'The new King's Regulation which was' published in the columns of the N.C.D.N. on Dec.
will be welcomed by those who have watched [with some concern the activities of certain newspapers published in the Chinese language funder the cloak of British ownership. By it ILI, M. Ambassador has been given wide powers with which he should be able to check the publication of matter which should not be published in view of the prevailing circum. [Stances, Obviously it is improper that Chinese publications hiding behind British extraterritoriality should be permitted to publish articles fuct only offensive to nations with which Great Britain is in amity, but actually offensive to Great Britain herself. The terms of the Re-Jgulation make it quite plain that respectable [publishers have nothing to fear. They will be required, if they publish matter in any other: language than English to take out their licence, land in that respect there has been no disferimination against any particular section of the publishing world. But it fs made quite: clear in the terms of the Regulation that those who are aimed at are those concerns, which, under a thin cloak of British nationality, are disseminating matter calculated to endanger the good relations which should exist between the various communities in such a place us Shanghai, and more especially in the peculiar: circumstances prevailing. It has been claimed that this regulation amounts to the estal ment of a censorship. In fact it does though it does provide the authorities means to correcting an abuse which has already een noticed. Tt constitutes no check upon newspapers of British ownership properly conducted, and it Is not to be believed that the powers thus given to the Ambassador will be ised in any capricious manner. The freedom fof the Press is very jealously regarded by the ordinary Briton, but when that freedom allowed to degenerate into lence then obviously a time has come for halt to be called. Tt should also be noticed that with the exhibition of the Regulation in H.M. Consulate. General on Dec. 20 it became immediately effective, and is now necessary for all firms publishing newspapers, pamphlets or other publications in any language but English to Obtain the necessary licence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.