The kidnapping of Mr. Frank Poletti, Postal [Commissioner inthe Peiping area, a Russian lady and three servants, near i tombs, leasts an interesting light upon conditions pre-Valling in that area, especially when it is to be noted that the affair took place witha stone's throw of a Japanese garrison. The contention has been repeatedly urged that the Japanese occupation of vast territories in China isin only, and that a rifle shot away from a Japanese post conditions of disorder prevail. This is all the more strange because the Japanese have been around Peiping ever since the commencement of the China Incident, Jand have certainly had sufficient time to Jorganize the forces of Jaw and order during the last seventeen months. At present it has Met been reported as to who is responsible for this Latest outrage. but it is to be assumed that it is the work of Chinese desperadoes, and not of the men who are still actively engaged pursuing guerilla warfare against the Japanese. For the latter it may be said that, from all accounts which have come to hand, they maintain a high degree of discipline, and Iconcern themselves solely with the conduct of hostilities against the invaders. -Kidnappings fare by no means uncommon in China, nor even Manchoukuo since the Japanese occupation of that area, but the fact that they do occur [suggests that the Japanese control of the ari they claim to have occupied is not as complete as they would have the world at large believe. Reference was made in these columns only yesterday to the high degree of lawlessness in the mouth of the Yangize and on the very outskirts of the International Settlement, and the conclusion is unavoidable that no matter of the country. This reflects greatly 10 the credit of the Japanese who apparently have Fecognized the rights of foreign vessels to ply fon the Pearl River, and more so in view of the fact that the commencement. of operations inst Canton was marked with all sorts of dire bodings regarding Japanese intentions to Htreeze out Hongkong and' isolate the Colony {from further mercantile dealings with the rest of South China. Unfortunately, no connection between Japanese action on the Pearl River and on the Yangtze River can be traced. A spokesman at Hongkong announced some time ago that the two rivers constituted entirely different problems and the opening of the Pearl River, which would be based on local eiccumstances and considerations, would not affect the Yangtze River where an important principle was involved. Events on the Yangtze' confirm this statement for the Japanese principle, attested by long experience of unreasonableness Jand discrimination against non-Japanese shipping, is one phase of Japanese activities in [China "which" ix not misunderstood, That Principle—if it may be termed so—is that the 'Yangtze will not be re-opened until Japanese business interests have obtained a predominant position amounting to complete control, and Until that has been achieved the plea of' military necessity will be continually invoked notwithstanding the flagrant abuse of treaty rights which non-Japanese merchants ce com-led every day. It is unfortunate that this should be so but it might be borne in mind that when Tokyo' spokesmen harp on that grossly overused word "insincerity" in their references to China and her leaders, they do not speak without knowledge. 'They' themselves are the greatest exponents.
Jwhat good Intentions provisional governments which have been sct up may have they do anything but govern. Whatever may be the conditions prevailing around Peiping, conditions locally are perfectly well known, and the flour-Ishing pirate al gangs which are operating in the Yangize, and the illicit gambling hells which are causing so much uneasiness 10 the west of the Settlement are no credit to the local government which is alleged to be functioning.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.