When sickness, grave or light, overcomes anyone between the phases of articulate childhood or inarticulate old age, the indomitable spirit which is in man invariably makes an early—usually too early—petition for medical grace to "get up". The doctor demurs, makes a kindly promise of future complaisance but for the moment prescribes patience and no desertion of the sick bed. So it is not surprising that Shang-hollanders who are nothing if not indomitable should be at pains to discuss ways and means of extricating their city from its present affliction, The diagnosis of their condition has lately been forthcoming in a courageous review by "Finance & Commerce", extracts Of which were reproduced in this journal. In brief the argument was that Shanghai must be prepared to face "hard times" but should not plunge so deeply into despair as to talk about "collapse or anything approaching to it". Shanghai just now is showing a mild improvement on conditions obtaining a month ago, partly owing to special activities arising from the local war itself and partly owing to the capacity of its own fat to provide it with sustenance for the time being. That means, of course, that further deterioration is to be expected and that it will be accentuated by the probable state of isolation which continuance of hostilities in China generally will produce. Over the critical period Shanghai may look to be carried by.the determined efforts which are being made to keep the current of commerce flowing. Yet even that picture may be too dark. The patient, however, must not depend on being allowed to "get up" too soon. The malady has not run its course. The application of remedies has to be deferred until it is possible to ascertain the actual extent of the inroads made on a robust constitution. Meanwhile Shanghai has to be grateful for the die-hard spirit of its citizens, Chinese and foreigners alike. They have not allowed the immensity of the disaster to daunt them. They are ready at the slightest sign of encouragement to start the ball of commerce rolling again; they have definitely succeeded on a modest scale.
In due course it will be appropriate to insider the possibility of providing against ture threats to Shanghai's security. It is natural that thoughts should already be turned to that problem. It is necessary, however, to confess that the time is not ripe for more than academic speculation on it. Until there is ground for defining the political conditions created by the struggle still proceeding it would be a mere waste of energy and time to proceed beyond the assertion' that some means should be found to maintain Shanghai's status as a world city ministering to the commercial requirements of China and the Far East. Much will depend on the outcome of the Brussels Conference. The matter may be left there, so that Shanghailanders can concentrate on the effort to carry on. Past history shows how remarkable are Shanghai's powers of recuperation. Even if it be admitted that the present is the gravest blow ever inflicted on the city, there is no reason to believe that those powers will fail although they will no doubt require more time for their exercise. Prophecy cannot be attempted with any degree of satisfaction; it will have been noted that "Finance & Commerce" argues that there is "little likelihood of any fundamental change in Shanghai's commercial situation during the next twelve months". That conservative estimate should not be regarded as menacing. It should brace every citizen here to the effort which preparation for recovery demands.
So Shanghai may be forced by doctor's Orders still to keep in bed but it will not allow itself to be reduced thereby to complete inactivity. Daily the symptoms of its malady will make their demonstrations. Thunder in the air, wreckage on the ground, casualties, suffering and distress cannot be at once eliminated. Yet the essential currents of social and economic life are kept running, feebly perhaps here and barely discernible there, but they are not completely blocked and each day may see a removal of obstruction if vigilance be allied to alert initiative, The coming of the winter season which, judging from the crop reports in the interior, could have been so full of prosperity for Shanghai as for China as a whole, gives a stimulus to well-devised ce-operation. Fortunately there is no sign of panic or ill-considered despair. Shanghailanders are not inclined to take rebuffs lying down. That was signally shown when uncertainties at the beginning of the crisis gave rise to the fear that this city was to be left to its fate. With one accord merchants who identified themselves with Shanghai repudiated acceptance of any such policy of scuttle. The firmness met with immediate response. From that moment there could have been no real anxiety for Shanghai's future. Political conditions may change, but adaptability has ever been a mark of the growth of Shanghai and will not fail in the solution of this crisis, whatever form that may take, always assuming that statesmanship has not entirely lost its grip of realities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.