Praising the British authorities' recent action imposing a licence system for publications not in the English language, the "Yangtze Hermit," a frequent contributor to the Shanghai Mainichi, on Friday advocated the making of the British regulations retroactive and the adoption of similar measures by the American authorities, that the "North-China in its editorial of December 22 had stated that "the new King's regulation....will be welcome ed by those who have watched with some concern the activities of certain newspapers published in the Chinese Language under the cloak of British ownership," the Hermit expressed the hope that "this Regulation will not be a mere diplomatic gesture toward Japan, but firmly put into practice."
"Poisonous" Propaganda The commentator said he had frequently pointed out on previous occasions that the Chinese, publishing newspapers in the vernacular registered with the British authorities so as to evade "Japanese coutel, were engaged. in isseminaing empty lies and indulging in poisonous anti-Japanese propaganda" and had demanded rigid control against these publications by the British and American authorities.
Stressing the need for making the Regulation retroactive, the Hermit pointed out that saturation point had already been reached by Chinese publications in Shanghai, "Consequently," he continued, "it can be estimated that those that will appear anew will be few in number, while it is a fact that newspapers now being published are doing most of the harm."
"The best manner in which to serve the purpose of the new Regulation," the Hermit stated, that its provisions be applied to the newspapers mentioned above. If these are immune from the new Regulation, the rules -will fall short of their aim."
Pointing out that there were many newspapers of the same type pubbs ed under the cloak of American Ownership. the commentator said he hoped that the United States would follow the British example.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.