To the Editor of the "Nort Cuixa Daty News,"
I believe I am not wrong in assuming that in view of the daily additions to the list of Chinese vie-tims since Saturday last, in view of the rapid spread of the strike a1 the alarming proportions it ha sumed, and in view of the inevita-Ue dislocation, of trade generally ud the consequent hardships visit-'e3 upon the whole community, there can hardly be a single genuine well-Nisker of the prosperity of Shan-who does not thirst for some:
ind of workable solution to be applied to the problem of desiing vith the present ugly situation, vely because the right mentality han see mingly not been brought to bear upon some of the cardinal factors Fointing to @ true and durable settlement of the whole situation, Upon the rights and wrongs of the rifle shooting on May 30 as ordered by Inspector Everson for which he, che Municipal Police and the Municipal Council must jointly be held responsible, it is not the purpose of this letter to comment. Te should, however, be observed that on the mere strength of the report submitted by the Louza Station itself, the Council entering as it were the Court of Public Opinion charged (as plaintiff) the students having "inflammatory speeches of an anti-foreign character, with having "attacked and molested the Police..and attempted by force to secure the release of their com-yades;" and with having further Attempted "to force an. entry into the Louza Police Station." There Laing no defence, The Council (ax edge) pronounced that "in defen-0 of their lives and for the proteeton of the Police Station the Police were compelled to fire upon these disturbers of the pence, thereby Kidling four of the students outright and wounding a number of their Jassociates."What is the main purpose of the Manifesto issued by the Council from which these excerpts are made but to tell Shanghai and the world at large thet the shooting eas justified in every way, and to convey the only possible impression that the public should let the matter rest there? The fact is that the Chinese public could ut share suc viewpoints and would not let latter rest there. Thus came the deadlock of timely negotiations conductive to the early subsiding of the tide of popular resentment among the Chinese, and to the uninterrupted progress of trade and industrial activities. But it is not in blaming the Council nor in pin-pricking the Chinese protesters that the dawn of a satisfactory settlement is expedi ted. The right mentality alone is what furnishes the all-efficacious 'What obstacles mus: be cleared that at present cloud the vision of right mentality? On the side of the foreigners, there are at least two delusions that must be thrown overboard, namely, (a) That the' Chinese getting sick and tired of foreigners sitting on the bench of the Council are scheming to dispocsess the foreigners of their seats and run the Council as a pure Chinese-controlled institution.
(The Chinese demanded represen. tation on the Council v0 that the voice of the Chinese who contribute much to the municipal revenue will be heard, knowing that, the Chinese couneliior or counelllore can always be outvoted by the foreign councillors who form the majority. The appointment of the Chinese Advisory Board is helpful but to a very limited doge Yee as compared whh direct reprexentation. But the Chinese took this as a step to direct rep-event ation and desisted from appealing to Peking and turn the: case into a diplomatic issue.)
That the "Chinese are" now! aught in a whirlwind of anth-foreignism, and ules they could made o realise that mate of it numerical strength in thie Settlement, the efficiency of foreign weapons of war and the easy Procurableness of foreign muita and naval resources will over Power any Chinese crowd of what fever size, the Chinese will not fear the foreigner who will become an object of scorn, (This doctrine of force has been tried and has failed in the countries from which the foreign residents here have come, and it could not possibly be tried with success on a people to whom the ere after all are indebted for hospitality as guests of China, Do foreigners want the Chinese to love and respect them? Win the ead of the Chines and trade sand. prestige will take care themselves.) also prevail certain strong impres-108 the side of the Chinese there Sione'whicn have that dntinet eas. ses, which are no: firmly: grounded on all facts as abated ota com wensive scale and which, therefore, should be abandoned, These impressions are:
(a) That the foreigners have not! one ounce of sympathy for the troubles of the Chinese and look upon Chinese az far behind in el-Villzation, apd regard the loss of 4 Chinese life as a bagatelle, and that the one aim of foreigners is to fatten their purse on Chinese sil, sometimes by crooked means, and then pack up and go home. (Foreigners who have lived long in China and have obtained an inside view of her cultural wealth and freely mingled with the people in the rural districts, have invariably been tireless" speakers and writers of the admirable traits of the Chinese people, and saw in Chinese civilisation an important contribution to the cultural assets of, the world. But there are foreigners who take advantage of their immunity from the Chisieee Jaw and who exploit the inftubnee: of foreign Governments by doing ings to humiliate the Chine: and by often ignoring the legiti-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.