'To-the Editor of the "NonrH-Cuina Datty News'
Sin,—There can be no doubt that' if the reports published by the Chinese Press, as to the terms the: Agreement in respect of the reorganization of the Provisional Court; are true, foreigners Shanghai will be confronted with a situation of the utmost gravity.
The dilemma is all the more serious in that, for some unaccountable: reason, the outcome of the recent: negotiations has been. studiously concealed. Good reasons: may perhaps be alleged for the eixeumstance, but one cannot regard without the gravest apprehension the egregious policy of withholding from the foreign communities of Shanghai the fullest notice of the terms of the convention before the final draft is signed or rejected by the respective governments.
Rumour has it that while the French delegates have emerged successfully from the recent conferences, the representatives of the remaining Powers have committed themselves to a virtual surrender of our vested interests, unprecedented in the history of There can be mo gainsaying the fact that the new agreement, reported by the Chinese newspaper woald be the International Set ment's death warrant, The elimination of the Consular Deputy at the trial of criminal eases would be the coup de grice to foreign police control and in the event of a revolutionary outbreak within the Settle-mont with which the Council under thenew regime could not deal with force and effect, there is no knowing what complications might}
And when one considers that}
Jocal industrial activities are to a, great extent dependent on native Labour and its intercourse with foreign establishments and that litigation between Chinese as a result of the non-fulfilment of contracts, must have its repercussion on the business of our banking institutions, shipping. companies and import firms through whom the Chinese receive or purchase their commodities, the folly of the contention that civil cases between Chinese do not concern foreigners will readily suggest itself, Now what can ratepayers do in the face of a situation which may, tocome irretrievable in the course of the next few days if the Agreement is signed by the members of the Diplomatic Body Are we to stand by and sce the remarkable edifice built up by muecessive generations of intelligent and public-spirited foreigners who have devoted their energies municipal administration during ours and days snatched from the pursuit of their own business, and whose genius is alone responsible for the increasing prosperity and magnitude of the Model Settlement, crumble away without making an effort in our own interests?
Tt has been said that the most Jamentable feature of civic life in Shanghai is the indifference of the majority: of ratepayers to municipal affairs. Bat can we not break away from our traditional apathy when matters of the utmost gravity demand. immediate attention?
It has also been suggested that it is up-to the Council and Consular} Body to protect our interests.
But when our City Fathers are handicapped. by considerations of civility vis-a-vis "of the Consuls-General and the Consular Body is averse to embarrass the Corps Diplomatique, who in turn dare not imperil the noble cause of. i national harmony, is it' not time for the ratepayers'to bestir them-elves and. act before it becomes, in which a protest could be made, and that the object of these lines: is merely to point out the existence of the writing on the wall, over which @ veil has unfortunately been thrown by the authorities concern-
Tam, ete,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.