London, June 17.
"phe administrator of the future will find in these dispassionate pages amount of suggestive dgelaves. the "Times" this morning' in reviewing the report of Mr, Justice Feetham on the future of Shanghai, Mr, Justice Feet~ iynamie" process has set Shanghai upon the road of far-reaching reform: Dut in the meantime the negotiations between Sir Miles Lampson and Dr. Cc. T, Wang have done" mich to shake the extraterritorial foundation of "the. International Settlement of Shanghai.
Even if, continues the "Times," Shanghai {s permitted a moratorium of five or even ten years, which teems probable, and even if defn operation of the new treaty Is fur ther delayed by "negotiations between other Powers and China, Feetham's prescription, "not ye but decades," will not be fulfilled, During the probable breathing space of a decade opinion in Shang-hal, both 'Chinese and Foreign, agree toa new international basis for the Settlement as Mx, Feetham deems necessary but its acceptance by: any' Chinese Government seems doubtful. Therefore rendition tome form ov other may Lo nearer than he contemplates.
The "Times" also expresses the opinion that a safeguard against tome of the risks involved lies in exer closer ce-operation between the settlement authorities and the Tead.|I¥ Sng Chinese in the Settlement and Nanking, for the interests of Chi-rote as a nation are bound up with the maintenance of stable conditions at this essential rallying point, those interests alone the] British Government, which is unnecessarily reticent about the cur rent extraterritorial negotiations, will do well to ponder the Feetham Feport before, they. commit them "Reuter, arr selves too far," concludes the paper.
VIEWS OF LEADING CHINESE, Opinions of leading Chinese regarding the second volume of Mr. Justice Feetham's report on the ature. of Shanghai, were div ed, some commenting on favourably while others announced that the claim that rendition of the International Settlement was not practicable was biased.
'A representative of the "North-China Herald" interviewed four Teading Chinese merchants and Bankers, two of whom, Mr. Vu Ya-ching, president of the San Peh S. N, Coy and a Chinese member of the" Shanghai funieipal Council, and Mr. Chang riga, governor of the Bank China, declined to make any comment, stating that they had not had any sufficient time to read Ahrough the report and were, therefore, unable to express opinions.
Two -othor leading Chinese resi dents, Mr. T. D. Woo, general manager of the Bank of Communications, who. is also a member of the Council, and Mr. Wang Shao-'Ian, chairman' of the Chinese Rate-avers Association and of the Grea for Shanghai Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, who are representative of Chinese public opin. jon, however, frankly. expressed their views. As will be seen, there eas sharp distinction - between them.
As a whole, Mr. Justice Feetham's report on the future of [Shanghai is a valuable work and fall Chinese should study it carefully in order to discover adequate measures for the solution of the dificult question concerning the future of this great city," stated My, T. D. Woo. about because, in order to attain al goal, one has to go through the fees sary stages just as China will have to go through the military and the political tutelage periods before she can reach the constitutional period," said Br. Woo, However, Mr. Woo continued, whether or not this transition period will be a long one or a short Jone would depend entirely" upon whether or not the Chinese were able to demonstrate their ability to take over the reins of administration from foreigners in." governing the Settlement. Mr. Woo called upon Chinese to work hard to make their country a strong one so that the transition" period would be a short one.
The comment of Mr. Wang Shaclan was, of a different nature. He stated that the question of the rendition of the Settlement. was one which China wants to settle outright land that he did not see. there. was Jany reason for a transition period fas suggested in the report.
While endorsing the suggestion Jot two ratepayers' meetings, Chi nese and foreign respectively, Mr. Wang expressed his disapproval of the proposal that, in the event disagreement arising over Settlnent. affairs between foreign and Chinese, "ratepayers. the Council should have the deciding voice. Ile Stated that ratepayers were the bosses" of the Settlement and the Council was composed of their ployees and, therefore, he didn't fee why the Council" should ha the deciding voice in cases of dis agreement between the ratepayers.
'Asked whether or not lis approv-Jed of the suggested increase in the! number of Councillors from the present 15 to less than 30 and not more than 22, Mr. Wang said that no matter what' the number of Couniilors_ was, the" Chinese were entitled fo have 55 per cent. of seats jon Council and foreigners, the ing 45 per cent, in accord w|ance with the amount of taxes pala by. them respectively.
In regard to, the question [Judge Feetham's suggestion tha. with rendition of the Settlement, new regime should be establishe. with full rights of self-government, Mx, Wang said that when rendition. iwas brought about the decision as to whether or not a system of self-should be introduced in one which rested sole-Chinese Government] allowed to interfere with thi
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.