Sm,—The Council on Monday last had laced before them your letter of 13th inst., in reply to the ove i had the honor to address to you on the Sth, regarding the appointment of arbitrators and the points to be submitted to them for their decision.
The Council note with pleasure that Godeaux, Consul-General for France, has kindly consented to act in conjunction with Mr. Medhurst.
With regard to the points to he submitted, my colleagues desire me to say that, as by your acknowledgment of the encroachment in question on the Yang-king-pang, our first point is done away with, it is not necessary therefore to include it in the question before the arbitrators, With regard to the two new points which you state your Council intend submitting to the arbitrators, Iam desired to state what I Lad already stated verbally to you at the meeting of the delegates, that the Council could not agree to have those points submitted as part of question. The Connell regard them as partaking of the nature of arguments to be used in support of a case and not as distinct points for arbitration, and if brought forward at all should be brought forward in that way by your Council, when this Council can bring forward their arguments to combat them, and they do not doubt that on re-consideration you will agree in this view.
The questions then to be submitted to the arbitrators—the fact of the encroachment being admitted—would be simply these two two points:—1.—Is the Bund in its present position an obstacle to navigation 2.—Does the encroachment prejudice the interests of property along the line of the Creek If this meets your concurrence, nothin; remains but to fix a day when each Council will place before the arbitrators their facts and arguments in the ease, which I presume had better be in writing, so that each side may have an opportunity to answer in writing the arguments adduced by the other, an that will close the evidence to go before the arbitrators, unless they wish for further evidence of explanation, the desirability of agreeing ton fixed width he Council are gratified at your recognizing of the Creek for the future, a0 soon as the result of the arbitration is made known.
(Signed) J, G. Pupos, Chairman.
Bridge No. 4, Yang-king-pang Oreek,—Road letter from French Municipal Council agreeing to stop further work until result of the Arbitration is made known, Bridge No.1, Yang-king-pa Purtherconmunication from th ing Municipality was submitted (Transtation.]
Shanghai, 13th March, 1875.
Str,—On the 9th March, the Secretary of your Administration informed the Secretary of the French Municipality that, in consequence of the intention of the latter to bear only one-third of the expenses connected with bridges over the Yang-king-pang, it is out of the power of the Municipal Council, not only to locuss the project for a new iron bridge No. 1, but even with regard to repairs that may be Beoeaanry to the wooden bridges now existing.
This C permit me to assure you, can-
h or perhaps some day completel; 0 nit 4 responsi ity of intertraffic between the two ride the Yang-king-pang. This will be, h the inevitable consequence of rived at by your Administration, if the French Council agreed to it, and the two Municipalities would very justly incur the blame of public opin Tt does not seem to me that a difference of opinion on a question of finance should result in danger or even inconvenience to the community, and it naturally occurs to my colleagues and myself, that this question of division expenses should be ultimately settled, but above all, that the Yung-king-pang bridges should be kept in good condition for the use of the public.
This Council, in bringing this matter again before your attention, believes firmly that you will, equally with itself, refuse this responsibility and agree with its views. In adoption; these, the iron bridge No. 1 could be order by the Municipal Council, under the conditions set forth in the letter of 23rd January, 1875, payment upon which the two Administrations from the French Council, and the question of
jo not agree, could be settled later on.
To this end the Council propose that the representatives of the English and French Governments at Peking, be requested to arbitrate the question, and Iam happy to inform you beforehand, that the Council will submit with pleasure to their decision.
(Signed) A. Vorsts, Chairman.
(The French text is among the minutes of the French Municipal Council published above.]
A reply thereto was agreed upo
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.