Queen steam into Boulogne harbour a veil will drop from the statue of Britannia erected by the French to commemorate the landing of the British Expeditionary Force in the early days of the Great War, and for the few days they will remain in France they will be continually reminded of the efforts of the King's grandfather, Edward VII, who brought about the Entente Cordiale and established the foundations of that friendship, sealed in the blood of the youth of the two countries and knit in common sacrifice. Their Majesties' visit is to be regarded as one of significance, for it reaffirms the friendship of the two countries and dashes to the ground any hopes at might be entertained elsewhere that a wedge could be driven between the two ations. It is a confirmation of existing solidarity, of mutual confidence and the determination, common to them both, to uphold those democratic ideals which are the life blood of their constitutions. It is a de Faced with a situation of unparalleled difficulty as a result of the continued acts of terrorism which have achieved nothing but to undermine the state of law and order in the International Settlement, principally, the Shanghai Municipal Council has issued a new proclamation in which it announced its determination to take the firmest action to put a stop to these activities. Under the terms of this proclamation, any person committing offences against armed forces in the Settlement will be liable to be handed over to the armed forces concerned, and expulsion and deprivation of the sanctuary of the Settlement will be applied to people committing armed crimes or found in illegal possession of arms or explosives. The Municipal Police are given wider powers of search for suspects and arms, and substantial rewards will be paid for information leading to the apprehension of terrorists or the seizure of un-Authorized arms. In this way, the Municipal authorities hope to give a definite check to the wave of terrorism which has swept the Settlement in recent weeks and threatens to involve relations of a neutral area with armed forces operating in the vicinity. As this journal has pointed out, this is the only practical way of dealing with the situation and enabling the Municipal Council to maintain its authority against those who have been abusing the hospitality of residence and protection to carry outrages and acts of violence with which the International Settlement has no concern. For the past week or so, there has been a tightening of police surveillance and search because with the approach of the first anniversary of the outbreak of hostilities in Shanghii it is not to be expected that the day will pass unnoticed by bomb throwers and pistol users un stern measures are adopted to prevent o repetition of the events of July 7. This journal! feels convinced that the latest action of th Municipal Council will receive the unreserved approval of all law-abiding residents, Chinese [and foreign. monstration to the world at large that Anglo-
French friendship is something wi real which has to be taken into consideration in every development of European politics. Historically speaking it is not so long ago that the English Kings laid claim to the crown Hankow Prepares Every sympathy will be felt for the gallant band of foreigners who have decided in the interests of their businesses to remain in of France and blazoned the flour de lys upon their coats of arms. France was a very troublesome neighbour bearing out the remark of the Emperor Nicephorus that he would rather have her as a friend than as a neigh-hour, and England found in her relations ith France all the disadvantages of pro-equity, When all that had transpired during the latter half of last confu called it is astonishing that it was ever possible affect a rapprochement between the two nations, for short of war it was impossible to conceive of two countries being further apart, It may be that France and Great Britain knew each other too well, or not well enough, for if there was not distrust there certainly was misunderstanding. Yet it was the understanding and love of Edward vil} for France that eventually brought the two nations together, and the part he played it those days, if nothing else, stamped him a ight the statesman he undoubtedly was. Centuries of bickering vanished a t seemed overnight, and the genius of friendship, the desire for amity was abroad in the two land Great Britain had done what Nicephorus thought was impossible; she Idd secured France as a friend and was ultimately to prove her a good neighbour, Age-old ani modities had hidden the fact that in t national characteristics of the two countries there are qualities which are complementary of each other. It is best to be portrayed in the figures of John Bull and Marianne, the bluff, muddling romanticism of the forme being more than offset by the keen realism feminine Marianne. The French n has taken British royalty to its heart before. There was every evidence of respect and admiration for King George V, and now that his son and his wife are to pay a formal visit the preparations which: have been made during the past few weeks indicate that th State visit ut it a personal quality has at which must appeal to the people of both countries. It is a pretty thought that for some time past French school children who will see the royal processions through Paris ave been learning the British tional Anthem, and that on occasion treble voices will be raised in petition for the safety of "our gracious King.". France has prepared to tal their Majesties to her very generous heart, and it may confidently be expected that the warmth of the Parisian welcome. will be great y appreciated by the peoples not only of Great Britain bu t of the great Commonwealth of which she is the nerve centre. jo attempt to give thi: t cance than it really h lready been pointed out, it is impossible to intensify a friendship ba on such firm foundations as that between Britain and France. To endeavour to do so would be a work of supererogation. for that amity has become part and parcel of the common polic the two It is not to be t of, that it will eve be weakened, it would be a bad thing for the rest of Europe if such a catastrophe ever came about. The bonds of sentiment, of remembrance of the past would be sufficient to keep the two countries together, but situated thi are at the present time, the only real bulwark of democracy against the menaces of totalitarian ideologies, an urgent common interest brings Great Britain and France into a relationship hich must and will remain indissoluble.
But while the two nations ai in their loyalty to each other they are just as deeply pledged to peace, and the fact that they are united for the purposes of a common defence in no way diminishes their desire that peace shall permanently be brought to the world. Their friendship has proved a stabilizing factor in Europe on several occasions during Hankow and it is hoped that matters will not turn out too bad for them. It was not to be thought of that there should have been a general flight from the city, and after all those Whose presence is not essential have left, those remaining will settle down for what may prove to be a very exciting time. The decision to remain is on the whole a wise one, for it has been clearly shown that where foreigner: have vacated their stations on Japanese adv it has been very difficult, if not impossible to obtain permission to return, and some of the interests in Hankow require that they shall be kept under supervision, even if conditions do not permit much trade being done. It should not be difficult to arrange between the two opponents for a special area in Hankow to be set aside for the accommodation of the foreigners remaining behind, and those refugees who cannot for one reason or another, be evacuated from the city. The problem presented should prove no more intricate than the establishment of the Father Jacquinot Zone in Shanghai, and it merely requires good faith on both sides for a similar scheme to be put into operation at Hankow. Reports indicate that it is proposed to hold the ex-concession areas as safety zones for the foreigners remaining, and some Chinese, and if this is done, there is no very real reason why those residing within that area should not do so with perfect safety. The remarks alleged to have been made by the Japanese military authorities in Shanghai concerning the "incomprehensible" attitude of the nationals of third Powers at Hankow are difficult to understand. They are not remaining there for the purpose of protecting the common Chinese people, but to safeguard their own interests. It may be argued that the Japanese authorities are quite capable of doing that, but the impression which has been formed by foreign neutrals in China is t the efficiency of the Japanese in such matters justifies them in thinking that they could do it somewhat better, or at least with greater benefit to themselves.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.