Shanghai 19th June, 1900.
S1,—I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of Sth inst. enclosing translation' of two despatches from Yi Taotai; the first referring to immoral songs sung in native places of amusement, the second to Lotteries.
In regard to the first question, I have the honour to request that you may be good sh to inform the Tootal that these iogsong house. licensed by the Council and that, by the conditions of their license, they are' required to make a money deposit which is forfeitable in the event of any indecent performances being given therein. The supervision and control of there ¢stablishment rest with the Municipal Police and have latterly been the object of special attention. The Council, while at all times ready to outertuin the suggestions of the native authorities, and to take action in the interests of public morals and order, cannot tolerate any direct intervention in the control of these or other establishments in the Settlement.
As regards Lotteries, these also are licensed by the Council under the recognised authority of the Land Regulations, and Council is unable to admit any question of jurisdiction or restriction by the native Authorities in the matter. If the Chinese Government had any objections to offer to Laut Recalations, the opportunity for ce: the powers conferred on the Council by the
cording and discussing such objections w: afforded when the revised text of the Re-Gilations was recently, submitted to the janking Viceroy and the Teungli Yamen Fespectively. In reference to certain statements advanced by the Taotai on this subject, the Council desires to observe 1.—That there does not exist any State law in China making lotteries illegal. The fact that the Provincial authorities permit such undertakings is eufficieut evidence on this point 2.—No establishments opened by Chinese subjects in the Settlement are, as subject to the control of the Tact observation contained in the Counci pre-coeding letter of this date ject and need not be repeat sppiy to this sub-3.—The fact that a Lottery is sanctioned by the Chinese Government does not necessarily imply that it will be licensed to do business in the Foreign Settlement The Council trusts that the Taotai's inten tion of arresting natives connected with properly license Lotteries in the Settlement is expressed in ignorance of the facts, since any attempt to carry it out must entail serious consequences.
T have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, T. Varpez, Consul-General fe Senior-Consul.
Police Outside Settlement Limits.—In a despatch to the Senior Consul now transmitted for the Council's information, the Taotai finds cause for complaint in the alleged action of the Police in arresting certain receivers of stolen property at Jessfield, and he requests the Consular Body to intimate that in future all cases occurring outside Settlement limits must be dealt with by the City Magistrate. Decided to forward copy of the Inspector's report on the case referred to, showing that the Taotai's observations are unfounded.
H.MLF.M,'s Consulate-General, Shanghai, 12th Jane, 1900.
Sm,—I have the honor on behalf of my colleagues, to forward to you herewith enclosed. translation of a despatch received from the Taotai Yii complaining against the Municipal police for having arrested some Chinese outside the limits of the Settlement.
My colleagues directed me to ask the Coun-cal to be good enough, and let the Consular Body have some information about the ease, Thave the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Joagurt Manta Travassos VALDEZ, Consul-General for Portugal and Senior-Consul, A. Hewerr, Es Chairman of the Vu, Taotai of Shanghai to the Senior-Consul Vaupez, The Municipsl Police of the Foreign Settlement is entitled to arrest any person within the Settlement; but the case is different when individuals living outside the Settlement are implicated in questions with foreigners, as in such a case, the duty of the Municipal Police is simply' to solicit through the Mixed Court Magistrate, the magistrate of the city to proceed with the necessary inquest; but, the police has never the right to trespass the limits of the Settlement and make any arrests. That rule has always been the practice followed.
some chickens and ducks of the *Chaou-It arrived lately to my knowledge, that foong" garden (E. J. Hogg) were stolen, anda Municipal Policeman went into the likin station at '*Chao-tai-po" pagoda to search the theft and arrest the delinquent. Ca this subject I was informed by the employe of the stations as follows On the 10th dey of the Zod Moon (10th March) a European Policeman upbeared suddenly in the station, with the thief of the chickens and said that the cook of the station, named A-bung had bought the stolen chickens. 'A-hung," had some discussion with the policeman, showing him that his ien was not well founded, but he was ied to, and was taken by force to the Mixed Court Magistrate where he was released on paying the sum of $38.00. Regarding the part' appertaining him in his condemnation; it can be verified by the Mixed Court magistrate.
In all question referring to the station in which foreign interests are enveloped, the Municipal Police should report the matter you, in order, that it may be resolved between you and me; but to arrest, out of the Settlement, the cook of the likin station for having inadvertently bought some ducks and chickens belonging to a foreigner, inadmissible violation of the estal rales.
Besides this, the Mixed Court Magistrate was wrong in tot having, as usual, adopted Veforehand the necessary measures' to avoid such an event, and for this reason, though being indulgent with him, I ordered that a black mark be entered in the register book, for having acted wrongly with his duty; but with regard to the proceeding of the Policeman la passing beyond the limits of the Settlement to make the arrest, I ask you to proceed against him, as it will be just, and to communicate the result-to me.
I have also to request you to be kind enough and recommend to the Police that, in future, whom it will be necessary to cull witnesses living outside the Settlement, the Police should make an application to the city magistrate and not trespass the limits of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.