WAR IN CHINA: Stop and Search

Since Japan has not formally declared war on China, under international law the Japanese have no right to interfere with foreign China-bound shipping. Lawful or not, however, Japan last week assumed that right and proceeded to stop on the high seas not only a British liner and a French freighter but, what was more remarkable, a German ship.

All three halts took place just outside British-owned Hong Kong waters. The British Peninsular & Oriental liner Ranpura was signaled to stop by a Japanese cruiser which fired two shots across her bow. Four officers and a party of marines boarded the...

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