To the Editor of the "Nonnt-Cinxa Dany News"
Sm—Is the "Morning Post" correct in suggesting that "we are helpless to. interfere" with reference to Japanese gression? And the question may well be asked not only with reference to North China but more particularly with reference to Japanese lone on China in the widest sense of the word.
May T suggest in the first place that possibly an Englishman may bes: answer this question for {wo reasons. First, beemuse we have already as a colonizing nation experience! many phases of "Imposition" and know the ultimate fulllity of "such; and second, because whatever the pros and cons may be, we happen to, be the one nation which has given rather tha taken from China within recent years, May T therefore suggest that the statement that Britain is helpless tacitly accepting an outlook on world activities which should not go unchallenged. Britain may or may not be helpless so far as physical force is concerned but she is certainly not helpless with reference to judg~ ment on the Fightness or wrongness Of Japan's many activities and. impositions in China. It will be a bad day for the world when such papers as the "Morning Post" accept without question the dominance of force as Against moral right, of national as: sertiveness as against broader and deeper world. interests. We are all acquainted with the outlook of the so called practical man, but surely fan Increasing number, among us capable of discounting "the dominance of assertive ignorance."
T'therefore write to suggest that such papers as the "Morning Post" should be encouraged to devote much more space and all their influence to an endeavour constantly hold before their readers the fundamental facts at issue, not necessarily to commend or condemn but rather to ensure that every nation may realize that to-day there a well-informed "public opinion" which sooner or later will Judge on the merits of the cases at issue, Tu the strenuous endeavours which have been necessary first to form and then to maintain the League of Nations, this essential condition for the eventtual successful functioning of the League has been lost sight of und it well that it should be strongly re~ asserted at this juncture.
Take my own particular case os an example, T have many friends. in both China and Japan and "Judgment" on the various matters fague, Tt ts therefore essential, east' to my peace of mind, that T should have such data as wilt enable me to Judge rightly on the various uestiens involved. And in every imilar case there must inevitably those who must judge and who will wish to base their judement on the most reliable data, available "To the question "What avail such judgments "without force to. supl them," T would reply that sooner oF ater' such Judgment will carry with them the actual commendations oF condemnations involved. The consummation of such may be delayed, but inevitably nations, just as me dividuals, reap the fruit of their outlook and actions. This has been #0 with reference to the colonizing zeal of Britain and it will be so with reference to Japan. Can Japan learn from our experiences? Possibly this ig going to be the real test of her civilization, Avon F, Banner, Shanghai, Dec. 5.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.