Oct, 25.
Any statement from General Hata, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese forces on the subject of the present hostilities, and the questions which arise from them will be read with interest, The interview which he gave to Reuter's special correspondent, is consequently of importance, though it must be confessed that he said in reality very litre that has not been said at one time or another by Japanese leaders during the past fifteen months. It makes no particular contribution to the consideration of the many problems which foreign neutrals are facing and gives no real hope that they will be solved at an. arly date. Nevertheless, a re-statement of the intentions of the Japanese high command. at this juncture is useful, even if it merely shows that little or nothing is being done to alleviate foreign anxieties in connection with certain developments. General Hata claims that all measures taken by the forces under his command were adopted because of military necessity. He also expresses the belief that their revision will be considered as soon as 4 real relaxation in conditions takes place. He also reiterates the well-known phrdse:—"As a matter of principle we intend to scrupulously the rights and interests of third party Powers; those interfered with will be gradually restored." The penultimate word of that sentence will be noticed with much, cynicism, for the restoration of those foreign interests, which have been interfered with, is at the present moment proceeding at an absolutely imperceptible speed. It may be Possible that the idea of gradualness is intend-€d to indicate some degree of- acceleration, and in that there may be some slight hope that something will eventually be done to which foreign neutrals are at present labouring, hibited without permission. rectify the very definite inconveniences un hot only in Shanghai but in practian areas which are now under Japanese dee! tion. It will be readily admitted that lof the limitations imposed upon third nationals were originally dictated by nit? necessity, but it cannot be believed that a necessity' sill exist, and has not in for appeared a very long time ago.
The list of points in this conncetio not include all that could be elted. ig: Shanghai and its environs there rining interference with the rights whic has been promised should be serupulcey® Tespected, To it might be added the important item of the omission by Japanese to permit the recommencenont™S conserving the Whangpoo, and a mare other matters. The facts are that though 4 fighting has been removed from Shangiy almost a year litle real effort has been by the Japanese to re-establish conditions ig Tghting in this aren. 1 i apparent vere 0 much upset by the outbred
'Question of righting original wrongs is nec cases being held up for the purpose tracting concessions of one sort. or another, and the matter of restitution is being ran': bargaining point. General Hata is quite coy, rect in his contention that some gricvaney arise from lack of appreciation of condite, prevailing in the zone of hostilities, "it, zone is now removed far away from Shanghst but in this locality no such lack of appre? tion can possibly exist in view of the vey patent testimony which is daily: before community's eyes. It remembers all the surances which have been given, and ai, to understand why #0 little has been done the responsible Japanese to full the uw, ertakings which they have given. Ie reaing quite well that there is no military necesiy for the suspension of the dredging of tu harbour, or the failure to return the Hongiee and Yangtszepoo districts completely to te jurisdiction of the Shanghai -Munfci Council. The latter is apparently being he {in an endeavour to obtain from the authori of the International Settlement concessou which can only be lawfully made by the many Powers interested in its maintenance, It mut be always remembered that the constituon of the International Settlement is a mate of international concern, and not. something which the Municipal Cotineil could or should be constrained to deal with, The return of foreigners to their station the Interior i another outstanding ample, as is also the failure to reopen th Yangtze to Third-Power navigation. So for a5 the Japanese trader is concerned he hat returned to his old post on the heels of the Japanese armies. Preparations have beer afoot for some time past for Japanese his. ynessmen to return to Haniow with al despatch after its capture, some concen: having already purchased "the usual. oft equipment to replace that which has prob ably been taken away by the Chines Foreign neutrals fave not found it so ea to get back to their stations, and. the foe that the Japanese do, must of necessity carr the conviction that the military authors fare discriminating against other national, and in that way continuing to prejudice toe Foreign interests which it has been s0 often promised should be scrupulously. respect. Reports from north China indicate that th same processes. of obstruction of and dlicrimination against third party nationals being followed. There is there, for example po conceivable military necessity dietaling the prohibition of the export of vod, virtually creating a monopoly for tht Japanese, In this respect not only foreign interests not being. scrupulously spected, but are actually in the process destruction, It is for reasons such as the foregoing that there is not much consolain to be found in the fresh assurances which General Hata has given. They indicate 10 early approach to the removal of the necessary restrictions placed upon—forcien neutrals, and merely serve again to emphasize the wide variance which. exists between Japanese undertakings in this matter and the manner of their fulfilment. The bona feet jot the authorities responsible are belt tested by the prevalence of these unfortunate conditions, for it must be quite evident thst continuation of them constitutes just 9 much a breach of those assurances, a8 Wi? the original ect of interference, zenerats, "The Japanese' generals, are <2"
The Japanese Government is ruled
/manded by lieutenant—M, Leon, Tvotsks to bea universal pastime, has' no allure {O° Swimming the Channel, which now apt Falling in love is entirely accidental. Tit use making rules about how to chao the ideal mate—Archdeacon Swanson.
"Who's Who" is an impressive compilation But for everyday use there ought to b° 2 Pearson, "Who's Who in Who's Who: "te. Hest mat it is extremely aiticlt to"hear. weal Elocution everywhere to-day is so spat said even in a room, let along in a theatt®—Sir Barry Jackson,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.