To the Editor of the manchester Guardian"
Sir—Mr, Arthur Ranson with a good deal the present time, when interest in Chinese affairs is acute, The residents of Shanghai, where I have lived for the last twenty years, have watched at close quarters the decay of Inw and order in China, and it is the opinion of the majority of foreigners there that the too indulgent attitude of the foreign Powers has done nothing to check but has rather precipitated the anarchy' which now prevails. We in Shanghai are becoming accustomed to the attacks of touring! Journalists who spend a month or two in China, and perhaps a day in Shanghai, and then go home and write books to prove that all China's troubles are due to the pernicious foreigners in the treaty ports. The opinions of these persons are, as a ale, formed before they leave home; and it is hardly possible, even the will to do so is there, to get al firm grasp of the situation in China in the course of a flying visit. Understanding this we are not, too much perturbed by their effusion But the ordinary man at home, ha ing no personal knowledge of China, must form his opinions from what he reads in the newspapers, and the wildest and most absurd statements, if. made with sufficient confidence and forcibly stated, will be widely believed and will, no doubt do a Mr. Ransome says that Shanghai's view of Bi ish policy is not, that of Britain, He may be right in this; but T suspect that some's view of British policy is not that of the present British Government or the majority of people who have any knowledge of the China question. When Mr. Ransome says that Shanghai was untouched by the war, and that both Britain and China were profoundly affected by it, he seems to be talking pure nonsense. China suffered -not all from the war. She provided! some of the belligerent Powers with her exports at very high prices, and she obtained very remunerative employment for a large number of coolies. She suffered hardly casualty. Shanghai, on the cther Land, carried on in these years with great difficulty and sent her full share of men home to join the British {forees and the mercantile marine, dreds of officers Yor-the coolie corply ts] shanghat exsieling the belle neck"
When Mr,. Ransome talks
through which trade passes building her magnificent, build with Chinese money he becomes bes wildering.. When he says that. is Chinese trade thet Britain wantg and not Shanghai buildings he ty absurd, Without Shmghai there would be no forelim trade in thy Yangtze: Valley, aa any merchattt
part-of China could tell him.
lise done business with a he think it is possible for Lancashire producers t dear' direct -with 'Chitte ese merchants nm the interior of China? I can tell him that' it, not. As regards Shanghai's maga! ficent buildings, there is far _mor@ money made in Shanghai by Chinese than by British traders. Are there not buildings in Lancashire built with money fromthe same source?
Shanghai is China's greatest solid asset, and if it is to pass out of the control of foreigners it will go to rack and ruin in a few years, as Hankow is rapidly going sing the tragic agreement of a few months ago, and as, Tsingtao hag already gone, except for the support it receives asa health resort, for the British and American resident of Shanghai—Yours ete., J.T, Wynvano BnooKe, Southfield, Bowden, Cheshire, 4
'TAB following officers have been appointed in command of the ser chit vessels temporarily conintige sioned for special service in China:—
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.