Profound appreciation of the gravity of the local situation was revealed when Reuter today canvassed prominent members of the British community for their opinions on the present state of affairs in Tientsin.
It was generally believed that the ultimate Japanese aim was to establish in North China conditions similar to those existing in Manchuria. If success attended the Japanese effort, it was pointed out, the trade which had been built up since Tientsin was opened to foreign trade and residence nearly 80 years ago would pass into Japanese hands, and foreign capital investment, and returns on it, would be frozen in North China.
Finally, political domination by the Japanese behind the scene, it was declared, would result in the loss of rights which foreigners at present enjoyed under treaty. In such an event, the weight of the blow would fall on the British as pioneers. It was in their Concession, it was (Continued on page 10) remains, says:
"There is no necessity for us to resort to panic decisions of any kind. We can hope, as the saying is, to keep our end up. Common prudence should warn the Japanese—if prudence has not lost all of its former sway in their councils against antagonizing a Power to whom they owed so much in the past and whom they are never like-1y to be able to ignore in the future.
"We need a firm but, at the same time, a cool policy, not shutting the gates upon any possibilities of admissible compromise. Those who would like to approach the problem in a hotter temper," the paper concludes, "had better beware lest they play Herr Hitlers game."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.