It was to be expected that the Chinese press accounts) would ced and intentionally distorted. The inflammatory articles appearing daily in the vernacular press at~ ticking the "native authorities, fostering anti-foreignism, and furthering the cause of a few paid agitators, could not "be accomplished anywhere else but under: the aegis of the Foreign Settlements and the Consulates under wich the papers are registered, whose protection they seek whi eyer in trouble, These - yellow sheets, instead of presenting. the ceive impartially "and publishing the facts an they find them, cout of their way to suppress whatever is unfavourable to their con-requested the tenants to vacate within one month, and publicly stated unequivocally that " Messrs. Brandt & Rodgers, Ld. were entitled to commence building operations on such.
This proclamation could not possibly have escaped the notice of the Argus-eyed Chinese press. Yet this important news was not published; neither was any notice taken of the ceeding $10,000, the rents due to the Iandlord, have" been collected il-Tegally from the tenants by these unauthorized collectors, who gave out that the money would be used for alleged "legal expenses." The tone of the press which countenances and condones such high-handed proceedings is deplorable, and the art of making trouble for purposes of extortion has been reduced to a fine art.
The trouble subsided with the pression of the paid fighters, and contrary to the statements of tentions, and give the widest pub-Jikity' to only one side of the quesmn, their own, thereby misleading the public, and inciting the people resist aw and order, on found apparently. that any settle: rent. in' Taw according to the: principles of istic in favour of foreign interests must be wrong. anid fought to the Jast ditch. They fare not concerned with equity.
hard to say what this sort of mentality really wants. "If there: had been no misrepresentation and suppression of facts well-known to them, by the native press, this "mild riot" would never "have occurred.
A Plot to Get Money Coming down to bed-rock, the lo thing wax engineered to jiort Tls. 50,000, demanded by three professional agitators, which they sought (0 upon the
To bring immunity ie inflaming.
the public mind, improper propiizanda was used with the aid of Thy native press enjoying the hibpitality und the protection of thb Foreign Settlements. Banditry, long rampant in the interior, ily Jately been extended with hifipunity to include all sorts ditions of foreigners ax victims.
ity incl ud Why not, therefore, here in Shanghai?" This is the state of rind. responsible for this. Tatest 'Attempt. to Impose the notorious mete methods obtaining. every-jete where dishonesty is: the best icy, "upon law-abiding residents of; there Foreign Settlements, ober xpatiente "failed, one. of king' the issue, when various
"Sovereign Rights" "and national prestige. This last" cuts both Wye" But the rabble are nat crinal. 'They take their pay their way, and are anaured of protection. 'They have nothing AHfore, and' all is rice that comes tg;'the bowl." Whd were the ereatore of "the disturbances? Some 490 men." Where did they come from? "They were not the tenants, oil even residents of the neigh: Diwrhood. "They were assembled for unlawful purposes, and the pet police, after" appearing, thdrews Comment ig needless, ste professional disturbers of an the peace are given a freehand by the very" "protecart of the Owner a British Subject The usual irresponsible innuendee and misleading statements nating, from profession!
fore, and tot from any. recogni Organisation or, public bodes, Save appeared' inthe prote, one often repeated is that the owner ofthe property ie. Chine for Whom a" foreign firm is agent. 'Wo truth could easily have been rained "it there hod. been about "Tt, Acting imilar allegations, the es concerned' hed cly made a thorough investiga-and, were satisfied that the tnditoneficial owner ty not ese but a British subject, and in ence they gave wie poblcty fact that-all regulations of the interested parties none of the ten-Chinese authorities had been com: ants were hurt or. even roughly plied with; not one word about the handled, nor did the police have any free and gratis surrender of land occasion. to use physical force required by. the Chinese "public them. AN! credit is due to. the Works Department for the widen: Municipal Police for their handling Ing of the two Chinese thorough-lof. situation fraught with posfareg on the north and south res- sibilities "admirably and tactfully, Pectively of the property, only a affording thereby an object lesson great furore about the concession to to the neighbouring. police adm the Municipal Counci's road on the tration which failed to come to the fast, the most important and urgent scratch. As it happened, the large requirement of all force of aicipa Plies was neces.
Tenants Six Months Free f'pafd hooligans assembled for the to subdue the numerous ganes
Does, anybody know that the ten- purpose of resisting the Inw. AS ants did not pay any rent for aix in other eases, toleration is nun months? Did they have anything to taken for weakness, and stern fay about this? In short, the na- [sistance on full sights is the on tive reports were partisan, pre- possible course, in face of the judiced "and libellous in the' main, most daily encroachments we now, [with the object of creating ill-feel- see paramount.
Chapei: Police Authorization The owner's petition for summonses to be served on the recalcitrants by the Mixed Court was sent to the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, who refused to forward it to the proper quarter, thus leaving the Iandlord no other alternative than to appeal to the native authorities concerned, who, upon a thorough investigation to the ownership and claims of the owner, caused 2 proclamation to be issued jointly by the Chinese Police Administration and the Chinese Public Works on March 26, 1924, ordering the tenants to remove within one month, and permitting the landlord to' commence building operations on such date. A free translation of this proclamation is as follows:
Proctamarion [ssued sy rite SuANc-Woosuxa Pouce Court Share Moment Gooner aod Marek. 26 12th year RE.
"Whereas the owner of the oremiscs Ni Lou Lee! Allayway, Juskiang. rond, Brandt & Rodgers, Li, haw written to the effect that' the. buildings on. anid premises situated on the corner Bechuen Ra. are decaying, fe was solved to reconstruct the said buildings; Tue Cuarer Pouice PRocLAMATION AUTHORIZING BrAXoT & Ropcens 70 Putt, DOWN ano Repuit THE Houses AND Forstovin¢ Ivtenrenence wit Tite Wonk.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.