To the Editor of the "NogrH-CHINA Dalny News"
Sm,—After reading Awrrt-HUMBUG'S letter, the question "Why bring back the old spectre again?" arose in my nwa.
Those who are today condemning Japan for her ruthless atrocities and for her opium traffic, do so with the hope that it will have a deterring effect and not out of spite.
I (ye we desire [o (and nor could D excuse the alleged untoward actions of certain elements of the Chinese army which got out of con-tol in Nañking over 10 years ago. An amende honorable has long since been made and the matter should Well be relegated to the forgotten past, What a handful of Chinese [Soldiers have been accused of, is noth-Wing comparable to the large scale of Unspeakable acts perpetuated recently by the invading army of occupation upon defenceless Chinese civilians. 1 ar proud of our under-equipped ye behaved like gentlemen in their because our officers and men
defeat and retreat.
They are much more gallant than their victorious Toemen.
The opening of the old wound is evidently done maliciously since there ds no plausible motive, but this is in self a high tribute to our boys be-Cause their enemies are unable to find anything condemnable against them ju the present struggle and had to fall back on what their predecessors have been accused of a little over a decade ato. The reason for the rattling of the old skeleton must be obvious and scarcely need any comment 4 It has been charged by said correspondent that some Chinese officials themselves have condoned opium trate. If his charge is true, it wi done contrary to the state policy and the recalcitrants are gradually being weeded out. While at the present time it is practically the national Policy of Japan to deluge China with Mareotic to undermine Chinese resistant power, Even before the present hostilities had commenced, Japanese fon ins and their Korean counterparts have played an important role in the Wistribution of opium and kindred drugs in China, These are under the Protection of Japanese Government and their apprehension and conviction Jean only be brought about after a rear deal of difficulties.
The charge against Japan today is jot that she introduced narcotic into Lacv's letter as "It was an effort—I hope not deliberately planned—to give a false impression." Surely, if it was an effort to mislead, it must be deliberately planned. On the contrary, if it is not deliberately planned then it cannot be an effort to mislead. It looks fo me as if your correspondent did not quite understand Mr. Lacy or that he is certain Mr. Lacy had inferred the sole responsibility rests with Japan.
My poor country may be considered backward by your correspondent, but I think in some way we are more liberal than the United States inf freedom of speech, Foreigners who darken our doors can freely express their criticisms whether justified or unjustified against our people or our government without the slightest fear of being taken to task by the authorities or manhandled by mobs. I would not dare to root for Germany in the United States during the World War and nor my sense of propriety would permit me to do this.
Your correspondent also criticized Chinese Oxford Grouper for referring to his wife as one of the great women of the world, I think many people even think their wife or sweetheart the greatest woman in the world but not many have the opportunity or the courage to say so in public utterance. Is it humbug to say what one really and truly thinks?
Ekwun Voice has correctly stated the danger that is confronting non-Japanese foreign interest here and the threatened expropriation of foreign oil investment in Central China is already in the offing. He who speaks without regard to the interest of his national group is truly a good and fair man unless he does so out of self-interest, placing his own personal interest above that of his national group.
Methinks that it might be more appropriate to dehyphenate your correspondent's nom de plume, it being more fitting. cbh.
Shanghai June 23.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.