Tok:
Dee, 15.
Commenting on Britain's rights and interests in China, the "Chugai Shogyo," leading Japanese financial daily, says that although Britain is constantly denouncing Japan on the ground that her rights and interests have been impaired by the hostilities in China, not much study seems to have been made in Britain, much less in Japan, of the nature of the British rights and interests there.
Declaring that it bears no special enmity against Britain, nor has it any inclination to hold her rights and interests in contempt, the daily comments that it would be absurd for Britain to contend that Japan is in the wrong because she takes military action in a country where British rights and interests are enormous.
Of course, Britain will not be so foolish as to advance such a theory, the Tokyo journal goes on, but it appears that Britain's criticism of Japan is chiefly based on the belief that Japan ought to show greater consideration for her rights and interests, "Do the British rights and interests in China merit such special consideration on Japan's part?" it asks, "Into Two Heads"
The so-called British rights and interests may be divided into two heads, the journal proceeds. One consists of the rights and interests which Britain possesses by virtue of treaties or contracts concluded with the Central or local Governments of China, These include some important items, but are mostly common to the Powers. For instance, extraterritoriality, the right of stationing troops and the ight of riparian navigation belong to other Powers as well as Britain, It is true that Britain has certain special rights and interests born of loan contarets, but some other Powers are in a similar position, It can hardly be said that British loans alone are inviolable and transcend' all others, Britain may regard the position held by her subjects in the Chinese Maritime Customs and the custody of the Customs revenue by British banks as among her rights and interests, but these privileges are founded merely on usage, There is no legal basis for the arrangements, nor is it of a permanent nature.
"The second category covers and interests which do not fall under the provisions of treaties," the newspaper goes on, "and although Britain may hold these to be of equal importance, they are, after all, merely investments in commerce and industry, shipping, ete" Although it is difficult to make an accurate estimate of the extent pf Britain's investments in China, the fact is undeniable that her investments exceed those of any other Power. It is also easy to imagine that the revenue accruing to Britain from these investments amounts to a large figure.
"Legal Backing"
Whereas the rights and interests of the first classification have legal backing, it is doubtful whether those of the second group can rightly. be termed rights and interests, They are, so to speak, the "forms which British activities in China have, taken." Economic activities are subject to the vicissitudes of the times; they are not of a constant nature. They cannot be maintained without constant efforts and sacrifices "Especially when hostilities are in progress, as is the case at present, they are inevitably exposed to a variety of risks. Investors in any part of the world ought to be prepared for such contingencies," the paper asserts.
As regards rights and interests of the first groups, especially those which are exclusively British, the Chugai Shogyo says, they must, of course, be respected, but if Britain wants to maintain them unimpaired, she ought to take the matter up with China, who is the other party to the treaties or contracts cóncerned. "It is hardly proper for her to question Japan's responsibility over (China's head,' the journal concludes.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.