So one has the interesting result that, as we enjoy perfect security north China, it is necessary to carry on a special campaign in its favour, When one correspondent innocently inquired. whether similar mass meetings were to be held in the Western Hills. where {hey appeared to be slightly more necessary than in Peiping, which was complete ly fee of bandits, he was told somewhat sharply, that that was the Mffair of the local village heads and not of the North China Political Affairs Commission. That. no doubt.
quite true.
There being nothing more to be said about the security campaign. the spokesman expressed the desire thas correspondents would let him have any recommendations that might be helpful towards the establishment of the "new order in cast Asia." Jud ing from the lack of response. the "new order" would seem to be well igh perfect. Only one suggestion Was offered: to the effect that the Peiping authorities should restrain the inhabitants of the southeastern quarter of the city from depositing their refuse and garbage in the middle of the hutungs (side-streets). this particular part of Peiping is 10 all practical intents and purposes a Japanese quarter, it would appear that this part of the establishment of the "new order" is likely to be slight: ly delayed.
Ina short but sharp fire, one of the oldest foreign amusement houses. known to all foreigners here. the Roma cinema (formerly Pavilion) was completely destroyed the other morning. The fire started at 8 and wus over by 1030 am. by which the cinema-house had been com: pletely gutted, The Pavilion was} Guilt some time round 1908 by a British subject. an Indian I believe. end later "changed hands severa Nimes. But for 30 years it continued to flourish and provide cinema fans with un unvarying programme of American films, interspersed with 9 ceasional concert or A.D.C. perform=
In' 1998 the ridiculous anti-British Society started its antics, at frst by oketing the entrance to the theatre thd later by getting the Chinese police to arrest all the Chinese seen entering oF leaving the place. As 'a result the Pavilion had (0 close Later the Italians. who as signatories of the then anti-Comintern pact had hothing 0 fear in the way of opposi-on. took over the lease and re-open ed the place tinder the name of Roma.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.