Despite the repeated statements} in the Press and elsewhere that the Chinese would not take part in the Judicial Inquiry and were not at all interested in the matter in any Shape or form, there were over 30 representatives of the Chinese Press present against six foreigners when the proceedings opened at the Town Hall yesterday morning. Altogether about 200 people were seated in the body of the Hall, including some 80 ladies.
By 9. am, there were small groups of Chinese in Nanking Road and the side streets in the vicinity of the Town Hall, and soon after the audience began to assemble in twos and three!
Counsel_were in their places by 10 am, These were Mr. Duncan McNeill and Mr, J. E. Badeley, for the Shanghai Municipal Council Mr. R. N, Macleod and Mr. Mansel Reece, for Mr. K. J. McEwen, Commissioner of Police; Mr. M. Reader Harris, for Police Inspector E. W. Everson; and Mr. K. E. Newman, for Capt. R. M. J, Martin, Assistant Commissioner of Police.
Behind counsel were seated Mr. 8. Fessenden, Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council; Major} A. H, Hilton-Johnson, Commissioner-General of the Council; Mr. E. S. Benbow Rowe, Secretary of the Councils Mr. K. J. McEuen, Capt.
M, J. Martin, and other on the stroke' of 10.30 the Commissioners entered the Hall, Br.' Justice E. Finley Johnson, Chief Justice of the Philippines and United States representative, lo ing. Sir Henry Gollan, " Chief Justice of Hongkong (Great Britain) took the seat on the President's right hand whilst Chief Justice Kitaro Suga, Chief Justice of the Hiroshima Appeal Court (Japan) occupied the chair on the other side. The Secretary to the Commission, Mr. R, T, Bryan Jr,, and the official stenographers, Messrs. Fraser and Strachan, were at counsel's table, President's Address Proceedings commenced mediately, the President forth the' form of procedure to be adopted. rough out the Tnqury-8 On Saturday, October 3, 1925, the International Commission of Tudges designated by the Amer-jean British and Japanese representatives at Peking for the Purpose of investigating the origin and character of the disturbances which took place at Shanghai on or about May 30, 1025, and for other purposes specifically mentioned, published a notice giving in detail the purpose and scope of the investigation which it had been requested to make, and invited all persons, without respect to nationality, either in person or by a duly accredited representative or representatives, to appear before the Commission on October 7, 1925, at 10,30 a.m, in the Municipal Hall of Shanghai and to present any evidence in their possession upon the questions which the Commission is authorized to inquire into.
The Commission now desires to amplify that notice and to provide an orderly procedure for the investigation, which may be amend~ ed or modified as it proceeds, as may appear to be advisable for the more effective and efficient conduct of the investigation.
We have invited all persons, whatever their nationality may be, to be present at each and every session of the Commission and to testify and to famish evidence upon any acts oF facts of which they may have knowledge, relevant td the subjects which the Commission has been authorize tigate, All such persons who desire to give evidence should notify the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Robert T. Bryan, Jr, c/o Davies Bryan, 4 Hong-Kong Road, Shanghai, at the very earliest date possible.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.