Dec, 24.
On the principle of letting well alone, the British Residents' Association for China has wisely re-elected as its Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Mr. W. J. Hawkings and 'Mr, R. G. MacDonald and has provided them with a: strong Commit tee. During the past year there has been a welcome revival of interest in the Association, indicated no less: by: the healthy' addition to its! subscription list than by the de-Anite increase in.the membership which is now about *1,700—still short of the 3,000 tentatively set as his goal by Mr. Hawkings, but a realy marked improvement on the numbers of a year ago. The British community in Shanghai, on' the basis ofa recent count of the Consulate-General, has been estimated to total 9,099—a quaint achlevement in itself—but it is generally known that that figure includes a large number of British protected subjects, to say nothing of children who, no doubt, have views of their own' but can hardly be expected to condescend to submit those views to prosaic assessment by a corporation of adults. Tf, therefore, Mr. 'Hawkings and his' associates' who have already proved to possess considerable driving force, can lift the membership to within measurable approach of 3,000 they will have deserved the community's thanks, On study of the list of emeers of the Association the only fear is lest too many of them, having important commitments in other public duties, should not be able to give the Association suMeiently undivided attention. However, that is a drawbbneke with which Shanghai familiar. Tt can be removed only by the process of decentralization clearly outlined in the ostablishment of certain new sub-committees and in the excellent scheme which Mr. R, G. MacDonald's own sub-committee is furthering by arranging a series of lectures on topics of special interest to British residents in Shanghai, As the Knowledge of individual members develops there may be a greater readiness {0 accept office and so to relieve some of the exceptionally busy men of the labours imposed by. 2 compelling sense of public spirit, On that account the Executive is fo be congratulated on bowing to the wishes of certain members by creating a Shanghai Affairs Sub-Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. G. A. Haley. Unfortunately' Mr. Haley is understood to be 4o-ing home on leave in April, but between now and then his sub-committee should be able to profit fully:
is excellent judgment and extensive knowledge of local problems: in laying down the lines on which it_may usefully proceed. 'The: British Residents' Association is primarily concerned with the pro-ection and furtherance of British interests in' China. It has consistently guarded itself against being involved in issues which might lead it beyond that limited prescription of its duties. - Not the least of its value to the community is the liaison which it has maintain with Westminster where a group of Members of Parliament
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.