Feb, fo. indication has yet en of what the Mui Council proposes to say at the ratepayers' meeting in April on the subject of Chinese representation in its future constitumn, As is known, this quesmn, together with that of the Mixed Court, is now in debate! between the Diplomatic Body' and the Waichiaopu; and from the occasional reports received the views of the two sides differ 20 widely, that even more than the accustomed leisureliness of Peking is likely to' attend a recision. But whether the wheels of diplomacy move fast or slow or do not move at all, Diplomatic Body in their negotiations in Peking, wher of course, the final decision must be made, Indeed we may well believe that the Diplomatic Body expect a declaration of such kind from Shanghai.
Since the establishment of Chinese Advisory Committee the "North-China Daily News" has consistently urged that we should "go the whole hog" and Jnave, not an Advisory Committee but Chinese members of the Council. Without, therefore, attempting to frame'a policy which it must be for the Council to evolve, we might offer one or two suggestions for general consideration. It is inadvisable to mention here any precise figure for the number of Chinese on the Council, but it should be such as to give proper weight to the interests they represent and to ensure adequate attendance at Council meetings. As regards their. selection, thi might be left to the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Ie he chose to delegate the work of uppointment to the guilds and business and educational ganizations, that would be for him to arrange with his countts jacu, The point of importance is. that the selection of the Chinese Councillors should be made entirely by the Chinese znd that there should be no continuance of the practice fol lowed! with the Advisory Com! mittee: of having: the member, "shroffed""by the Consular Body,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.