the Editor of the "Norra-Cuina Dairy News."
Sim,—The leading article in your issue of April 1 condemns the Council's proposal of an Advisory Committee of Chinese residents on the ground that "conditions can easily be imagined in which Com: mittee and Council would find themselves sharply disagreeing and the position then would be perilously like that of two rival governments."
Exactly this result will follow, and to a greater degree, from the scheme, proposed by way amendment to the resolution, which provides for the election of Chinese members to the Council. Those members are to be constant in number and elected on a franchise distinct from that on which the foreign members of the Council are chosen. They will in evitably form a cabal within the Council. They will act and vote together, whenever possible mulish opposition to the "foreign devils" (the expression is still current in our midst); they will be pliant to the least pressure of native public opinion however unintelligent and unreasonable, they will be subject to terrorization by every demagogue of the port; they will be susceptible to every form of bribery and corruntion in which the genius of their race finds its most adequate expression.
And this is not the worst; for there is every reason to expect that the persons elected to repr sent the Chinese community will not be of the milder type which I have delineated above, but the actual demagogues themselves, blatant on "sovereign rights," playing to the local gallery reger'? less, as all Chinese are regardless, of the public weal, and anxious only for the conservation of their individual interests and "rice-bowls."
We are accustomed in Shanghai to a Council composed of men probity:
after nearly 90
As regards the grant of the}try I venture to affirm that there is no such thing as a Chinese of probity, in our sense of the word. The author of your leading article of April 2 is my witness. The appointment of a Chinese Advisory Committee or the election of Chinese members to the Council will mean the inauguration of an era of bribery and nepotism such zs are characteristic of every Chi-rose institution throughout the country. In our hearts we all know this but ae restrained, either by business connexions with the Chinese or by a foolish fashion of fossing as men of bread mind and diplomatic habit, from allowing our knowledge to have its proper effect thon our actions, No pointless Elatitude as that "much water has flowed under the bridges" or silly shibboleth of ''no taxation without representation" should be allowed to obscure the issue before us.
Tae Oninese Point or View, Moreover I venture to challenge your statement 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." So for as my experience goes that is not so. All Chinese of standing and substance within the Settlement are well aware of th: dangers to which they will be exposed by Chinese participation in municipal affairs. They join perforce in the clamour but their hearts are not in the business. "Nor should you stigmatize as "hucksterine" a perfectly—legiti-Nmate suggestion that the solemn compact entered into in 1915 with reference to Settlement, extension should be performed by both forties thereto, and not merely by one of them. That compact was ratified by the ratepayers. has it not become effective? Because those very Chinese bodies and associations which are now clamouring for representation, that is to say for the performance of our part of the bargain, have been equally vociferous against the performance of their part by the Chinese authorities, That is the sole reason why Settlement extension has not become a fait accompli, If Chinese representation in any form is now conceded the project of Settlement extension is dead.
The writing of this letter has been an invidious task but mayne est veritas et prevalebit. It is my conviction that the agitation for Chinese representation on the Council has but two motive forces, anti-foreign sentiment and lust of plunder.
T am, ete.,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.