A Development of Situation in North China Nanking, Nov. 23, The recent developments in North China have brought about a significant change in the attitude of the Chinese press, which {s every day. showing! signs of del ance of the rigid cenuc>- ship now in force.
Chinese newspapers are accustomed to publish only such news as is per~ mitted by the Government Bureau of Censors, and violation of Its regulations hitherto has brought sever disciplinary measures. In the past few days, however, all the Chivese newspapers here have been openly criticizing the press censorship policy which, they state, has placed the Cri-nese people completely in the dark concerning vital developments in their country's affairs. Public Ignorance at such a critical time is, In their opin-fon, "most dangerous," and they are agitating for a change in the Guvernment's policy in the matter.
The "Central China Dally News" which rarely prints editorials, to-day devotes half a page to one on the question of censorship, urging that the resent "Irrational" system of news Censoring be greatly relaxed. The Journal begins by deploring the lack of public interest in State affairs, despite the present extremely critic! developments in North China, and explains that this is solely due to the fact that the authorities hitherto have chosen to withhold from the public news of Important diplomatic developments.
Continuing, the journal says: "Such an irrational system of censorship is completely demoralizing, and, if continued, the Chinese will become How can a deaf and dumb natio organize a State and exist on"earth"
The journal urges the authorities to ce-operate with the press and formulate simple regulations governing news which may be printed and that which may not. It advocates, apart from a few explicit restrictions, all news concerning diplomatic developments, intrigues against the 'State, personalities involved in foreign comments, trustworthy news carried by foreign agencies, and reports on patriotic actions on' the part of the people should be allowed to appear freely in Chinese newspapers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.