Some Pertinent Reflections the Editor of the "Nonru-Ciaxa Dany News"
Swit is now over two years since" Japan, began its attempt to conquer China thus, there has been ample time for every Chinese loyal to Chiang Kai-shek to realize that there Is dire need both of his ser-viees and of his money. One would have expected, then, to fud Shang-hal denuded of able-bodied Chinese (we might exclude the coolies, few of whom can realize what the war about) and to see what fow who are unfit {0 ght practising very Feal economy, In order to provide funds for his (or her) hard-hit country. Actually, Shanghai (one of the hated' Foreign Settlements) is, grossly over-crowded with Chinese of every description, who are cer~ tainly not fighting and apparently not denying themselves at all for their country, Places of amusement ore full of 'Wellsto-do Chinese wno, were they citizens of any other country engaged in a life-and-death struggle, would most certainly have enlisted' long ago; the streets are full of cars" (yes, even in these expensive times), the great majority which are not foreign-owned. Had China put its back into the war as Japan has done, this mighty re-Public would certainly not be in the straits in which it is now, Lot us face the facts; local Chinese ave not interested in the war; if they. were, they would both fight and pay, Instead of taking refuge and enjoying safety "in a Foreign Settlement Which many of them profess to wish abolished, This being so, why should the foreign Powers not face up to the fact that as the local Chinese are not interested in Chiang Kai-shek, and, further, that most of them are ro-Japanese, it is useless to pretend Any longer that Chiang Kai-shek represents China? To the foreigner who realizes what Chiang Kal-shake has done for China and is still trying to do to preserve its independence, it is simply tragic to see the nonchalance so indisputably evident in Shanghai; but the foreigner, what-fever he himself feels, has no right to uphold "a Government which the mass of Chinese does not uphold. Foreigners did not come here interfere in Chinese polities; we do hot expect the numerous Chinese Scattered about" the British Empire infinitely more numerous than the British scattered about China) to meddle with polities, we expect them to recognize the de facto government, whether they happen to approve of oF not, Had the Chinese in these parts done their utmost to repel the Japanese, then we foreigners would realize that their acquiescence ju the present state of affairs was due solely to force majeure; and then Wwe should indeed be fickle if we ignored what is now known, ominously, as the "Chungking Government." As it is, foreigners are surely under no obligation what fever to recognize a Government Which the Chinese themselves do not Fecognize and for which they do not bother either to ght or deny them= selves.
Therefore, since the Japanese have been in power round here for nearly two years already, and since the Chungking Government shows no sign of ever regaining control over this district, I maintain that it is time the Consular body gots into Immediate contact with the local Japanese authorities with a view to fenforeing law and order in and around Shanghai, This muddle has one on long enough; nor Let us deal with Japanese hirelings; whatever may call themselves, be it king." "Nanking" or "The Municipality of Greater Shanghai" Governments, not one exists but the grace of Japan—and by its active help.
Ili any case, the local "authorities" have had ample time in which rove their worth by controlling the badlands"=—as they. have not even done this, clearly their competence ig not such as to invite the confidence of foreigners; nor can one be impressed with innumerable police haunting' roads already " patrolled while they do nothing whatever to assist the S.M.P. by arresting and handing over criminals who' have found safety in districts for which they alone' are responsible. (A policeman armed with a rifle patently of little or no value; what happens to the rifle if over its owner tries to chase or arrest anyone?!)
The long-existing impasse into which the unfortunate extra-Seltle~ ment district has drifted should be ended at once; the SMC. (or the Consular body) and the Japanese (as representing the real authority Ju the "outside" areas) can surely thrash out "a scheme whereby the entire district should be governed by one authority, who should. provide, everywhere and for everybody, law and order.
Shanghai, Oct. 15, EDITOR (continued)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.