To the Editor of the *Now-Cunsa Dany News Sm—t do not believe that many Chinese, and T hope few Loreiguers, that have come Irom. your corres:
We are laou to accept as facts that "local Chunese are not interested the war" gid that fare not interested mn, Chang. a Ishek." Furuner, that. "most of them fare. pro-sapanése."" From this, curious tog.e derived" irom the above assumptions applying 10 people in tone ority -occepywg a few square miles of China, Discusren draws the [conclusions that "it is useless to pre fend any longer that shek "represeiis Ci the Chungking Government:
Discusree makes it very patent why makes such baseless "assumptions, It is simply because he. has grown weary of the inconvenience of con-Hinuing to do the moral thing in recognizing the rights of the Chungking Government in Shanghai today. He pretends that the reason for his weariness is the weariness of the local JChinese, but 1 wonder if he is honest with himself when he claims. the Jabove excuses for the plea that the Shanghai foreigner "has no right to up@ola" the Chungking Government?
a short step on the part of Discusres from his assumptions to his claim that it would be correct to invite the Japanese authorities to enforce law and authority in, as well }as, around, Shanghai, To treat first wich his assumptions, repeated in the charge that for the Chungking Government "the Chinese Ido not bother either to fight or deny themselves." This in. face "of. the fact that over a million Chinese soldiers have died for their country, thirty million civilians have been uprooted, and that millions more are prepared to suffer rather than yield the invader!
'There is, it is all too true, much that is distasteful in the altitude of many Chinese in Shanghai towards China's plight. Some extenuation satisfying' to the Westerner could Fethaps be found; but, even if none, fg it strange that patriotism in Ching [should express. itself in varied [arees and varied forms? The trans! tion of the loyalty of the Chinese 3 from the Family to the State is not easy one, for historical and social and (but not biological) reasons.
The Chinese are an intensely practical people, who have in the past. hai little reason to make (as we in the the West do, to our mutual immolation fetish: of patriotism and therefore have until recent days considered it 1 luxurious virtue, estimating it below other virtues which necessity has made more pressing. Thus it is that which the literati {and other "Mower of the land" somewhat unheroically: spare themselves, may have a sound utilitarian sane tion, 'And what, in fact, is the truth about the Chinese in. Shanghai regarding their patriotism? The problem pre= sents itself intellectually' to a rela tively smaller number than those 10 [whom it is an emotional issue, The latter will accept a un and die, provided a few dollars go to thelt Jaged parents. A. few will accept a foun even from the enemy, rather than see their parents die. "A clash of loyalties! Are the "intellectuals failing China? Would not Japan welcome their acquiescent immolation in the front lines? General Chiang has seen the danger and has insisted upon their conservation. Physical Jcowards among them of course there fare and all too many, but the class certainly docs not stand condemned the record throughout China is permitted to speak.
Shanghai is not typical of China, were, the scorched earth policy ented it being the is. Being an asylum, its Jcharacteristics must be different from those of purely native cities which have encountered the. invaders. the latter, the intel killed or fled their fate. Their say. here (mean outside the ballrooms)
bbe justified by many: urgent con-Siderations, such as' the patriotic ftelage of a quarter of a_ million There remains the question of foreign loyalties. We [them on the speci They disloyalties. Our Jeharacter is by perm not Japan. When acter dissolved, it is dissolw favour of China charact should be immutable, jeonsent, Our idk must be preserved. operand with any reached, and it may be desirable, it should not be at the expense of the {'settlement's historical international character, but should be predicated fon the fact of the Settlement's con Kinuing international Identity; on the fact that such identity derives. from sovereignty "and that 1 [Settlement <yreements with its neigh-hours are temporary, provisional, and determination of the janes and scope of Chino' sovereignty, Shanghai, Oct. 17, St. Dunstan's:
A Reader's Suggestion To the Editor of the "Nonrit-Ciuwa Daiwy News"
Sui read in your paper several days "ayo an appeal to Overseas friends from St, Dunstan's, Everyone knows of the wonderful work done bby them in training these blind men 80, they can become useful citizens, able to support themselves and their families. I receive from them yearly.
"book, giving details as to how the men are trained at their centre, after which they can secure positions as shoemakers, poultry farmers, massage assistants to well-known doctors. ete. These men are often visited by the officers of St. Dunstan's to verity their continued progress and well: being in their respective sphere of Joceupation. If, at any time, they are jin need of help or advice they can return to St. Dunstan's.
There are still many men blinded the last war who need assistance, and with the present war a very real fact, the finances of this Society will be taxed to a far greater extent, I wonder if you would consider starting @ subscription list for. the good cause. 1, and I feel others. Would be only' too willing to contribute, 'Many menfolk of this community Jare not altogether in favour of our knitting "and. bandage-rolling aetivites, but T feel sure that many would be only too pleased to assist St. Dun stan's, knowing their' contributions be used to benefit those who have suffered what seems to me one, not the greatest disability of war, (Mrs) Viotrr Teavwon activities, airing tte wat one the eww negettry uring th necessary during. the Outside Roads:
Pomp and Circumstance To the Editor of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.