The Birth of an Idea To the Editor of the "NortH-Cniva Datty News."
Siz—In your leader this morning you wrote as follows: need for obtaining verdict some a points." on certain
May I be allowed to point out! hot accurate. If you turn to the Feetham Report you will find that it reads on the first page:
"On the 29th November, 1929, the chairman oft of, the Foreign hal, despatched 'Municipal 'Council, being faced by the acute problem of reform in the Settlement'... urgently needed the immediate ala" of an adviser free from previous conimitments oF bias, who" combined julie pial and political experience and. that The "Council requested" the South Mriean Government to place Services at ite disposal for the period of one year in order that T night det in this capacity."
T think it of great importance hat there should be no misinformaion on this point. Tt was the [Shanghai Municipal' Council which took this important step towards the strengthening of the the "International Sel this should be emphasised ce as to tonsure that the Municipal Council ill be consulted when negotiations take place, as will probably shortly Ibe the case with regard to the fitare status of Shaneha Shanghai, March "hit, Aruholy's quotation from the decided: by the Municipal Council to request Mr. Fessenden, who was, at that time, on his way back to China, fo return to Kyoto and explain to Lord Hailsham and Ofr.. Lionel Curtis, the leading members of the British Delegation to, that Conferlence, that the Shanghai Municipal [Council contemplated the appoint ment of an impartial, unbiased committee to. come to Shanghai and study the whole situation and, therefore, to invite these gentlemen {to proceed to Shanghai and. assis 'Us with their views as to the best method of procedure. As a result lof these discussions, the invitation fo Judge Feetham' was sent, in preference to the appointment of a Committee.
T lay special emphasis on having! this matter clearly stated, as this is a time when it is, essential to know. what the Municipal Council has done for Shanghai and show the necessity of its being consulted in whatever negotiations may shortly ake place with regard to the future] status of Shanghai.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.