Nothing but the completest condemnation can be expressed of the dastardly attempt on the life of Mr. G. Godfrey Phillips, Secretary and Commissioner-General to the Shanghai Municipal Council, on Avenue Haig on Saturday morning. Fortunately the intended victim escaped without any harm whatever, though that fact does not in any way diminish the seriousness of the matter. He is to be congratulated on his good fortune, while at the same time the hope is expressed that he will be afforded such protection as to make further attempts on his life unlikely. The "North-China Daily News," has at no time hesitated to condemn resort*to assassination as a political weapon as unclean and futile. This latest attempt is just as much to be reprehended, for no matter what the reason was for which Mr. Phillips's life was sought those behind the assassins must surely have realized that it could in no way have influenced the policies which it is his duty to carry out. He has of recent months been engaged in endeavouring to bring about a settlement of the much-vexed question of the outside roads, and it is learned on excellent authority that substantial progress is being made, and that the matter is in a fair way to settlement. It is inevitable, therefore, that the conclusion should be reached that this attempt on his life was designed for the purpose of thwarting that settlement, leaving it to be ascertained when ther the crime was a result of certain elements in the badlands fearing the outcome of an adjustment, or whether it was the plan of others more closely connected with the political aspect of the matter. There is plenty of evidence to indicate that Mr. Phillips was the intended victim, for his assail-lants appear to have made quite sure of his identity before opening fire. That fact affords ample corroboration "for the view that the crime was inspired by the desire to thwart that adjustment of relations with the authorities having jurisdiction over the outside areas.
It is clearly not in their interests, but most definitely against them, that present negotiations should end in failure, and it is because of that fact that it is suggested that no stone should be left unturned to get to the bottom of the matter, and reveal to the whole world exactly who is responsible for this particularly foul outrage. If there ever were a case in which the Municipal Council would be justified in offering a very substantial reward for information leading to the apprehension of the criminals this is it. It is a case in which $10,000 would be a moderate price for the discovery as to who is actually guilty, and it is urged that the Municipal Council should waste no time before making some such offer. If this attempted murder was politically inspired, it is imperative that the ratepayers of the International Settlement, Chinese as well as foreign, should be apprised of the fact, and those guilty, duly punished for their crime. If it is merely the attempt of the criminal elements in the western area td stave off the day of reckoning which must come once the outside roads question is settled, then it is equally essential that they should be brought to book. In either case the Special Administration of the Municipality of Greater Shanghai can with justice be expected to lend every assistance in solving this crime, for it is very much in their interests that the guilty persons should be discovered. The sooner this mystery is cleared up the better, for it is an intolerable state of affairs when misguided politicians, or recklessly criminal elements are able to make attempts to thwart the intentions of local municipal governments to maintain peace and good order under particularly difficult conditions. Whoever is responsible they may rest assured that the negotiations which are at present proceeding so satisfactorily will be continued. They would not have been stopped had their efforts to kill Mr. Phillips been more successful than fortunately they were, and indeed it would be the best possible answer to them if every effort were made to bring about a settlement with the least possible delay.
Reference has already been made to the futility of this sort of crime as a means towards attaining the end the would-be assassins apparently had in view. Mr. Phillips is not the government of the International Settlement, nor the framer of the policy of the Municipal Council. He is the servant of the ratepayers carrying out the instructions of their representatives,—the Council,—and to have killed him would not have in any way influenced the plan of the Council to come to an early agreement with the Municipality of Greater Shanghai, which is so necessary if the peace and good order of this area is to be maintained. Indeed this attempt a BIW io oriented cerned to greater efforts to bring about an agreement, for it constitutes nothing less than a criminal challenge to their authority, and if they can show those responsible that their crime, instead of delaying, has actually accelerated agreement, they will have vindicated their positions in a manner which Should leave onlookers in no doubt whatever. The very fact that certain elements, at present unidentified, should seek by violence to prevent the orderly processes of good government, necessitates a demonstration of proof that they cannot possibly succeed, and that attempts at assassination such as this can only serve to defeat the ends their perpetrators may have in view. That, and the apprehension and punishment of the would-be assassins are the only remedies which can prevent a bad situation ing worse, and it is the imperative duty of all authorities outside as well as inside the International Settlement to take such steps as will bring these criminals to justice. It is possible that, by the closest co-Operation in this matter, the real culprits may be discovered and this crime revealed in its correct light, though it is still to be hoped that the attempt is no more than the action of some of those criminals who fear that with present negotiations proving ssu cessful they will be deprived of their Alsati The Cabinet Change The resignation of Mr. Here, Belisha from the Secretaryship of War comes as an unpleasant surprise, and while it is stated that it results from no political difference between himself and the Prime Minister, the fact that the latter is to lose the services of so able a colleague is more than a little disturbing. Mr. Here Belisha when he went to the War Office set about reorganizing the army in no uncertain manner. Many of his ideas were revolutionary in the eyes of senior officers, and it was apparent from the outset that he would meet considerable opposition from men not so able as they should be to adapt themselves to the changes which the times demanded. There is, consequently, the grave suspicion that Mr. Here Belisha has been thrown overboard to satisfy the embusqués, who have resented the changes he has been making, a suspicion which is strengthened by the fact that Mr. Here Belisha was offered the Board of Trade which he declined to accept. It is quite understandable that this latest development should have created considerable comment and no small amount of indignation in the British Press, The late Secretary for War has shown himself an able organizer, and the state in which the Army found itself on the outbreak of war, and the manner in which the expeditionary forces were landed in France must redound greatly to his credit, His departure from office at this juncture, when not a word has been breathed which in any way suggests his unfitness for the task he was handling, must arouse anxiety lest already those intrigues which Viscount Esher showed to exist during the last war are already afoot in this. There appears to be a fairly general demand that an explanation of the matter should be given to the House of Commons by the Prime Minister, and that a statement should also be made by Mr. Here Belisha himself. Neither is bound to do so, but it would seem that the wisest course would be to take some such action, It is fortunate that this does not mean the political extinction of a man who has given such convincing proof of his ability. Mr. Here Belisha is still a comparatively young man with the possibilities of a brilliant future before him and it is to be hoped that his present relinquishment of office will be of a temporary nature, and that the Empire will at some not too distant date again be able to avail itself of his great qualities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.