It is to be hoped that every care will be taken {o prevent the disap-Pearance of Mr. Kuramoto, Japanese vice-Consul at Nanking, being transformed into a major issue. It is true that an occurrence such as this in the capital of a country, especially when so well policed as Nanking, is kely to have wider " repercussions than usual owing to the strained relations which at present exist between China and Japan. Occurrences such as these are unfortunate at all times, they are even more to be re-merited. There is evidence that the Chinese authorities are doing their utmost to arrive to a solution of this mystery, and there is a suggestion that the Japanese authorities in China are not dissatisfied at. the energy which is being displayed the matter. The hope may be expressed that things may not ultima-rely turn out as badly as it is now! feared, though, perhaps, that seems improbable; ut talks in Tokyo of th possibility of taking drastic action should the Chinese not prosecute their investigations to the ealisfac= tion of the Japanese Government are greatly tobe deprecated. So. also are suggestions to the effect that some deep, Machiavellian intrigue ie the cause of the disappearance. It is Possible that the whole mystery is capable of very simple solution. That is devoutly to be hoped, but it is necessary at this present juncture that people should await the revel tion of all the facts before endeavouring to place blame which may never be justified. That is advice, which may profitably be adopted" by oth sides as tending towards the best solution of a mystery which if! improperly handled can do nothing exacerbate feelings which ought by now to be diminishing.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.