The disability of paramount consideration is the refusal to re-open the Yangtze River. It is appreciated that this is a practical problem of some dimensions, but as it cannot be the intention of Japan nor that of Third Powers to develop mutually-hostile attitudes, there is surely room for removal of' existent misunderstandings which are, as yet, unguess-fed at. "An experienced and. skilful handling of relations between the two sides is certain to yield satisfactory results. Here again the problem calls for time, patience, ceaseless effort ana the sparing of no pains to bring stout a working arrangement.
The function of such negotiations, even if they do not achieve what they set out to accomplish, would nevertheless help forward the pur-[pose of bringing about or expediting that which would inevitably happen ultimately anyhow. As soon as all parties know exactly where they stand, they can either minimize losses or develop along constructive lines.
Japan, who has been so much occupied with hectic action, isnot Ukely to make the right decisions in this state of high tension, And it would best serve her own interests to mistrust her own judgment specially in the hour of military success, Nothing will clear the air more than some concrete act of Japanese good faith and what could be more Appropriate in this direction than the early reopening of the Yangtze.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.