The point of principle involved is fundamental. Whether the Nanking
Government is unable, or whether it is unwilling, to let its right, or civilian, hand -take official cognizance of what its left, or military, hand is doing, the mere fact that it is either, in so grave a matter, destroys its own case for anything like the immediate rendition of, extra-territoriality. It looks as if the measure of sympathy with which His Majesty's Government has so far met its aspirations on this point cannot wisely be given practical effect until Mr. Justice Feetham's transition period, measured " not in years but decades," is considerably older. The representations which Sir Miles Lampson has carried from His Majesty's Government to Nanking are not a whit too strongly worded. British opinion in China is probably justified in thinking that official action could, and should, have been taken several days earlier.
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