London, Nov. 26.
Recognizing that there is a natural limit to the number of subjects which can excite, or arouse, public opinion at any one time, an editorial in the "Manchester Guardian" today insists, nevertheless, that "all parties in this country are guilty of dangerous com-Placency regarding the Far East."
The complacency of the Government, the journal finds, is very reprehensible and inexplicable, and it Supports its contention by recalling the "astonishing" statement made by Mr, Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister, in the House of Commons, on November 1.
At that time, the journal points out, the Prime Minister said, among other things, that "it is quite certain that, when the war is over and the reconstruction of China begins, she cannot possibly be reconstructed without some help from this country."
The "Manchester Guardian" also recalls the attempt made, on November 9, by Mr. R. A. Butler, Unde: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, "to explain away" Mr. Chamberlain's statement.
"In truth," the journal continues, "just as Mr, Butler's argument is based on the assumption of a Chinese victory, so Mr. Chamberlain's statement is based on the assumption that Japan will continue to respect the policy of the Open Door, as laid down: by the Nine-Power Treaty."
Questioning what reason there is to believe the latter assumption, the "Manchester Guardian" charges the Japanese with having discriminated against foreign trade in "half a dozen ways" since the war began.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.