On Saturday morning two Japanfee soldiers walking along Nanking Road had apparently lost their bearings. Approaching a: Sikh constable on traffic duty they saluted, asked how to reach their destination, were cour-teensly told, and then, they with equal politeness saluted and went on their way. A small incident in itself, but significant when compared with others which took place or came to public notice last week. It serves to prove that the courtesy, for which the Japanese have always been well known, still exists, and that the unfortunate occurrences concerning which the Municipal Council has felt obliged to make protests to the Japanese authorities may still be regarded as exceptions rather than the general rule, Whether that is so or not the foreign communities of Shanghai" would like to believe such to be the case, and, if at the moment they find such a belief somewhat difficult to accept, li is hoped that the Japanese authorities will take such action as to lend it corroboration.
Of the assaults on British members of the Municipal Police Force it may be said that the two cases under notice present rather different aspects, and varying degrees of seriousness. Any attack on the uniformed members of a force organized for the purpose of preserving peace and good order is a serious matter. It is unlawful in itself, tends to diminish the authority of the force and is an insult to the governing body from which it receives its mandate. That it also reflects upon the commanders of the men guilty of these incidents is also true, for it leaves the unfortunate impression that they are not controlling their men with all the efficiency which is to be expected of them, and suggests a lack of discipline which it is difficult to believe really does exist. From that point of view it is possible that the Japanese authorities will regard these offences with just as much gravity as the municipal authorities, and it is consequently hoped that they will take such steps as to bring about a greater regard it for the persons of foreigners, whether in the uniform of the Shanghai Municipal Council or not.
There is a wide difference between the two attacks on British members of the force. Bad as the treatment of the foreign probationary sergeant and his senior officer was at Brennan Road, that in which two more senior officers of the force were maltreated at the headquarters of the Naval Landing Party was more serious. Whether there were any provocation on the part of the former officer is entirely beside the point. It was the duty of the Japanese involved, had there been any improper behaviour, as they allege, but which the foreigner denies, to have reported the matter to the proper authorities and to have refrained from taking the law into their own hands. It is to be assumed that if any member of the police force is at any time guilty of conduct likely to bring about a breach of the peace he will be adequately disciplined and in making such a complaint, the Japanese would have been assisting the municipal police in the execution of their duty. The incident at the Naval Landing Party's headquarters is a different matter. A complaint had been made against Inspector Bennett that he had held up a military motor cycle. Whether he had or had not is entirely beside the point. At the request of the Japanese authorities he called at headquarters to explain the matter, and it is alleged that he was detained and subjected to ill-treatment, and that when he failed to return to his station after the lapse of some time, Superintendent Sinclair went in search of him and was himself molested. Inspector Bennett was not obliged to make the call be did, the Japanese naval authorities hav jurisdiction over him, taken as one of courtesy; but the importance] i of the matter is that this was not the case of a wayside fracas, but an assault, or rather two assaults in the headquarters, a place where it is to be presumed that authority does prevail. In view of all the circumstances can it be surprising that the reports of these occurrences have aroused the greatest indignation in Great Britain as witnessed by the Press comment which was reproduced in residing in this international settlement are entitled to expect the completest ce-operation from the Japanese community, whether for the moment it is under naval and military control, or under the leaders who function in more normal times. It is as well that there should be straight talking on the subject. Moreover it is necessary that the non-Japanese paint of view should be represented to them with all the force which courtesy permits. No one for a moment will deny that these are dificult times, times which require the greatest forbearance on the part of everyone as much on the part of the victorious Japanese as on the Chinese and foreigners who live within the boundaries of this city. Isolated displays of irritation and, perhaps of ar-Togance maybe not completely avoidable, for tempers are apt in days such as these rapidly to become frayed. This should at all times be borne in mind, and if the members of the Japanese forces can be brought to understand how greatly the small incident mentioned at the top of this column was appreciated by those who observed it, they will realize how little is necessary to make an effective contribution towards lessening local tension which must of necessity be increased by occurrencies of a completely different complexion. Those two Japanese soldiers who went down Nanking Road unconcernedly on their way, probably failed to notice the appredative glances which followed them. It is so easy to maintain the peace, as yet so difficult to restore it when once it is broken.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.