'—Mr. Chairman, ladies and
ising to pro} e third "resolution, have very great pleasure in "That the Foreign Ministers in Peking be and are hereby petitioned to immediately, individually and collectively, lay before the Tsungli Yamen the views of this community and to press forthwith for the Imperial assent to the extension of the Foreign Settlements."
The proposers and supporters of the first two resolutions have already set forth and fully explained the reasons for asking for the extension of the Settlement, and it is unnecessity for me to take up your time in going into this part of the question. It is hardly necessary either for me to explain why we are appealing to the Ministers at Peking, the reasons must be sufficiently obvious to you all. I may say briefly however, that we are asking for their help because it is quite evident that we cannot get what we want without it. The question of the extension of the Settlement has already been referred to Peking. Letters from the Municipal Council and the Chamber of Commerce have been addressed to the Ministers, but they considered that an attempt should be made to get what was wanted by negotiations with the local Authorities before pressure was brought on the Tsungli Yamen, and so the question was referred ere to be dealt with by the Board of Consuls. The Consuls have done all they could for us and you will have seen the result of their negotiations in the letter from the Taotai dated the 13th March which was published in the N.-C. Daily News on the 9th inst. It is abundantly. clear from the letter that it is quite hopeless to continue local negotiations. In that letter the Taotai told us, not in the ponderous style usually adopted by Chinese Officials, but in a light and ail way, that everything-we can possibly wisi
officials and that we may confidently rely for has already been done by the Chinese that as much will be done in the future as has been done in the This latter we can quite believe. He. tells us that roads have been provided and lighted, that they have been policed, and everything been done that is necessary for the good of the native and foreign population, in fact he wishes us to believe that the present state of things is as near Heaven can be attained in this sublunary sphere and that it cannot be changed for the better. No doubt the Taotai has been told all this and possibly he believes it but we know better. We know that with the exception of the new Chinese Bund no public roads exist outside or inside the Settlement that have not been made by foreigners; we know that when we have wanted to construct new roads or extend those existing every possible difficulty has been thrown in the way by the Chinese Authorities and so successfully that in the: last twenty years no new roads have been construc or old ones extended. We know that talk of Police and Lighting is farcical, that nothing worthy of the name exists. We know that no sanitary arrangements are attempted, the inhabitants of the extra settlement districts are allowed to work their own sweet will, and what that sweet will is we can all smell if we walk through Sinza. Last but not least, we Know that there is not the remotest chance of this state of affairs altered until these districts are placed under the control of our Municipality. For these. reasons we now ai for the assistance of the Ministers at Peking, and I hope and believe that we shall obtain their unanimous and energetic support. Iam quite sure we dmete hand ought to get they will see it as we do. Gentlemen, last and only time I ever addressed a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce I was in a very strong minority of one; on the present occasion I am sure I am on the side of the majority, in fact I doubt whether even a minority of one can be found, as I feel certain that the resolution I have proposed will meet with your. unanimous support.
Mr. McMichael (Frazar & Ca). said—I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution reposed. Mr. Bois.
Mr. +3. ithe tee Chairman, ladies and gentlemen—Mr. Edward Everett Hale tells us in his story "My Double and how he undid me," that he used to send. his double to public meet with orders, when Mr. Hale was upon to speak, to say: "So much has been said and on the whole so well said by previous speakers, that there is no necessity for me to add anything to their remarks." feel myself in the position of Mr. Hale's double; so much been already suid, and on the whole so well said, that there is no necessity for me to detain you. The resolution that I rise to support is the corollary of the two previous ones; these you unanimously supported, and T feel Sure you will be equally unanimous in carryil irraly sad to ask the ters at Peki fo supper our nest for the coealoet the telement. "Some of us remember the days of the ce-operative policy inaugurated at Peking by Sir Frederick Bruce, when one Minister, generally the British, took a decision and sent it round to his colleagues, who just wrote on the circular "I approve," and the thing was done. Nowadays, we learn that all is chai 'The Ministers are supposed to be all watching each other, and when one of them goes down to the Tsungli Yamen to make a demand, the others all follow him, and contradict all that he has said, and' insist that his demand shall not be granted. But in a case like this, where what we ask is not for the benefit of any one nation exclusively or the injury of any other, we may well hope that the Ministers will find it a refreshing change to support it unanimously. We quite understand that from the Paradise in which they live the Ministers rather look down upon us.as a bundle of mere commercial people whose wants and wishes are important enough to concern them. But, they all have to come to Shanghai sometimes, and they niust. have somewhere in their
amenities hearts a for the comforts and which they find when they do come here. We have, I good reason to hope, therefore, that they will help us in' this matter. It is perfectly understood, I hope, that in going to the Ministers at Peking we do not intend any slur or slight on the Consular Body. We know that they sympathise with us, and that they have done all in their power here, but as so often hap; when dealing with Chinese, they have gone certain distance and then come up against a brick wall, and now we have got to try another way round. What we want fair and just and we ought to have it. I can only say that Ihope when the account of this meeting goes up to Peking, we may find that the warring Ministers to whom I have referred will be at one on this question and will be willing to help in this important matter.
position was then put to the meeting and unanimously adopted.
ed "that conten: of these resolutions a ade Gardner Gonekong and Banki paration) propos-be forwarded to each member of the Consular Body in i." He siid In proposing Resolution IV it is with the intention of bringing to-your notice that. there is no desire on our-part to take any step or make any proposal' inconsistent with what the Consular officials have striven for. As already remarked by our Chairman, we all know that the Consular Body e has 'a rigid modus operandi, they have to act in accordance with precedent and regulations, and in none of the Resolutions you have passed is it stated that any other course could have been taken, but, gentlemen, the result has not been successful and our action to-day, we trust, will assist and give additional force and in no way deter our Consular friends in the future. We hope that by going direct to the Ministers in Peking we may succeed in getting the principle we strive for, that is, that an extension of this Settlement must be arranged.
Mr. Chay I have much pleasure in seconding this resolution.
Ward Hall—If foreigners are to be permitted to live and trade in China, the Shang si will make it the test city in geographical and political importance of Asia. I should like to call attention to the fact that when we ask for the extension of the Settlements, we should ask that it be no modest extension that we may not be called upon in the near future to go down on our knees and ask for a further extension. Let us ask for enough to last us for a long time. Furthermore, I sincerely hope that the sense of this meeting: will not go up to Peking as a request, to which somebody may say no, but as a demand.
he resolution was put to the meeting and carried without a dissentient voice.
The meeting then terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman, proposed by Mr. H. P. Wilkinson.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.