When it became known that Peking had in mind the severance of diplomatic relations with the Russian representatives in China, very strong feelings were aroused throughout the Russian community in Shanghai. It was resolved to petition the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs against the proposed action. The petition was rapidly drawn up—this being done on September 23—and signatures were immediately forthcoming. It was resolved that as goon as they numbered 400 the petition should be forwarded, but hardly had it been set afoot than the fateful Mandate was issued.
This fact has not deterred the promoters of the petition, and when the 400 signatures had been appended the petitioners approached M. Grosse, the Consul-General, with a request that he should telegraph it to Peking. This was duly done, and copies have also been transmitted to Prince Koudacheff, and the Russian Ministers in London, Paris and Washington, the original being retained in the Consulate here.
The petition is in the following "Minister for Foreign Affairs, "Peking.
"Shanghai, Sept 23, 1920.
Apprised that the Chinese "Government will issue a Mandate the purport of which will be that the authority and function of the Russian Legation at Peking. together with Russian Consulates throughout China, should be abrogated, we Russian firms and citizens, through business exigent cies residents for years in China and the Far East, whose established trading interests have been mutually advantageous for Chinese merchants as for China, recognize in the declaration of the Chinese Government a menace to our immediate material interests as well as to future prospects for uninterrupted residence and trade relations with China. As is occasioned by act of war, even within the enemy's countries, various interests of citizens of belligerent Powers are safeguarded by a neutral government. Never has Russia engag ged in warfare against China, on the contrary the last duly recognized Russian Governuient was a member, as was the government of China, of the Allied group which combated in the now historical struggle against the German coalition, The welfare and interests of Russian residents in China are in great danger, as likewise of the large influx of Russian refugees who have sought shelter in China in their flight from indescribable horrors of the Bolshevik control. Hence the cause that we Russians living in China. with emphasis raise our voices in defence of our rights and privileges vouched to Treaties with the Chinese Government, and insistently claim a continuation of the same until such time as a lawfully constitute ed Russian Government, duly recognized by the Powers, shall have assumed control throughout Russia. We further request that the authority of the Russian Legation in Peking and Russian Consulates in China shall remain as unassailed and continue as competent to safeguard and protect our persons, properties and interests—this is the sincere prayer of Russian residents in Shanghai."
Among the 400 signatures are those of the following well-known institutions:—Russian Chamber of Commerce, Committee of the Rus-an Assembly, Russian Volunteer Fleet, Russo-Asiatic Bank, Union of Siberia Creamery and other Cooperative Associations, Russia Insurance Ca., Insurance Ca. Volga, and the Kavkas Mercury Following the list of names "the petition concludes "We respectfully solicit Your Excellency's appreciative sympa-, thy towards our serious position, and respectfully request that this telegram be placed before His Excellency the President of the Republic of China.
"Russian Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.