Jokers but no Joke

Insurance companies seldom pay when the loss is due to "acts of war," merely point out to the wrathful policy holder the joker in his policy which also rules out payment in case of "acts of God." In Shanghai last week officials of three British insurance companies were far from nonchalant. They had received letters (wrapped around bullets) which threatened to bomb their offices and were signed by "The Prepared-to-Die Group of Shanghai Calamity Sufferers."

The argument of the Shanghai Calamity Sufferers is that Japan has not declared war on China, China has not declared war on Japan. Therefore losses suffered by Chinese policy holders when Japanese battleships, troops and bombing planes wrecked the Chinese district of Shanghai were not due to "acts of war."

They were certainly not due to "acts of God." Nevertheless the insurance companies have refused to pay. Last week Shanghai police called the Chinese policy holders' bomb threats "extremely serious"." expressed fear that the British insurance jokers will lead to no joke.

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