News of the Week
I. VENTS have moved very fast in China during the week and in a manner which has not only disgraced the Cantonese Nationalists but has made the hope of reaching a rapid agreement with the Kuomintang much dimmer. This is a tragic irony because it had been thought that the spread northwards of Cantonese power might bring us appreciably nearer to the desired condition of being able to treat with a body really representing the greater part of China. Unfortunately the behaviour of the Cantonese soldiery at Nanking has put very serious fresh obstacles in their own path. With the best will in the world to agree with the Cantonese the Powers cannot Possibly consent at present to their nationals being placed an great personal danger by the surrender of Treaty safeguards. The Cantonese have themselves imposed delay ; but this need not and indeed cannot mean that the GovernMent are running away from their own Policy.
