The announcement made yesterday morning that Chinese would no longer be, required to present passes for entry into the Japanese defence sector of the International Settlement, is to be welcomed as a small step towards the eventual unrestricted opening of the area north of the Soochow Creek. It is, however, a long distance from the return of Hongkew and Yangtszepoo to the jurisdiction of the Shanghai Municipal Council which is so greatly to be desired. Amounting to no more' than a granting of a free and unhindered access to the areas in question, and providing for the usual bodily searches, if and when considered necessary, it is nevertheless an advance in the right direction, Chinese wishing to return to Hongkew and Yangtszepoo to reside in these districts will still be required to obtain the permission of the Japanese authorities as hitherto. In addition to the relaxation of control over the passage of Chinese into and out of the districts in question, the communique which has been issued states that restrictions on traffic at night, imposed in respect of Chinese and third nationals, will be lifted. The freedom of movement which this change provides will be most acceptable, and should tend to increase ihe numbers of those desirous of returning north of the Soochow Creek for the purpose of living there. That in its turn may serve to relieve some of the pressure on accommodation south of the Creek, though it may be expected that some time will elapse before this has any appreciable effect upon the housing situation in Shanghai. It is to be hoped that in the not too distant future the reopening of Hongkew and Yangtszepoo without any restrictions whatsoever will be possible, and that those areas will be given a chance to work out their own rehabilitation. That a large number of intricate problems will have to be solved before that is possible is admitted, but they should not prove completely insoluble. aid was being given than had been made public up to the present. Nevertheless much War on Neutrals move in the way of manpower and material will be required before the end of the The German war on neutral shipping pro-struggle, but if during the lull, expected ceeds apace and is considerably angering the because of weather conditions, it is possible nations whose vessels are thus menaced. to rush more war material to the Finns, they, Holland which has just lost her thirteenth ship, is seething with indignation at this latest ex-after their period of recuperation, should be ample of Germany's callous disregard of in-able to continue to give just as excellent an ternational law, and the rights of neutrals. account of themselves as they are giving at Sweden has lost no less than one-twentieth of present. On the other hand it is satisfactory her total shipping tonnage, Norway has suffer-to note that Sweden is taking every precaued similar damage, and even Denmark is now tion against the possibility of the Russians being forced to consider remedial measures. seeking to invade its borders. Roughly The German contention that the Scandinavian speaking the line of Swedish defence runs countries should follow the example of the United States by banning their ships from the from Lulea, through Boden, Gellivare, Kiruna war area is just such a piece of cynicism as up to the lake Tornea. Between that line, is to be expected from people who know no which is about fifty miles from the Finnish law save the necessity of attaining by hook or border, and the border itself there is a for-crook their own ends. The neutral nations thus ward terrain throughout which scores of new being outraged are in fact having war made pillboxes have been erected making a zone upon them just as completely as if they were comparable to the various defensive lines actually engaged in hostilities with Germany. which have been constructed in other coun-and the only difference is that their desire for neutrality prevents them from hitting back. tries, while behind it a railway runs parallel The suggestion in Danish political quarters providing an excellent means of serving it in that Denmark might have to cease sending sup-the event of hostilities. It is doubtful when plies to Germany should these sinkings not ther, if Finland continues for any great cease is interesting but unlikely to be fulfilled length of time to wreak the destruction upon if only because of the fact that it would serve the Russian forces which her armies are Germany as an excuse to commit a further doing at the present time, Sweden "will be assault upon another small neighbour. The called upon to defend herself, but if she is, German attitude in this war is clearly "He who her men may be depended to contribute not is not for us is against us," and it is being dea little to the Russian discomfort. monstrated by the manner in which the smaller nations are being bullied by a country which To the report that German troops may believes only in the right of might, and nothing shortly be expected in Finland not too else. It is quite clear that the neutrals are being much credence should be given. Germany taught a lesson as to what they might expect will prove reluctant to become committed on should Germany securea victory over the Allies, any front save the western. The Reich has If their interests are not safe now, when the denied that German expert assistance is issue is still in some doubt, how safe would being given to Russia in connection with the they be before a Germany swollen with vic-Finnish campaign, but the denial is not, tory? The question has merely to be asked to upon the facts, to be believed. The change be answered. The neutrals are witnessing a degree of lawlessness for which the Reich has not in tactics by the Russians, and the adoption the slightest excuse, and the neutrals involved of methods which are singularly German in are being penalized simply because they have
now assisting the Russians, and if the fight-one suggests that German experts are the misfortune to be situated within the war zone.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.