The Chapei Self-Government Association Joining the Agitation The suggestion recently made by Hsu Chien that foreign encroachment beyond the borders of the Settlement may be prevented by construction of a road round the tivo concessions, receives support in a letter addressed by the Chapei Self-Government Association to the Chapei Public Works and Tax Bureau.. The following is taken from a translation of the letter which appeared in the "'Sinwanpao" yesterday "The trade of Shanghai is developing daily, and foreigners—realizing the limited area of the Settlement—have been planning extensions from time to time. Chapei borders on the Settlement on three sides and its situation is more important than that of any other place. Since the Manchu Dynasty, foreigners have availed themselves of the least opportunity of encroaching upon Chapei. he most. important encroachments—_ have taken place. in North Szechuen Road, Dixwell Road, Haskell Road and Darroch Road, and there is no hope for the recovery of them. The Tung Sin Ming dispute last year brought forth strong protests from this association and other ofganizations, the result being that this road was left untouched. Now after the lapse of a year, a fresh dispute has arisen over the Sin Jao Ka, and this has not yet been settled. Extension of North Szechuen Road toward the east and the utmost attention paid to development of the Yangtszepoo district, would seem to indicate a desire for further extension of the Settlement, in order to check the development of Chapei.
"Though it can but be a remedial step, we are fully in favour of the plan to construct good roads and arouse the people from their lethargy. The construction of a road round the Settlement would act as a safeguard to our boundary against foreign encroachment. As it is the Public Works and Tax Offices in Chapei and Nantao who will have to deal with the matter, you are requested to negotiate with this office."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.