It is satisfactory that the British Government has "affirmed its intention of continuing to support the International Settlement in, Shanghai, There will beno disposition to question the wisdom of that decision, In fact would have been surprising any other view been taken of British sponsibilities here. To the evacua~ lon of women and children general endorsement will be given. It is an obvious "measure of precaution to} reduce the commitments of the defence and police forces and to enable the community as a whole to concentrate on the task of preserving the Settlement in the dificult contions created by the upheaval. For that take no able-bodied British. man is unfitted to give assistance. Every one should be able to do something to assist in keeping the machine running. Moreover it is a paramount obligation on the British as one of the chief founders of the Settlement to ensure that nothing is loft undone for the proper discharge of their duties to the Settlement and to the important Sino-Foreign community which has grown up within its confines. It is cheering to get from London the authentic note of British acceptance of responsibility. Even now' there is no reason why some' measure should not be devised to Bin] shelter both the Settlement and the 10] French Concession from the dangers of Sino-Japanese belligerency. The events of the last few days must} have convinced both sides that by 12 destroying the Settlement they would inflating chief damage on their respective commercial interests. There is hardly any need to laban that point. The comments of local Chinese and Japanese civilians would strongly reinforce the general opin [ion of the community as a whole.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.