The statement relative to British interests in Wuhan which is published in another column is interesting as being another enunciation of the undoubted rights of Britons and other foreign neutrals to the quiet enjoyment of thei properties, rights and interests in China, re-gardies of the fact that Japan is engaged in undeclared war against China. The possibility of a Japanese advance on Wuhan Hat led the British residents tü-take thought for the protection of their rights, and the scheme outlined seems to be just about as satisfactory as could possibly be' devised. Interests of considerable importance are widely spread throughout the area, and while the Special Administrative District No, 3, the former British Concession, is set aside as a central rallying point, those who have remained behind in Wuhan will, wherever circumstances permit, remain on their propi es giving them as much protection as possible their presence there. It is realized that this decision may present the Japanese troops with added inconveniences, but British residents in that city have the right to continue the pursuit of their lawful avocations and to maintain themselves on their properties wherever located, and they have every right to expect that those rights will be scrupulously respected by the combatants. The same is true of other foreign neutrals and the fact that approximately 1200 Hankow foreign residents have decided fo stand by their properties places upon the two opposing forces the very great obligation of seeing that no harm comes to them either advertently or inadvertently. The Japanese contention that all Chinese remaining in the three cities are to be regarded as combatants must necessarily give rise to the gravest anxiety for it adumbrat the contemplation of un-peasant eventualities and an endeavour te justify beforehand what may happen in the future. Indiseriminate bombing of the Wuhan [cities from great heights must considerably [endanger the civilians residing there without any particular attention being paid to military objectives which can alone justify the bombing. There can be no complaint of air-raids directed against military objectives, bul reckless bombing can only call for the gravest condemnation.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.