General Shang is of medium build, answered all my questions in chtforward manner, and seemed to be thoroughly conversant with his subject, He appeared to be terview took place at 11 o'clock in' the morning on a Sunday and the appointment was kept to the dot, which is all the more remarkable as the majority of Chinese officials generally make their appointments Some time after six in the evening, and one is very often kept waiting: for one hour, at least. Not so with General Shang. He evidently is a great believer in business efficiency and that time is money.
A further meeting took place on Monday morning which lasted from 9 till 1.30, at which the following resolutions were passed:
(1) The Haiho Improvement Commission toe organized fortnwith, (2) The Bank of China and the Bank of Communications to be approached for an advance in or-dor to enable the work to be start.
once, as the sum of $100 000 has already been collected in surtaxes levied in connection with the Ifaiho Improvement Bonds.
(3) Commission to be composed of Mr, Yang Pao-ling, Mr. Lil. Van der Veen, Mr. T. C. Shoung and Messrs. Li Yi Tze and Chen Vu Kao, the latter two representing Nationalist Construction Com-
The monthly expenses of the newly formed commission will run. nto about $1,200 and a further $30,000 will be required to liquid ate outstanding debts as well as the renting of the necessary premises for offices, ete.
The next item on the Agenda will be the organization of a Technical Committee to be in charge of all technical matters. Five persons will serve on this Committee who will elect a Chairman. Several Sub-Committees will also be formed who will attend to the drawing up [of the regulations governing the functions of the different departments, such as an engineering department, General Affairs Department, Secretarial department and Treasurers department.
Mr. Gauss, the United States Consul-General, has again been asked to approach the foreign banks to sce whether it is possible to induce them (0 participate in the loan.
Immediate Danger to Tientsi is good work, there is still the danger of Tientsin being flooded as in 1917. The overing, but a continuance of the exceptionally rainy weather which we: have been "experiencing of late is bound to cause a diversion of une waters of the Yungtingho into the Haiho. Neither will this materially in remedying the present unsatisfactory state of the Haiho. River experts incline to the opinion that there is already so much silt, sand, and mud in the river that no amount of rain or water will have the effect of thoroughly scouring the iver. The silt, sand and mud will remain, and -.cntsin will be flooded..As things at present stand it looks very much as if the Haiho Improvement Scheme has come too. Into.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.