at Shanghai.
Japanese Barracks, Yangtzepoo, 18th Nov., 1901.
Dear Sir,—With reference to your note of the 24th ult., requesting me to make for my troops @ regulation that my troops should. yo unarmed in the streets when off duty, have hereby the honour to reply that Iwill accord with your opinion in this matter, Thave the honour to be, Your obedient servant, Major and Commander of H.1.J.M. Troops, Shanghai. The Cuanotas, Municipal Council, Shanghai, Legal Proceeding: Consular Court,—The Council is informed of the terms of the judgment by the US. Consul-General in the proceedings instituted against Messrs, Dunning & Ca., and of the reasons adduced in support thereof. It is resolved that, under existing conditions, no good purpose can be served by further litigation against. Messrs. Dunning & Ca., especially since the matter can be satisfactorily readjusted by the Ratepayers when fixing the schedule of license foes at the Annual General Meeting in March next; at the same time, it is decided that, in fairness to the present holders of liquor licenses, the facts of the case shall be placed before HE, the U.S. Minister in Peking with a request that he will give the matter his serious attention and ensure the adoption by the U.S. Consular Court of action calculated not to impede, but to promote, local administration in matters of such public importance. The Council is aware of the many dificultios besetting such administration as the result of the defective construction of many of the Land Regulations, but desires to emphasise the need for a broad and rational interpretation in all cases wherein the minutise of national laws might be stretched to conflict with the obvious meaning of the local code approved by ti Treaty Powers. The Council therefore places on record its dissatisfaction at Mr. Goodnow's judgment, which, viewed in the light of all the known facts of the case, is regarded as creating a precedent highly detrimental to the interests of the community.
The meeting then adjourns,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.