The announcement that the districts north of the Soochow Creek would be opened to former residents as from 8 am. on Dee. 15 will undoubtedly ladden the hearts of many who for four months have been deprived of the nse of their homes, but It has to be pointed out that the concession which the Japanese authorities have made In this respect 1s but a small contribution towards the restoration of those areas fo their full working value, Tt may be found that the conditions which the authorities have imposed fre altogether too irksome to make life for forelgmers.in Hongkew, Wayside and Yangtsze-'Poo either convenient or enjoyable. "On the other hand the arrangement now made, imper= fect though it is, may be regarded as a step in the right direction and on that score is to be welcome, What Shanghai so earnestly desires, however, 1s some scheme whereby" the me dustrial facilities of the place may be restored to full working order. That it has every rea: son to expect, more particularly under the ossurances which have been given that Japan desires to interfere as little as possible with the interests of neutrals in China. Those interests, locally, have been and are still being impaired through lack of opportunity to. get back to work and the longer the resumption of normal activities is delayed the more does the neutral suffer. Tt is not too much to hope that the Japanesg authorities will give this aspect of the ease their most sympathetic consideration and by producing a more workable and extensive scheme contribute to the reduetion of the damage which is stilt being done,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.