Feb. 5.
The weather might certainly ave given a warmer greeting to 1 new British Consul-General ud Mrs, Brenan™.than it did esterday. But they have been Shanghai before and know that its climate is likely to be t this time of year; and we re sure that they can look to heir countrymen to make up or the sky's shortcomings. Mr. renan comes to this important ost at a comparatively ge, but with a reputation al eady assured. He has the coneiousness of following in the footsteps of a long line of distinguished men to stimulate his efforts; and if he also feels that one of his predecessors had note delicate problems to deal vith than are likely to fall to is lot, no one will disagree wita im and all will readily symp: hize. If we may say s0, M srenan's recent years in Canton ive every hope that he will rise 0 the occasion, and he enters his new duties with the good wishes of all.
It cannot be concealed that the oreign community of Shanghai re anxious and dispirited. No doubt the prolonged depression f trade and now the lowness of fiver have much to do with heir despondency. But these ireumstances are, after all, only symptoms of fundamental causes: with which it is difficult to see iny effective attempt to grapple. We have again and again proested against the impression ously cultivated and too Swen believed abroad, that the British Shanghai are clos fisted "diehards", with no thought but to grab as much and yield as little as they can. It is simply the truth to say hat they accept what is common-y known as "the F. O. polic; and will loyally do what they are required to do to make it a success. But there have been times when it has seemed to them that the outlines of that policy have been unnecessarily stretched in its translation locally into action and when conciliation has degenerated into mere pliableness. That the Chinese have now no doubt of the essential friendliness of Great Britain's intentions _towards them, we are sure. But it is no part of that friendliness to overlook apparently deliberate breaches of international faith and other inexcusable incidents, such as the recent raid on the Tuckwo; nor would the Chinese, who always have a very clear understanding of the right and wrong of a particular case, expect that it should be. The further circumstance cannot be overlooked, namely, that the ostensible leaders of the Chinese Government are not always those with whom the power rests. That is, perhaps, a necessary weakness both of the system of government and of the period through which China is passing.
not ignored in Nanking and evidence is not lacking of the efforts that are being made to concentrate authority and responsibility in the hands which ostensibly exercise them. But little incidents such as the pirating of a: party of Frenchmen on the Taihu, within & few In respect of Shanghai the outlook is further complicated by the fact that it is practically impossible to get people abroad to understand or even to recognize the unique peculiarities of its position. We have an excellent example of this in the article reproduced to-day on "The Status of Shanghai" by an American writer. He has evidently taken trouble to learn something about Shanghai and writeS in 70 illiberal spirit, Yet repeatedly he arrives at conclusions which greater experience waild have shown him to be false. He is evidently not aware that it is the Chinese more than anyone else who are responsible for the persistence of Chinese labour in mills. He speaks of the Chinese claim for a share in Shanghai's administration on the basis of taxation, but seems to be ignorant that they enjoy no such right, nor indeed civie rights of any sort, in any city of China, And hi; apparent condemnation of Eh nese being "searched withens warrant in automobiles and buses" might be less severe if he appreciated the prevalence of armed robbers and the impo bility of distinguishing from the peaceful citizens on whom they prey. That the whole position of Shanghai is animal ous, no one would deny. If, on the other hand, we urge that these anomalies and the system of government which has grown up through many decades in response to sheer necessity, work out, in spite of defects, for the greatest good of the greatest number, and that any hasty alteration might have incalculably injurious results to Chinese perhaps even more than foreigners, we can only plead that our contention shall not be brushed fide without fair consideration of the reason on which it is based. That the sentiment of the foreign community is not illiberal and that it is prepared for changes to come, is effectively proved by the presence of Judge Feetham and the nature of the work he is called to do. That work is clearly defined, and corroborated by the Counci), in his letter published in the Municipal Gazette of January to advise the Council with a view to assisting them in formulating some constructive plan or scheme which, while giving full consideration to the aspirations of the Chinese people, will at the same time afford reasonably adequate protection to the great commercial and business interests which have been developed in Shanghai.
It may be noticed that there is no distinction between Chinese and foreign business interests. The ideal thus set up is one that if realized Shanghai could readily accept.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.