The above mass meeting way called at 3 p.m. on Friday, more than a hundred members of the gentry and merchants being present, conspicuous amongst whom were a number of young scious of high metropolitan and provincial officials, pash and present. The chair was taken by Mr. Wang K'ang-nien, Doctor of Literatura (Chinshih), ete., who called the attention of the assembly to the calamity which was threatening China should the Russo-Chinese secret Treaty be ratified. The Chairman further siid that, from the fact that so many officials from various provinees now residing in Shanghai had lately wired to Hsian and Peking to protest against the ratification of the treaty ho thought that many of his fellow countrymen had realised how serious the mat ter was; but that apart from what the officials had done, the gentry, literati and merchants and the common' people in general should perform their part also. It would not do, if they simply remained silent. He therefore suggested that a telegram should be sent to Hsian, Pelang aud'to the more enlightened Viceroys aad Governors, such as Liu Kun-yi, Chang Chih-turg, Yuan Shih-kai and others, in the names of all those present at the mecting.
The nest person that spoke was Mr. Wen, formerly connected with the Tientsin Taotai's yamen who told the assembly that many of his fellow countrymen seemed to be under the impression that even if the secret agreement were signed, Russia could not take Manchuria, as the other Powers would not allow her to do so, and would aurely go to war with Russia, if she persisted in occupying Manchuria. He said that all those who had such an impression, had made a great mistake. Other Powers could not help China, if China would not. help herself. If the agreement wore ratified, other Powers would simply let Kustake Manchuria and then they would ich demand a share in the 18 provinces to maintain the balance of power. China could be partitioned without a European war. When Russia had secured Manchuria, she would be quite satisfied and would allow the Powers to do as they pleased with regard to the rest of China. France would certainly follow the example of Russia and take Yuntian, Kuangsi and Kuangtung. England woul then be obliged to take all the other provinces south of the Yangtze, with the exception. perhaps of Fukien which might probably xo into the pocket of Japan. Then Shan~ fung and Chibli would go to Germany. As to the rest of the Powers such as Italy, Austria ete., they could be easily satis fied with portions of China. Thus China could easily disappear from the map of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.