THE JAPANESE IN SHANGHAI.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 62, 6 December 1937, Page 6

THE JAPANESE IN SHANGHAI.

The march of Japanese troops through the Shanghai Foreign Settlement passed off without any very serious untoward eonsequences. At the same time, there was one apparently isolated incident, when a Chinese patriot cast a bomb into the Japanese ranks, that might easily have assnmed a very ugly aspect but for the prompt shooting of the offender by a member of the International Guard. As a result the Japanese may perhaps be rather disappointed that occasion was not afforded for making the parade much more speetaeular and impressive than it would seem to have been. Despite this, it can scarcely but have been quite galling enough as it was to the pride of British and other foreign nationals who had to pnt up with what was manifestly a dispiay of Japanese insolence born of intoxieating military success. This spirit of arrogance would, however, appear to have met with a definite check when it was proposed to ruri a like Japanese procession through the adjoining French Concession. There the French authorities took up a very ddeided stand and forbade any sueh movement excepting under a French police escort that of course robbed it of much of its triumphant significance. This difference in attitude is readily explained. In the International Settlement it was not competent for any one of the interested Powers to take individual action for any one agreement among all would have been required. That, of course, was a practical impossibility with Powers virtually in allianee with Japan to consult, and with the United States desperately desirous of keeping out of any risky involvements. In the Concession, on the other hand, not only had the French some stronger legal title to their area, but they had also no one else to consult and were thus able to act entirely on their own initiative. They took the elianee and it may perhaps be regarded as a favourable omen for the future that the Japanese, thus firmly faced, in the end submitted to the conditions imposed. This at least gives some indication that the Japanese are not quite so sure of themselves" as their action in the Settlement might suggest, and sineere thanks are due to the French, perhaps with some assuranee of British support, for calling the Japanese bluff even to this extent. It certainly takes a good deal of the edge off the demonstration in the Settlement, and may have a definite influence upon the future of Shanghai and the foreign interests centred there. It may here be recalled that the Foreign Settlement had its origin in a treaty entered into between Great Britain and China very nearly a century ago, following on the war between those two countries in 1842. The area then set aside as a foreign settlement was only some 150 acres, but this was increased by three later agreements, which brought in a total area of nearly 6000 aeres, based upon arrangements that are generally known as the Land Regnlations. It was in 1849 that the Frenc hsecured a separate concession to the south of the Settlement, and this they have preserved as a distinct organisation, while several otber nations, inckiding Japan, have been admitted to the benefits of the original AngloChinese agreement. Hence the international character of the t Settlement, in whose government, however, the British have continued to exereise a predominant influence. Althpugh Japan 's financial interests in the Settlement are in no way comparable with the British, the Japanese element in the resident population is now said to be a great deal bigger than that of any other foreign nation, Creat Britain included, and for a long time they have been pressing strongly for some greater share in the administration of its affairs. If Shanghai is to be restored to anything like its previons important position as a commercial centre, then there will probably have to be a complete revision in the Settlement organisation and in the methods of its government and defence.