29 JANUARY 1927, Page 2

The accusation by the Labour Movement that the Government are

"provoking" the Cantonese is certainly not one in which we can join. If the Government are going beyond the margin necessary for safety they are, of course, incurring a foolish expenditure ; but obviously in this matter they arc relying on the advice of their experts. All we can say is that we naturally expect the Government to urge upon their advisers the excep- tional importance of prudence and common sense. Nothing is more certain than that the nation as a whole would not tolerate the idea of a war in China any more than they would tolerate the idea that British nationals should be left unprotected. * * * *