The report that the Japanese authorities intend reopening Seekingjao Golf Course to players within the course of the next few days is one of the most welcome pieces of news that has emanated from north of Soochow Creek for many a long month past. It was inevitable that when hostilities commenced the course would be closed to the foreigners who have found so much enjoyment on it, and there was probably some degree of justice in the Japanese attitude concerning the desirability of keeping it closed so long as they had an aerodrome situated in the close vicinity. It was a case in which the plea of "military necessity" carried a degree of conviction, though there was naturally some annoyance felt that after that had disappeared there was still an indication of reluctance on the part of the Japanese authorities to restore the course to the Golf Club. This gesture coming at the time it does is all the more to be heartily welcomed as being one of those steps of which the taking of a comparatively few more would do so much towards improving relations between local foreigners and the Japanese. It is fortunate, perhaps, that golf has proved so popular in Japan itself, for thereby the Japanese had an excellent opportunity of realizing what the deprivation of one of the courses meant to the large number of players in Shanghai. With all the best intentions in the world many foreigners have felt that the continued failure of the Japanese to restore original amenities has arisen from a spirit of general "cussedness," but this restoration should serve greatly to remove what may after all be a misunderstanding. It is but natural that Shanghai will regard this gesture as a favourable augury for the future. The Japanese can still do so much to remove existing causes of friction, in connection with other aspects of Shanghai's activities that every move they make in this direction must naturally promote most favourable reactions. The return of Seekingjao may be a very small mercy, but it is none the less a welcome one as suggesting the early satisfaction of other desires along similar lines,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.