On January 7, 1932—just_ over five years ago—Dr. H. H. Kung, on behalf of the National Government, installed General Wu Te-chen'as Mayor of Shanghai at the then headquarters of the City Government, General Chang Chun, who had resigned in the preceding month, being present to hand, over charge to his successor. Times were difficult. Toward the; end of 1981 local feeling, running] high in consequence of the outbreak in Manchuria and the rapidly developing absorption of that territory by the Japanese Kwa tung Army, gave rise to various incidents, one of which had led directly to General Chang Chun's resignation, Although no-one, even in that first week of January, could foresee what the month would eventually bring forth, the atmosphere was heavily charged. General Wu Te-chen was probably under no illusion regarding the difficulties of the post to] Which he had been appointed. His previous experience in Kwang tung where he had distinguished himself as Commissioner of Public; Safety (and head of the police)
Canton and later as Commis sioner of Reconstruction for the Province itself, justified his selec~ tion as Mayor of Shanghai. He had been one of the stalwarts of the Revolution, He received part of his carly education in Japan, whither he retook himself in 1913, to continue his studies, when the followers of Dr. Sun Yat-sen found themselves at variance with the infant republican regime at Peking. After a brief incursion—into Journalism, General Wu Te-chen was made adjutant to Dr, Sun Yat-sen in 1920 and promoted to the Commissionership of Public Safely, as already mentioned, in 1023, under the Military Government of Canton, His eminence in the Kuomintang Party was marked in 1928 by his selection as one of the three special commissioners} appointed to accompany the remains of Dr. Sun Yat-sen from Peking to the mausoleum at Nanking. "As the representative of the National Government at Mukden 1930, General Wu Te-chen played an important part in the rapprochement which led to the ce-operation of the Manchurian forces with those under General] Chiang Kai-shek and the consequent collapse of the Northern] rebellion of 1930. Later his influence was exercised toward) bridging the differences which arose Between Nanking and Canton in 1931. In some measure his apointment to Shanghai where, in the effort to placate Canton, the 19th Route Army in November' 1931 had been ordered to take up garrison duty with headquarters at Soochow, was an earnest of the Government's desire to remove Canton's apprehensions, for, trusted by Nanking, the new Mayor was so persona grate with the authorities of his native province.
General Wu Te-chen had little time to ponder on the diplomatic significance of his new charge. Within a fortnight he soon became aware of the acuteness of the local situation, Into detailed discussion of the course of events there is no need to enter. It is sufficient to recall that General Wu Te-chen on January 25 had to face an ulti-datum from the Japanese authori-lies, with the knowledge that Japanese warships were moving to Shanghai in reinforcement of the Japanese naval strength already there. How the Mayor accepted the terms conveyed to him by Mr. Mural, but how Admiral Shiozawa considered that that acceptance was. not sufficient, is now ancient his tory. The bombardment of Chapel, after the Japanese Naval Landing Party had been checked on January 28 in the attempt to enter that istrict, started a grave conflict which ' did "not end until May 5 when a truce was signed on behalf of their respective Governments by Mr, Manoru Shigemitsu, now Japanese Ambassador to, Moscow and Mr, Quo Tai-chi, now Chinese Ambassador to London, To the Storminess of those ' times Shanghai the fact that both signatories were in hospital for treatment of injuries directly due to the disturbed situation, bore dramatic testimony. All who were in touch with the new Mayor in the ordeal which thus confronted him at so early a stage in his Mayoralty were much impressed his" coolness, firmness and energy." Those" qualities-had even better scope in the months following the Japanese withdrawal, In Jeading the way to a reconstruc~ tion of Sino-Japanese relationships the was able to show just the right combination of conciliation and dignity. He threw himself heart fand soul into the task of rebuild~ ing the desolated regions of Chapel and Kiangwan and, indeed, took advantage of the opportunity to press forward more rapidly his predecessor's scheme for the creation of a civic centre and the various town-planning projects ancillary to it, His personality soon made its mark on local affairs and, finding a ready response in the foreign community, he set himself to develop Sino-Foreign ce-operation with an enthusiasm which bore abundant fruit, The City Government of Shang: hai now has its headquarters in the Civic Centre the formal open= ing of which on October 10, 1033 may be in the lo administration, The cipline came as a surprise even to some of the most sympathetic observers of the progress which General Wu Te-chen and his officers had been instrumental in stimulating. Later came other signs of municipal advance in the preparations for the Jukong wharves, the opening of the Fish Market and, more recently, the establishment of a fine hospital and medical contre under the auspices of the City Government, to be formally opened next Sunday but already functioning. In the rehabilitation of Chapei the Mayor has also taken a vigorous lead, He has not been content with bricks and mortar for, as the inauguration of the Civie Centr showed, he has addressed himself to the improvement of the service of the City Government. He has received good support from the executive heads of departments. His ce-operation with the other two municipal _governments of Shanghai has been cordial and practical. "Until his successor is appointed the Mayoralty will bbe in the charge of Mr. 0. K. Yui, the Secretary-General whose ability has long been recognized, Mr. Yui, an able servant of the Government, is a man whose character and personality have commanded inereasiny confidence so that General Wu Te-chen can serenely contemplate the pro~ spects of the interregnum, when he hands over charge. In wishing General and Madame Wu Te-chen every success and happiness in Canton it is fitting to add to this appreciation of the Mayor's tenure of office an expression of Shanghhai's admiration for their boundless hospitality and the rematiable contribution which it has made {o the international amity of this international city. General Wu Te-chen's social "gifts have been the subject of frequent com~
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.