10th Jan.
Tue approaching general meeting of members of the China Association in Shanghai, to which the Provisional Committee, recently elected, will tender their resignation for the express purpose of enabling the members who have joined since the preliminary meeting to concur in nominating a strong representative local Committee, may be made the occasion of a few comments upon the objects of the Association and its probable usefulness in the future.
In 1889 a few gentlemen connected with China and Japan, among whom were the well-known names of Sir George Bowen, Sir Robert Jardine, Sir Thomas Wade, Sir Alfred Dent, Sir Edmund Hornby and Messrs. Barnes, Coxon, Deacon, Duncanson, Ezekiel, Gwyther, Hanbury, Holliday, Iveson, T. Jackson, W. Keswick, J. A. Maitland, McLean, Strachan and Whittall, recognizing the great advantages likely to flow from concerted action in all matters affecting British interests in China and Japan, formed the China Association for the purpose of representing efficiently the views of British subjects; of watching, protecting, and promoting their just rights in all matters political and commercial. It is obvious that the influence such a body as the China Association may exercise will depend in great measure upon the strength of its membership; when the Association is known to comprise all, or a very large proportion of British residents concerned in Eastern commerce, it) will acquire a political and commercial status of very considerable importance to all of us; and it is therefore gratifying to learn that forty-seven prominent British residents have already added their names, making a roll including original members, of fifty-four; while considerable additions are expected when the appeal to the coast and river ports has had effect; and it may confidently be said that every branch of business, every interest, has a representative member in the China Association, before which, with a level-headed Committee, there is undoubtedly a vast field of usefulness.
Who impression at first entertained that the reason for the formation of the Association was sufficiently provided for by existing Chambers of Commerce, has given way before the consideration that, as British trade in the East is pre-eminent, it is quite right and reasonable that it should be strongly and ably represented by an Association deserving recognition, and commanding the attention of Her Majesty's Ministers in the East and of the Goveroment at home. For this purpose, Chambers of Commerce generally are too cosmopolitan in composition to address any particular Minister or Government; and experience has shown that communications, however important they have been,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.