These considerations apply with as much force to the question of the western area as they do to the reopening of eastern and northern districts for the purpose of industry. Im the absence of any known real reason justifying the limitations still imposed, the question is naturally asked as to what the Japanese intentions are. Is it intended to maintain a strangle hold on the industrial areas, until by the flux of time they are completely ruined? The impression that this is the case is widely prevalent and the Japanese alone can remove It. Much would be done to allay prevailing suspicions if the Japanese authorities gave an example of their good faith by meeting these requests which have so frequently been made, The Hungjao area should be open to foreign residence with no greater restrictions than are imposed upon foreign residence in the eastern and northern districts, Precisely the same curfew regula~ tions would make it possible for foreigners to return to their homes there, whereas the' existing rules definitely prevent it." If there is insufficient police force properly to administer the district, the responsibility falls directly on Japanese shoulders: they have had all the time necessary to develop such a force, and the fact that they have not—if such indeed be the case—is but another justification for the criticism which is being freely expressed, If it is argued that the district has not yet been sufficiently cleaned up, then it must be pointed out that the speed with which the Japanese cleaned the districts north of the Soochow Creek, justifies the belief that they have not been' displaying the same celerity west of the perimeter. If that is the case then they lay themselves open to the charge that they are discriminating against foreign neutrals, and in the discrimination damaging those' very interests which they have promised to respect. From all of the foregoing it should be apparent to the Japanese that much of the misunderstanding of which they complain is entirely of their own creation, Its removal is just as much matter for Japanese concern, and this Journal and the foreign community of Shang~ hai would welcome any action on the part of the Japanese authorities which would help to remove the uncomfortable suspicions which have been created in the minds of many.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.