(Continued from page 444) is not possible, therefore, to apply keep an' alert. memory for the academic standards with perfect 'Massey Report's findings on the satisfaction. For example there is economic plight of the pullers.|a distinct' impression that Mr. Buchman, knowing, as a man of hhis experience must have known, that Japanese susceptibilities re~ quired special treatment on his adventure, was not sufficiently careful in the method of approach to the task allotted to him. That he was within his rights can hardly doubted. That he exercised—or attempted to exercise—those rights with reasonable delicacy and diffidence is by no means clear. Shangha! teaches nothing if it does not teach that a considerate regard for the feelings of other nationals is an essential part of the mental equipment of all who seek to share in the life of this great and by no means unworthy city. When the action of authorities—civil or mill= tary—are brought under examina~ tion, full allowance must be made for their sense of responsibility in the event of there'being a.disturbance of the peace through some miscalculated effect of an otherwise legitimate proceeding on the comfort of others.
When that is said, all has keen said in justification of the three official parties in the episode which has secured attention beyond its actual merits. The Police and the Officer of the United States Government were obviously concerned to avert anything like an international incident. They were right and, on that account, deserve the commendation of their superiors. 'The Japanese Naval Landing Party gained its point, It obtained legitimate possession of the film, after having stretched its other' rights beyond strictly legal mits, So far as the Japanese are concerned the incident is plainly closed. No ob~ Jection can be taken to whatever use they make of a film which has been handed over to them by proper authority of the United [States Government. It seems, how-fever, desirable that they should consider whether the result is really satisfactory to their nation, In effect the liberty of a citizen hi been plainly breached in order to prevent the undue exploitation of the doctrine of force. Great pains were taken to put their action in the most favourable light. Special emphasis was laid on their courtesy to the point of glossing over the undoubted fact that Mr. Buchmar was practically compelled to enter their barracks and, if not forcibly detained, was at least constrained to remain by the device of with holding from him what was his personal property. It is necessary to elaborate these points, for other wise there is danger that the prin ciple on which the Japanese authorities appear to have acted will be accepted by default of cor tradiction, Whatever may be the Jaw in Japan, it is emphatically not the law in Shanghai that-a photo~ grapher ina public place cannot take photographs of the scenes within focus merely because a naval or military authority is of the opinion that that focus covers an area which, for some reason oF other, is." regarded as "secret". [Japanese Shanghailanders are rightly Jealous of their nation's reputation. They will surely demur to the suggestion that that reputation has to be safeguarded by an indulge fence which amounts to the humour ing of whims which, In any other nation, would be dismissed superfluous, to use no stronger term. This storm in a teacup will not have stirred Hongkew in vain it appreciation of such a point of view eventually commends itself to the Japanese authorities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.