The issuance of the municipal proclamation, dealing with the question of terrorism, ind the unlawful carrying of arms, seem to have been the occasion for another local Japanese attack upon the Municipal Police Force, for according to local Japanese newspapers, Japanese residents are anxious to prevent a repetition of the outburst of terrorism that claimed the lives of some of their ce-nationals on July 7. A statement issued on Monday by the Foreign Relations Committee of the Japanese Residents' Cor. poration, according to the "Shanghai Mainichi," bitterly assails the Shanghai Municipal Police for its failure to seize "even a single culprit" guilty of the outrages on that day. The President of the Japanese Residents' Corporation is reported to have handed to the Japanese Consul General a demand that more drastic measures against the terrorists shall be taken by the Municipal Police, and it is reported that the statement alleges inefficiency on the part of the Police, due, it is said, to "lack of training" and "neglect" on the part of responsible police officials. This journal has already drawn attention to the fact that, commenting on the arrangements made by the authorities of the International Settlement on July 7, the Japanese Army spokesman paid those responsible a very high tribute for their efficiency, and if there appears to be now some difference of opinion as between {he military and a civil organization such as the Japanese Foreign Relations Committee of the Japanese Residents' Corporation, there is more than a litle likelihood that it arises from the desire to create embar-assment. The fact is, as the Tokyo police know only: too well from their own bitter experiences, that it is wholly impossible to foresee and forestall outrages of this character, and if such a fact is recognized in Tokyo, common justice requires that it should obtain the same recognition when criticism is indulged in of the Shanghai Municipal Police. The facts are that the authorities of the International Settlement and the French Concession during this past year have displayed a wholly remarkable and praiseworthy efficiency upon which the comparative and general good order of the city has been entirely dependent. Allegations of "lack of training' and "negligence" are not only untrue but indicative of the type of mentality, which, in view of the very obvious facts, indulges in such wild allegations.
On the other hand, a more pleasing piece of information is to the effect that the Japanese Consular Police authorities are urging Japanese residents in the Settlement to observe the regulations of the' Shanghai Municipal Council, and more particularly No. XXXIV of the By-Laws. This particular measure deals with all licensing questions, and if the exhortations of the Consular Police authorities are obeyed by their nationals, a large number of abuses which have been apparent on the streets during the past few months should rapidly disappear. There is no reason whatever why motor vehicles owned and operated by Japanese civilians, whether they are resident in Hongkew or any other portion of the Settlement, should not pay their just dues. It is of course possible, as the message carried by Domei states, that owing to the large influx of Japanese into the areas north of the Soochow Creek, large numbers of new-comers are unfamiliar with the requirements of the Shanghai: Municipal Council. But it should not be difficult to persuade them to come into line, and the time is looked forward to when: all the various undertakings which require licenses, public health supervision ana similar precautions, will be carried on in conformity with regulations which have been proved satisfactory by experience over a large number of years. This endeavour on the part of the Japanese Consular Police authorities to ce-operate with the Municipal Council is most heartily to be welcomed, and, if carried out with that efficiency for which the Japanese are remarkable, should do a great deal towards the betterment of relations all round.
Reference must also be made to the Councils proclamation regarding the suppression of terrorism. It is obvious that only strong-armed methods are likely to be effective in dealing with that wretched type óf person who seeks to carry on hostile activities against individual Japanese, taking refuge behind the skirts of the neutrality of the foreign areas. There is not one single redeeming feature to be quoted in favour of those people: responsible for the coniemptible acts of July 7. There was nothing of military value in the throwing of eighteen bombs, for all it amounted to was a few deaths, the majority of which were of unfortunate Chinese, and a corresponding number of injured. The Council has now armed itself with powers as full as it is possible for it to secure, in view of the peculiar circumstances concerning the government of this city. Their decision to put anyone carrying unlawful weapons out of the International Settlement, where, of course, the guilty person would have to take his chances, is the only method whereby the neutrality of the International Settlement can be vindicated. The provision that persons guilty of hostile acts against armed forces in Shanghai shall be handed over to the forces involved may have about it a certain rough and ready justice which in other more settled times might not be particularly commendable. But it has to be emphasized that the primary duty of the authorities controlling the foreign areas is to secure the greatest degree of peace, order and safety as may be possible in existing circumstances—and if there are Chinese or a others who by their actions are likely to endanger the rest of the community, it is eminently desirable that, if and when caught, they should be placed in such a position that they will be unable any longer to prosecute their nefarious activities. ec Solo To Ireland Douglas Corrigan, the young American airman who "thought". he was flying from New York to Los Angeles but instead crossed the antic and landed in Ireland, has a spiritual conspirator in C. K. Chesterton. Corrigan is of the obese poet's rollicking ballads have a dis-Irish descent and Chesterton was English but tinct Irish "blarney" about them and anticipated such a venture in the ballad describing "the night we went to Bannockburn by way of Brighton Pier." Corrigan crossed the American continent to New York where he refuelled for ostensibly a return trip to Los Angeles in hi 1930 remodelled machine, but once in the ai he saw the Lindbergh trail stretching before him and without worrying about any official permission {o make the flight—a matter of great importance nowadays in view of prepara tions for assistance in case of accident—he headed for Ireland, With imagination, a stey heart and confidence in his machine, although of ancient vintage, he reached his destination after flying 2,800 miles. This seems to be the story behind the flight although Coi another explanation, which it is gravely sus pected he made with his tongue in his check in order to account for serious defiance of governmental regulations. "I thought all along I was en route to Los Angeles until I saw the hing smacks off the Irish Coast and I decided that I must have got my directions mixed." Inspection of his machine, which has only the barest equipment in comparison with the laboratory-scale machine used by Howard Hughes on his recent world flight, must show that he flew 28 hours against his 17 hours from Los Angeles to New York. The Atlantic is not blessed with tranquil weather conditions but sometimes the sea can be seen from the air.
But this is by the way. Corrigan flew—the Atlantic in one of the most courageous efforts yet witnessed in the history of aviation, and although the "blarney" version of the explanations may do something in regard to easing the penalties, if they exist, his flight will attract deservedly world-wide admiration. The raising of official eyebrows will not detract from it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.