Japan in China An article from Shanghai in another column
of this issue paints an arresting picture of the progress of Japanese influence in China—it might almost be said, of Japan's hold on China. In some respects it may be over-pessi- mistic, coming as it does from the great trading-centre from which British commercial enterprise in China radiates, and where the forces adverse to British com- merce bulk largest. But there, can be no question that Japan in China is perpetually testing the resisting power of the Chinese Government itself and of other Govern- ments whose nationals are being prejudiced by Japanese permeation. She applied such a test successfully at Mukden in 1931, and as a result was able to dominate all Manchuria. Today the immediate question is whether measures to relieve the Chinese financial crisis are to be • taken by Japan alone, or by Great Britain and the United States, and perhaps other countries, equally. That is a point on which our own Government can afford to yield no ground, and it is satisfactory to learn that the conversations pointing to fresh co-operation between the two Eastern and the two Western Powers are shaping hopefully. No one wants to check Japanese co-operation in the development of China, but resolute re- sistance must be offered, on the basis of the Nine-Power treaty, to anything savouring of Japanese primacy or monopoly.
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