24th Sept. Sin Rosert Harr, on behalf of the Tsungli Yamen, has fully admitted Messrs. Fergusson & Co.'s right to the foreshore at Chefoo appropriated by the Chinese and sold to a Russian firm, thus fully acknowledging the justice of Sir Claude MacDonald's demand for compensation, Sir Robert has offered Messrs. Fergusson & Ca. 'T's. 1,000 per mow, with fifteen per cent compensation for disturbance, and as the latter consider this an inadequate price, it has been agreed to refer the question of the amount to be paid to the decision of two arbitrators, Mr. George Jamieson, British Consul, for the British claimants, and M, L, Rocher, Commissioner of Customs, for the Chinese. This is a very satisfactory solution, and we cou-gratulate all those who have been instramental in arriving at it. It completely confirms the view we have always taken as to the right of the riparian owner to all accretions; it settles a question which really threatened at one time to become serious; and it gives a welcome indication that the Tsungli Yamen still realises the value of Sir Robert Hart's advice, and is still willing to make use of his common-sense and practical impartiality. Under the circumstances it is, We can conceive, fortunate that the Commissioner of Customs for the time being should happen to be a French citizen, while being an official in whom all nationalities have implicit confidence. Altogether, the settlement is one to be thoroughly commended; and great praise for it is due to the British Minister and the Consul-General and Consul at Shanghai, the China Association, and the Inspector-General of Customs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.