Apr. 1.
Ir is unnecessary to reopen the story of how Chinese representation on the Council became a question of active politics. Its introduction was marred by passion and discord, in which the position of both parties was sadly distorted. We hope and believe that calmer counsels now prevail. On the foreigners' side it must be recognized that the Chinese desire for representation in the government of Shanghai is not merely the clamour of a handful of agitators, but expresses a real and widely held feeling. On the Chinese side, it must be recognized that foreigners have certain rights which they reasonably wish to preserve and that the: peculiarity of their position entitles them to ask for certain safeguards.
At the ratepayers' meeting next Wednesday the Council will move for the institution of a Chinese Advisory Committee. Its members, five in number, would be nominated annually by the Chinese but would be subject to Consular veto; they must have resided for five years in the Settlement immediately prior to nomination; they must have paid rates throughout these years on a rental of not Jess than Tls. 1,200 annually; and they must not hold any official position under the Chinese Government. Their functions would be as defined in the draft agreement for Settlement Extension of 1915, to advise and make representations to the Council ''on all matters affecting the interests of Chinese residents.** This reference to the draft agreement of 1915 seems to have given rise to the rumour that the Council intends to make its proposal dependant on the granting of Settlement extension. There is no truth whatever in this rumour and we sincerely hope that no amendment in this sense will be moved. Whatever change he made should come as a free gift, untainted by any huckstering.
But we go farther than this. The propose! for an Advisory Committee, in whatever form, appears open to many objections. It might easily prove cumbrous and unpractical, an equal source of irritation to both Chinese and foreigners. Conditions might arise in which Committee and Council would find themselves sharply
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.