The Manchester Guardian of Wednesday published from a special correspondent
an explanation of the Government's views which we take to be exact. Accord- ing to this explanation the Government have been advised that the maximum strength necessary for the defence of foreigners in Shanghai is a division, that is to say, about 20,000 men. Then there arises the problem of time. Shanghai is five weeks' journey from England. The Government have therefore decided that the maximum required_foice must be:sent in. order that it. maY :reach Shanghai before the hypothetical danger can arise. It may be remarked here that the Cantonese armies seem to be no nearer Shanghai than they were a week ago. They recently retired from the whole province of Chekiang, and the reports last week that they had reoccupied part of the province were apparently the false rumours of propagandists. Japan, of course, is not troubled by any problem of time. In an emergency her troops could reach Shanghai in about twenty-four hours.
