burden of responsibility from the two principals to third parties albeit non Indifference to the possibilities further attacks on the Settlement Jeannot be condoned by _splitting chairs. That is. why, despite the failure of previous "peace talks" and attempts at local adjustments, the serious attention of the Governments fof the world is focussed on Japan' attitude to the proposal that Shanghs should be isolated under a guarantee fby British and foreign contingents for the preservation of peace and lorder in the neutral zone. That proposal appears to have the support of Jatt the powers interested. China is stated on responsible authority to be Inclined to favour it, but may defer [her decision until word comes from Tokyo. Japan has now a golden Jopportunity to prove her sense of reason, She has not a good world press by virtue of the manifest implications of her aggression in North [China and her actions which have inlvolved Shanghai in the present tragedy, If she {s inclined to further Jobduracy she will undo much of the good which her local representatives have accomplished by their efforts to Jstave off the consequences of her major polley, She will earn a re-Jputation which can do her material and moral damage almost beyond repair. Tt cannot be thought that she is impervious to conviction of persuasion on this point, Her local Jeommanders have humanely given {facllties for the passage of ships containing Chinese refugees—a measure which greatly contributes to the easing. for the situation. They and the Chi-Inese forces have not turned @ dear lear to representations impelling them respect the evacuation of foreign nationals, Can she not complete this polley of beneficence by joining with China in the non-controversial enterprise of allowing neutral forces to safeguard general interests in the Tnternational Settlement, French Con-Jeession and Shanghai os a whole? She would be then relieved of the stigma of having permitted her armed forees to shelter themselves behind the helpless bodies of civilians most of whom have no concern in the main Jquarrel between her and China. Without desiring to use harsh Tanguoge It is really impossible to Javold the comment that if Tokyo. [falters in thus listening to the voice of humanity the charge which Japan wil ultimately have to answer at the bar of world opinion may be crshingly destructive of her national prestige and reputation.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.