The Japanese demand for a public apology from the Chinese
General, Chang-hsun, for the recent murder of three Japanese at Nanking and for insults to the Japanese flag was satisfied last Sunday. General Chang-hsun had taken a fortnight in persuading himself to apologize, but his temporizing was ended by a Japanese ultimatum. At the last moment, how- ever, there was a dispute as to the manner in which the apology should be offered. The Japanese Consul required General Chang-hsun to march at the head of a Chinese regiment to apologize at the Japanese Consulate. This Chang-hsun refused to do, but he offered to apologize per- sonally at the Consulate, and to allow a Chinese regiment to present arms there later. On the advice of the British Consul the Japanese Consul had the good sense to accept the compromise. But Chang-hsun artfully watered down the significance of his visit to the Japanese Consulate by imme- diately visiting all the other Consulates. The episode is not yet quite ended, as the Japanese Government is pressing its " request " for the dismissal of Chang-hsun from the position of Tutuh. We may add here that the Times of Monday announced that the various banking agreements among the Powers interested in China are dissolved. All Powers are now free to support their nationals in getting concessions from China. The Chinese are of course pleased at the prospect of obtaining money on easier terms owing to the competition.
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