March 11.
It is definitely announced today that Brigadier-General Macnaghten will not stand for re-election to the Council in the forthcoming contest—if any, General Macnaghten's decision to go Home on long leave this Spring has long been known. When the recent crisis developed it was thought that the possibility of avoiding a change of Council would be desirable to consider. In that event, it was understood that he and others were prepared to waive their personal convenience in the public interest and remain office until such a condition of things had arisen as rendered it feasible to return to normal methods of representation, Since then developments have at any rate removed the danger of hostilities in the immediate precincts of the Settlement. Pro blems are still complex—perhaps more complex from some points of view—but as, rightly or wrongly, it appears to be the view of 4 certain section of opinion that there should be no interference with the usual annual nominations and elections, circumstances have changed. General Macnaghten's decision will be regretted but it clearly is animated by that sense of dignity and sportsmanship which has been so strong a note in his public service here. He is seeking well-earned leisure out of no selfish desire to shift a burden on to other shoulders. He is merely intimating his readiness to leave. the field clear for the ratepayers to make their choice unhampered by considerations for his own personal position. The decision is worthy' of hit land Shanghai will appreciate it General Macnaghten has held the Chair of the Municipal Council for two years. They have been years of considerable importance and anxiety and have lended up with a positive con-Hfagration. At this moment no attempt will be made to dwell on the significance of this climax. it is sufficient for the purpose of expounding Shanghai's debt to IGeneral Macnaghten to point out that, the very severity of this sudden crisis shows how heavy have been the responsibilities which he and his colleagues Hhave borne, with the prosaically realm sanity of the traditions of the place." General Macnaghten would be the first to declare—too emphatically perhaps modesty rather than strict accuracy were not being invoked—that he has owed a great deal to loyal support from a team of different nationalities but of undivided comradeship. Moreover he and they have had at hand a leorps of permanent offi Isto whom Shanghai is under the greatest obligation. Nothing been more marked in the last two months than the remarkable efficiency and resourcefulness jof the Secretariat at Kiangsi Road and the various expert departments—Police, Health, Public Works, Fire Brigade, Volunteers and the rest—in handling fan international crisis with the fweapong normally assigned only to Muncipal authorities, with defective sanctions at their back. It is common knowledge that in which has been of the kind to bring out the weaknesses and also the strength ji Macnaghten of all who have his admirers jand his former critics alike.
In due course no doubt the [Council will be able to put on record its, formal appreciation of the work of its retiring chair-Iman. Shanghai will be content to wait for that tribute, confident they are of its certain vindication of the labours of one who has been free from personal prejudices and has consistently worked with no thought of other than the public interest. Gener Macnaghten has set an example to his successors in office by the close attention he has paid to the thousand and one details whereby the official head of a big corporation can make the rank jand file feel that their work does not go unnoticed and unappreciated. He has been indefatigable in observance of the duties jof the Council in deliberation. He has been equally tireless in conveying to the workers in the Counci service that encouragement and discriminating praise which mean so much and yet is so often neglected even by the fiery apostles of the forward creed. He has retained sufficient of his training to be able to "bite" on occasion. Generally he has been content for tide the Council on the snaffle and to let others, if necessary, take the jeredit so long as the right decision be taken, To his personal qualities Shanghai and the Council have owed much. They have adorned a chairmanship with the Jelegance and the courage of the famous Royal Regiment to which hho once belonged. In paying this {tribute to his two years of office it is pleasant to think that no goodbye need be said—only an revoir, a happy holiday and, at its end, his return with his charming wife to enjoy the Jamenities of a Shanghai free from war's alarms and the tertors of the curfew.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.