This, said the Major, was mot satisfactory, It was nece: along with the Japanese ver: must appear a statement by the correspondent agreeing that the Japanese investigations were correct in finding that no such thing ever took. place.
Very naturally he refused, whereupon the staff major blandly said it must be done adding that, "the incident had aroused much feeling and your personal safety may be endangered." The veiled threat seemed obviotis to the correspondent who demanded. immediately if a threat were intended. The bland reply was mo threat was there but the item about personal safety was repeated. The correspondent, obviously not so perturbed as he was by then supposed to be, said he considered, it suspiciously like a threat and he would report it to the British authorities, The staff major went on to accuse him of *malicious intent" in publishing the story and this drew as hot a rejoinder as the personal safety touch. Finally, tiring of the 1 melodrama, the correspondent left and duly reported the veiled threat to his Embassy which duly made representations to the Japanese Embassy, holding the Japanese author ties fully responsible for anything Qut might happen to the correspondent.
"Bluff Called"
Nothing more has yet been heard by the correspondent from the "court of enquiry" and the Japanese official version of the incident has not yet been received. The correspondent is still safe and well and expects to remain so. The bluff was tried and the bluff was called and there the matter will probably rest.
The strange thing is that while the story was generally known in-official Chinese circles, in Chinese journalistie circles and in foreign diplomatic Circles and was used by more than one correspondent it was only the One correspondent who received the attention of the Japanese militia authorities. He is still wondering why he was particularly singled out.
A friend whom you have been gain ing-during your whole life, you ought not to be displeased with in a mome at. A stone is many years Becorin' a ruby; take cdre that you do not destroy it in a moment against another stone.—"Gulistan" of, Sa'di,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.