Council Meeting of 7th June, 1875. Present:—Messrs. J. G. Purdon (Ohairman), G. J. W. Cowie, J. Hart, W.
Kidner, A.A. Krauss, F. W. Lemarchand, R. Mackenzie, and the Secretary.
The Summons calling the meeting was taken as read.
The Minutes of the last meeting were read, confirmed and signed.
The Cash State for the 5th instant was laid on the table for inspection, Land Taz,—Read letter from Fogg & Ca., handing cheque for Tls. 850 in payment of Land tax due by Mr. W, H. Fogg, for which judgment had been given in the United States Consular Court.
Bridges—Yang-king-pang.—Read the following letter from the French Municipal Council (Translation.
Shanghai, 3rd June, 1875, Sin, Before replying in a direct mauner to the letter you did me the honor to address to on the 24th May T would ask your permission to first dra your attention both to "Conseil Municipal" of ion amongst. the foreign community of Shanghai, and to the nature of their relations with the Municipal Counctl The Municipal autonomy of Concession has been acknowledged by se: vention signed at Peking, on ti tember, 1869, Powers. The siding over the destinies of the amalgamated English and American Concessions have also seen their regulations confirmed by the same convention. 'The two Municipalities, whose Chairmen you and I have the honor to be, having been born under the auspices of the Representatives of Foreign Powers, who are their protectors, have consequently' the same origin, and, in case of contest, they must be brought back by those representatives to the ce-operative principle of their origin, Placed side by side, and. though having separate Administrations, the two Municipal ities had, during a' long time, given the salutary sight of good "harmony and "entente cordiale." Little preoccupation was consequently evinced till now, as to who should be the judges to decide administrative differences that might arise. It is impossible, however, to ignore the existence of such judges and it is but logical to think that they're the representatives of Foreign Powers. Not. to it of any would be a denial of the principle ofall societies, which always gives the right of appeal to the party who thinks himself wronged; and, not to recognize as judges those who have brought about the existence of the two Municipalities, and who are consequently their guardians' would, by this very fact, almost amount to ignoring their existence, quite certain that, as to any action only concerning its own Municipality, each Board is answerable to its constituents, and can appeal to them as to its line of conduct; but as to any action implicating the ce-operation. or the responsibility of the two Municipalities, one alone cannot pretend to force the votes of its constituents upon the other Municipality. To admit such a possibility, would be tantamount to countenancing an illegality, as one of the fundamental principles of the two Municipalities consists in the sanction by the Foreign Powers of their separate existence, Any subversive act of this constituting principle of the right held by the French Concession to exist with a separate administration is, therefore, illegal and unconstitutional, Nevertheless, the Municipality North of the Yang- trusting to a vote of its Electors, declares that unless the Souther Municipality yield to its financial claim, it would sce their dividing bridges fall to ruins then, still tresting toa vote of its Electors, the Northern Municipality takes necessary steps to annex, the, Southern Municipality under pretence thatthe Administrative system would thereby be simplified, more economical, and would avoid all differences of opinion.
Does not this amount to setting aside the conventions sanctioning the separate existence of the two Municipalities These attempts to modify the constitution of the French Concession naturally about, the overthrow of its "Conseil Municipal." As entertained by the Municipal Council, they are, to say the least and to use the most benign term, an anomaly, as the two Councils derive their existence, such as it is to-day, from the same convention. These attempts are, besides, a painful burden to the
Principld to which the" Kvench Municipal Coun they have thrust upon i taking steps to suppress the
Administration owes its existence, at the same time transacting business and giving assurances of its spirit of conciliation, and of sits desire to maintain amicable relations—giving 9 friendly shake of one hand and hitting with "the jer. Such was the painful situation
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.