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THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 10, 1989.
At The Crossing"
The China Mail Ninety-Third Year of Publication
SA Wyndham Street, Hong Kong.
Telephone 20022
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7, Garrick Street, London, W.C.2ting this Gordian knot,
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Postage Abroad Extra
Hong Kong, Friday, February 10, 1939
HONG KONG MAKES REPRESENTATIONS
Several judges in Britain cently gave their views on the correct manner to adopt when using a pedestrian-crossing in a London street. Opinions differed considerably, which will not gur- prise the average pedestrian, For he knows it to be a tricky pro blem; and confronted, as he is daily, with the necessity of cut- or at least of cutting across a Georgian. knot of traffic, he sometimes dis- covers two opinions in himself. He would like perhaps to avail himself of his rights, to follow the advice of Lord Justice Scott, which is to "take your courage in your hands and indicate that you are going to cross by putting up a stick or umbrella," and to emu- late the Etruscan Lord of Luna at that other perilous, crossing, where his behaviour has been described by Macaulay:
But hark the cry is Astur: And lo! the ranks divide; And the great Lord of Luna
Comes with his stately stride And in his hand he shakes the
brand
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Which none but he can wield.
But the mantle of the Lord of Luna has fallen, in its entirety, only on the policeman, and the Thanks to Sir J. S. Wardlaw Prestige of his brand belongs more to the invisible sword of Milne, who is assiduous in his justice than to the umbrella; and determination to keep Far East reflecting along these lines, the ern affairs before the attention pedestrian may well feel that for of Parliament, the Government,
after six weeks or more, has him the cry is "Asquith" rather acknowledged receipt of the H.K. than "Astur," and prefer to "wait General Chamber of Commerce and see" whether time will not
divide the ranks. representations and promised a
No doubt the main thing is that reply shortly. Hong Kong's in- terest is, of course, mainly cen- he should resolve quickly, and tred upon the early restoration be firm in his resolution, refus- of normal traffic on the Kwang-ing all temptation to imitate Sex- tung river system, for the closure tus, who of which no justification exists, but local business organisations are so closely concerned in and by other encroachments upon British rights throughout China
thrice came on in fury, And thrice turned back in
dread.
that the support lent to the com-Ostracizing” Japan plaints of the Associated Cham- bers in Shanghai could hardly be
Can the United States change regarded as inappropriate or in-
in China by opportune. Policy of the Govern-Japan's course ment savours dangerously of economic sanctions? Senator Key drift. There seems to be disposi-Pittman, chairman of the Senate tion in Whitehall to take the view Foreign Relations Committee, that time alone will solve the calls it "ostracism," not "sanc- probleni, and to gamble upon the tions," a name now somewhat tar- assumption that the drain upon nished: But Senator Pittman is Japan's economic resources will urging enbargoes unless Tokyo compel her to seek financial aid gives a favourable reply to the in London and/or Washington, recent State Department protest. For several years the United That, the argument goes, will be
the moment to discuss the ob-States has been trying to find a struction and hindrances of past language the Japanese army lea- months and secure Britain's place ders would understand. Only once in the economic sun for the or twice has there been any sign of comprehension. Will "ostra- future.
cism" penetrate better than Mr. Roosevelt's “quarantine"?
What this policy, if so it can be called, leaves out of account is
Some flicker of understanding the appalling damage now every day being done to British trade followed the recent $25,000,000 while the Government bides its loan to China. And Japan's time. By every means, some of economic condition is such that them petty, others plainly challen-actual application of American ging, third party interests are embargoes would be a very seri- being squeezed out of every nor-ous matter. Even though fifty mal channel of trade, systemati-nations failed to apply sanctions cally. The war zone excuse has tightly enough to stop Italy in Senator Pittman's been used in circumstances that Ethiopia, makes it an undisguised rebuff sanctions might be effective in to efforts to obtain redress, and modifying Japanese policy, at throws up every placatory phrase least to the extent of better re employed in Tokyo in its proper spect for American interests in light. This is recognised by China.
Of course Japan could reply by Government in London as well as it is in Hong Kong and Shanghai. stronger measures, even seizure The difference is that the people of American property, but that on the spot feel the pinch; the would be risking war. For the Government is able to persuade United States, too, there must be itself that all is for the best if careful consideration of what it waits long • enough. – Unless such a course means. But it in there is action soon, however, clear that both Government and there may be little left to save people are moving toward a ster-
ner-attitude. from the wreck.
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