and children and the exclusively. masculine and able-bodied character of the newcomers gives obvious solidarity at a time such as this.
No. sensible observer can take stock of the situation without bringing into account the potentialities of this conflict. Wholesale destruc tion has been at work in Shanghai, The International Settlement {tself has suffered heavily. Although—with reservations which unfortunately derive from stubborn notions of prestige—both parties to the conflict are anxious to avoid doing further damage to the Settlement, realizing as they must do the incalculable harm done to their respective reputations by the ghastly hhavoe of last week, it is impossible entirely to ignore the powerfulness of modern weapons of destruction and the limitations imposed on their accurate control. Friends of Japan will deeply regret the blindness of her military leaders to the implica~ tions of actions which, contrary, of course, to Japanese traditions, appear to expose civilians to the invidious position of being an involuntary. shield to aggression. 'This immeasurably complicates the task of the [Chinese forces who, under instructions of their Government, appear to Ihave received direct' orders to make every possible effort to avoid further damage to the International Settle-iment. In this matter the British [Government has shown its readiness to relieve the Settlement and at the same time to give the Japanese Jasturance regarding the protection of their nationals. The scheme for the assumption by neutral forces of responsibility for maintaining law Jand order in Hongkew and Yangtze-}p00 so as to facilitate the removal of Japanese warships from their moorings in the heart of the Settlement is itself an earnest sign of good intentions toward both China and Japan. [China will recognize that its adoption would involve positive foreign faction in defence of Shanghai and Japan surely must perceive that rejection of it by her would convict her of a monstrous indifference to the Jdletates of humanity. and commonsense.
the foreign community in Shanghai and the British in particular welcome the assurance that in the stage-by-stage evacuation of civilians "general evacuation snot contemplated", to use the oficial words, Foreign interests in Shanghai are not comprised merely in the vested property of urge firms, immensely important though they are. Staggering as have been the blows Inflieted on those firms it will not be pretended that their resources are. unadequate to bear the strain, always assuming that a steadfastness inherent Shanghai's tradition is maintained. Paradoxically it is perhaps to the "small man" thet the Settlement looks for basic support. He it is who bound to stand by the place where hho has acquired his livelihood and to which he has individually made a contribution of definite cumulative significance, He Invokes the memories of his ancestors who, through the centuries. have been pioneers in commerce and trade. For him stout and stubborn loyalty to the Settlement is the cardinal point of polley. Even that does not fully cover his stand.
building up the Settlement foreign effort hes been well reinforced. by. Chinese enterprise and Chinese citizenship. This trouble, it anything, thas brought Foreigner and Chinese closer together. A loyalty to each other transcending the material and, in their way, vital considerations of economic and commercial integrity is well-entrenched. The situation, in the eyes of all Shanghailanders, demands firm ce-operation with Chi nese citizens in maintaining Shanghhai's commonalty, The admirable manner in which the Shanghai Municipal Council is devoting itself to that end consequently provides splendid tonic and must greatly assist the efforts of the defence forces.
Faced with what is unquestionably the gravest crisis in its modern history, "Shanghai cannot indulge in unreasoning optimism. It has to accept the fact that, even if the crisis were to be suddenly and magically solved to-day. there would be months of effort required for preparing the' return to normality. Optimism {s not of one kind alone, The spirit which says "hang on," "carry on" and "press on" is the most powerful solvent of perplexities, During the last week countless examples of that spirit have been offered by individuals and organizations here. It is far better buttressed than it was in the early stage of this travail. The defence forces have been increased and themselves provide a sure shield behind which the moral and mental resistance: to aggression can be effectively developed. Moreover the improvised instruments of repair, reinforcement, remedy and reconstruction are being sharpened and prove their effeacy in ministering to the material needs of the community as well as inspiring efforts to conquer dimeulty, This! progress in defying disaster cemented by the loyalties of Foreigners and Chinese to the civie polity which their business and social cooperation has evolved. Shanghai remembers that never yet has it failed to counter the threats to Its corporate Ufe and, vividly poignant as Is the picture of its presently shattered con-aition, it still holds to the loyalty which' recall that from every setback it has invariably. arisen. stronger and more vigorous than before. What has been done before will be done again, It must be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.