Sept. 17, Those acquainted with the niceties of diplomatic intercourse and the temperament of the British Minister at Peking will realise that the revelation by ptain Eden that Sir Miles mason has expressed his disappointment at the delay of the Chinese Government in furrishing a report on the disappear ance of Mr. John Thorburn conveys more than the words themselves normally would indicate. It is now over a month since this matter to in these' columns," beyond refer few fugitive comments on Various reports regarding the stage of the enquiry, Restraint patience have been display: ed by the British community recognition of the difficult which the Chinese Government have experienced and are still experiencing. There " should, however, be some reciprocity. 'A month ago, an apparently aus thetic report from Nanking indicated that General Chen Yih's enquiry had, to all extents and purposes, been abortive, This Was almost immediately coi tradicted by well-informed opinion. It was shown that General Chen Yih was making a second visit to Soochow in order to follow up additional clues. Since then he hi rined to Nanking and, presumably, he been in a'position to submit aport to the President of the National Government and Commander-in-Chief by whom it Was peremptorily " ordered. Making all allowances for the slowness of oficial procedure in any Government office, it is still necessary to be critical of the delay which is now oceurring The position has advanced considerably from that in the first week in June when the local Chinese authorities denied even the presence of Mr. Thorburn near Quinsan, denied, in fact, that any Chinese soldier had been killed, although one of them was actually dying in has pital in Shanghai, It has not been admitted in so many words, but the mere fact that the second enquiry by General Chen Yik was undertaken establishes the Chinese Government's cognisance of Mr. Thorburn's adventure and disappearance.
Most important fact of all, the results of Mr. A.L. Scott's care ful investigations have so fa held the field, Nothing has happened to rebut Mr, Scott's findings in any material regard, The only question which requires an answer is how Mr. Thorburn met his death, and when, because it is unfortunate-certain, by this time that his disappearance must connote the extreme improbability of his being now alive. General Chen Yih should have been able long ago at definite conclusions.
investigations would involve a pretend that great deal of research. Military units do not disappear into: thin air, Their commandants are known and able to make reports, and General Chen Yih's authority as sufficient to have elicited complete information as to all the happenings within the military area where Mr. Thorburn disappeared. It seems, therefore, pertinent to remark that every day now passing without the presentation of his report will enhance the embarrassment of the Nanking Government. The Thorburn Case raises "a vital issue. Unless the Chinese Government can convince the British Minfster that frank and appropriately serious attention has been paid to" this allegation of very grave neglect of the duties, which any civilised Power owes to the nationals of a friendly country, the relations which have hitherto governed the transactions between the {two countries must be fundament. tally prejudiced,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.