To the Editor of the "Nortu-Cuisa Day News."
Simj—It is unfortunate that afters gentleman has been accredited by the namber of Commerce to visit Peking and submit to the Foreign Ministers 4 pin for the conservancy of the Huapgpu there should follow an active discussion on the subject with such material diversity of views.
The opinion of the business men and taxpayers of Shanghai should have been thoroughly exnvass-d and there shoul have gone out from Shanghai but one rent on a subject as big as the subject cree itself. hanghai is admittedly a trade metropolis of the world, and the river thas flows by her docks and wharves into the sea must be preserved, or else the commercial wealth of the city must pass away.
As it will be assumed that the Chambi of Commerce represents the business sen! ment of Shanghai it is not so clear that any plan involving an appropriation by the city could be accepted as authorised taxes, and the letter of "Civis" i without the approval of those who pay the "News" of Thursday points out the necessity for such approval.
But Iam writing to offer a suggestion which seems to have an important b-ating on the whule subject, though at the time all can appreciate that without harmony of sentiment and energetic cooperation the plan will receive a dose of Peking tex and go to sleep again.
The question now engaging the attention of diplomats is whether China shall be preserved or divided, and while, apparently, there is an accord of sentiment, among West m Powers, in favour of preserving the empire in its entirety, a strong an reasonable doubt exists in the minds many careful observers that the accord is not substuntinely based, and that the mvsre earnest advocates of China's territorial unity are Great Britain and the Un ted States.
But however Western Powers may rowily feel on this question, the division, if 1 comes, will not be sudden, but the wedge will be entered by the most skilful dip matic hands, It may be that in some unguarded moment a precedent will be established, the logical result of which will split Chiva asunder and place on the illogical side the power that undertakes the negative argument in the Court of International law. It is therefore of the greatest ian portance that every plan relating to the development of the waterways and highways of China ought to be most carefully analysed and every part as carefully studio (in its direct and collateral reach-in writer does not wish to be classed as critic of any of the plans for the conservancy of the Huangpu, but it has oceurred that any plan which does not recognise in some way the sovereignty of China will ultimately prove a dangerous precedent. To adopt a pla which climates the entire sovereignty of China logically means the establishment of a precedent for the absorption of China, for the empire cannot he wholly ignored without its being wholly orbed, and what is most needed at this time to prevent. anarchy is 8 government deal with and on which to fix responsi bilities.
The foreign residents of Shanghai have never yet fulled to liberally respond to whatever concerned the business interes of the city, but naturally those on whim rests the obligation of meeting pledges touching the liberality and pride of Shanghai, desire to be consulted, and those who have large investment at the port may look well into the full bearing of every enterprise which they are published as presenting to the Diplomatic Body at Peking.
ing. The Huangpu river is within the territorial limits of China and it can be preserved through the agency of China if the Foreign Ministers in Eeking will show Dalf the perseverance displayed when under the fire of the Boxers.
Tam, ete, 28th June.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.