The Shanghai Chinese Ratepayfers Association in accordance with resolution passed by. the annual Teeting issued on Apr. 12 statement fon the security of the International Settlement, the cardinal points. in Which are as follows 1. The condition under which the' practice has developed of excluding Chinese armed forces from the International Settlement has been changed. This practice now constitutes. a direct menace to' the Security of the Settlement.
The Settlement is in mse an independent state and possesses no sovereignty. It is an Integral part of Chinn set apart by the Chinese Government for the residence of foreign nationals who rade in the country.
8. Inasmuch as there are coi fioting national interests in the Gettlement, it can be likened to the Balkan Peninsul is position to resist the mili vention of any of the Powers interested. Its security is therefore in the balance,. The "protective occupation" recently effected by one of the interested Powers affords a good example on this point.
'4. In order to maintain the prosperity of the Port, the Chinese Government shall resume all the obligations of a territorial sover-
'6. The proposal of creating a {roe city in Shanghai is a roseate dream of the "die-hard" group, but should be denounced by the Chines people. The opposition voiced by the United States is therefore most rescuable and should meet with our hearty support.
Letter to' 8.
Saturday's Chinese papers published the text of a letter addressed by various Chinese organisations to the new Municipal Council? Among the bodies represented were, the Citizens Federations, various, Street Unions, Transportation and Customs Brokers, and the Woollen Pac-tories Trade Association. The letter follows in part:—We, the undersigned organisations, are ratepayers of the inter-ational Settlement, "We welcome Your inauguration and. offer you, With a feeling of sincerity, the fol: Towing viewpoints:
The Japanese militarists now maintaining pence "and. order" Shanghai together with the. irresponsible. armed Japanese. civilians Rave been comnicting unlawful acts inthe Eastern and Western Districts since January 28,. They ompeltedthe Municipal Counc Senvp functioning, renered the peo-Sie homeless and disarmed members thes. MIN. P who have been de-faust to protect the people." On Forruary "General" Hacraghten, ihe forntee Chairman of the S.C {n'tne loyal performance of Ins duty, Foquented the Britian Consul General Tolotge a preterit with the Japanese Etdhorties: Although the Police fights are being. gradually restored, Tie residents in the Eastern Dis: eet sil continue to live in a state Of fear; the mierehants are unable to Sesume. their business and. most The former residents aye still resid-Ing in other districts, "These unlaw AUF acts on the part of the Japan: tse have not yet been dealt with ae-Sording, fo law, but they must attended to by you For 88 years, the prosperity of shanghai "hat been " progressing fendily: with: the exception. of the rretehed™ period) that" besan, on January 20" 1892, Ten years of co-Sperntion between Chinese and. forflpners will be necessary to restore Singhal to its former state of profperity., You should collect. public Spinone, and grange a teen flan to bring Shanghai back to its former state. We realise that the work now entrusted to you is exinficale, but. you will have the valuable experience gained out of the January. 28 Incident" and this will erable: you to differentiate betiveen the character of the Japanese. militarists and that of British, American, Ballan and other foreign militarists, Events have shown th the Japanese militarists are unch ciplined.
We pointed out previously that the situation called for the immediate reorganisation, of the present Military Defence Council and ed that Japan's participation in the Joint defence of Shanghai be with-Gravn, We hope you will adopt this Proposal immediately in order, that Bre' prosperity of Shanghai and the Police rights of the S2M.C. may not be further jeopardised.
we hope the Japanese Councillors swill not fail to understand their present position and will accept our expressions in. the proper spirits.
Although we are' dissatisfied with Reproduced with pen
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.