Mr. Feng Ping-nan's Refusal to Countenance Extremist Agitation: Striking Letter on the Need of Counsels of Moderation The following is a translation of a letter from Mr. Feng Ping-nan, manager of the Kaiyosha Ca. to the Chinese Street U: of agitation for rev ins, refusing to assist them in the line ion of the Land Regulations which they have taken, and impressing upon them the imperative need of "the Doctrine of the Mean."
Dear Sirs,—I have to acknowledge your letter of the 23rd instant] advising me of my election as adviser to the Committee which has been formed by your Federation to, discuss the revision of the Regula tions of the Chinese Ratepayers' Association and of the Land Regula. tions themselves; and inviting me! to lecture on this subject before your Federation on the 29th instant. of no delay. Various} 1 have recently taken up discussion of this vital question with great enthusiasm and among] them figure prominently the General] Chamber of Commerce of Shanghai and the Chinese Ratepayers' Association, as well as your good selves. The views expressed are not entirely identical in detail.
A Composite Com While deeply appreciating the! honour which you have thus conferred upon me, I regret that circumstances do not permit me to accept your invitation, I am an internationalist in principle and in all matters aiming at the advancement of international good-will and the betterment of social condition, Tain always prepared to lend my support. When you formed your! Federation, you had no doubt these! principles in view, and hence while formally declining your offer, T desire to place my service at your disposal whenever my assistance is required, The Doctrine of the Mean In all international problems 1 have always advocated "the Doctrine of the Mean." In my previous articles on "the Land Regulation and Bye-Laws' with particular reference to the proposed iner: Wharfage Dues and the Prints Matter Bye-laws and on the increase of Telephone Rates, I strongly urged the necessity of so revising the Land Regulations as to admit Ghinese representation on the Council and also impressed upon the [Council the advisability of obtaining Chinese views upon any affair affecting Chinese interests. Had the: Council given my suggestion due consideration, the barrier to a harmonious understanding between foreigners and Chinese would have been largely, if not entirely, removed, perhaps the history of Shanghai would not have been marred by the May 20 traged In the matter of revising the Shanghai Land Regulations it is generally conceded that this is a problem the solution of which'
In my opinion, a committee to be composed of representatives of all influential bodies should be formed, on which should also be represente: t the Central Government now in the! process of re-organization. Tae Diplomatic Body should be officially requested by the Chinese Govern ment to eond delegates to participate as members of this Committee on which the Council itself should be represented. This international com. mittee will be able to handle com-potently the work of revising the Shanghai Land Regulations while efforts of individual aryanization acting independently will most likely be abortive. The case of the! Thirteen Demands connected with] the May 30, Affair has for this reason so far resulted in no defini settlement,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.