The resumption of work by two Japanese cotton mills and the probability that several more will resume in the near future, coincide ing with the announcement that many of the restrictions on residence and trafic in the areas occupied by the Japanese Army are being relaxed mark important steps in Shanghai's march towards normal. The reopening of the mills will help to absorb a portion of Shanghai's unemployed, while peasants will be able, after compliance with the regulations, to return to what the war has left of their homes and so relieve the burden of refugee support which has become increasingly heavy as the hostilities have dragged on, month after month. For the relaxation of the restrictions on visits to the occupied areas to become really effective, it is necessary that the Japanese should see that confidence is restored and the organization for the preservation of law and order should be tightened up. So long as there is a chance that there may be a repetition of some of the regrettable incidents of the past, the humble peasant will be chary of leaving the comparative safety of the foreign zones. This fact has doubtless been appreciated by the Japanese, since a return to normal in this part of China would ease them of very serious responsibilities, and leave them free to devote more attention to the problem of sorting out the chaos which reigns in other districts in the Yangtze delta. It is satisfactory to note that this question has been successfully tackled in some cities, such as Hangchow and Kashing. The need for the revival of confidence was well illustrated in the account of the developments in Kashing given yesterday by the Japanese embassy spokesman. Though the utilities in that city have been restored, there are still only 8000 Chinese living there, though ihe number is increasing by hundreds daily. There are still 90,000 former inhabitants who must be persuaded to return. It can be taken for granted that the majority of them are willing enough, and are only waiting for the necessary assurances.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.