Mr. Shield's letter is published in Chinese in the vernacular press, and a translation of portions of it is given below "Shanghai is like a whee] in a set of machinery which, if damaged, will bring about a stoppage of the whole of the machinery. If we in Shanghai are allowed to break up the service like this, the work which we have been for the past 26 years trying to build up will be of no use whatever. Will this not be a. great pity?
"The Chinese Postal Service is a member of the International Postal Union and is given full recognition by all countries as such. It is the whole Chinese Postal Service that is recognized, not a! single branch.
"With the exception of Chekiang. where there evidently exists a misunderstanding, the new increased rates are recognized by all the provinces. Should the matter be explained to the Military and Civil Governors of Chekiang properly and thoroughly, I think that their order to the people not to recognize the rates will be cancelled.
"The Posta] Service is an independent service, caring only for despatch of mail to and from China and to various parts of the interior of China. Should your order be enforced, there is sure. to be misunderstanding both in China and in foreign countries, and a breach in friendly relations cannot be avoided."
After explaining that he did not think that the rates were seriously opposed by the merchants and_ the people, Mr. Shields intimates that the present opposition to the new rates is part of propaganda on the kext of certain selfish individuals.
e new rates, he thought, were very reasonable and had been adopted only after much discussion. Mr. Shields then informs Gen. Ho that he will submit his (Gen. Ho's) request and proposals to Peking but he hoped that he could secure an interview with the Governor with a view to arriving at a satis factory settlement.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.