cry is one not of. friendship but of desperation. I know that the reply from Italians will be both that Italy is prosperous and happy under the Fascists and that che is so poor and miserable that the rest of us are nothing but big brutes to refuse her our charity but these contradictions are worth nothing compared to the reply that if given by Italy and implemented by Italy and Great Britain would sweep the sky or all its thunder clouds, namely: "We are a proud and a fine people and we cannot beg and do not want to fight.... Which we know can only result in death and impoverishment for us all Give us freedom to trade and live on terms of absolute equality wherever you trade and live and we shall give you the same" Italy would gain more than she lost by this exchange and there is nothing between its fulfilment and herself but this same blind old sacro egoism.
MoRAL DISARMAMENT.
Shanghai, Feb. 11,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.