March 23.
The readiness of the Shanghai Municipal} Council to meet legitimate Japanese requests is amply proved by its reply to the Japanese demands of January 4, a summary of which was published in this journal yesterday] morning. It will be recalled that on that} date Mr. Suemasa Okamoto, Japanese Consul-General accompanied by military and naval representatives, called on the chairman of the Council and put forward a number of demands of which the chief were that the Council should take steps to increase the number of Japanese members of the Shanghai Municipal Police, and raise their status and authority, and also that Japanese should be placed in controlling positions in all the important organs of the Council. The demands and the manner in which they were presented gave the impression that the Council was being peremptorily asked to surrender its authority to Japanese control, and, though this impression was ultimately dispelled by Japanese explanations, the fact still remained that the Japanese were not merely seeking greater participation in the administration of the International Settlement, but something amounting to predominance. "It was clear at the time, and is even more manifest now, that had the Council conceded Japanese demands the international character of the administra tion would have been sadly changed, and the international partnership. which "is the basis of the government of the Settlement would have been transformed into Japanese control. The international character of those portions of Shanghai north of the Yangking-Pang dates practically from the very beginning of their history, and the Council would have betrayed it if they had consented to the demands which were made. It would, how-. ever, have been equally to be reprehended if it had failed to find a compromise between complete acceptance and rejection. In the search for that compromise the members of Council have spent many anxious weeks, and the document which has now been made Dublic represents a very sincere desire to meet Japanese aspirations without unduly interfering with the structure of the whole administration, In order to meet the Japanese desire for greater participation in the administration, the Council considered, that the request made in regard to the Police Force, should be met as far as possible without any impairment of efficiency, but it takes occasion to emphasize that the principle of partnership applies over the whole of the Settlement, and not merely' to one part of it. Tt is consequently urged upon the Japanese authorities that' simultaneously with the changes which the Council are prepared to make in its organization meet the desires of tne Japanese community, the Japanese authorities should assist the return to normal by taking all practicable steps to restore full Council control in the areas north of the Soochow Creek at the earliest possible time. As partners in the International Settlement, the Japanese community are naturally expected to realize the propriety of such a request, and the desir ability that It should be met, in the sane spirit with which the Council are seeking to meet Japanese requirements. The Council has not found it practicable forthwith to amalgamate the Foreign and Japanese branches of the police force, and instead has suggested a gradual transition as a result of which, the Japanese requirements wil! be met, and the present differentiation between for-ign and Japanese members of the force will be wiped out. That will necessitate an improvement in the type of Japanese joining the force, a wider knowledge of English amongst them and the qualification by necessary experience to occupy the ranks which would ultimately be open to them as a result of the scheme which the Council propounds. Japanese will now join the police as proba tionary sergeants, and not as constables as heretofore, placing new recruits, whether' Japanese or foreign, on exactly the same footing. After three years service and the passing of the necessary qualifying cxamina~ tion, they will be promoted to full sergeants, and' it is apparent from the Council's reply. that whatever differentiation existed in the past will under the proposed arrangements be completely able for promotion as their foreign confreres, With regard to the Secretariat the Council has adopted the only possible attitude. There can only be one head of that important department, and the appointment of another high Japanese official to that department is unnecessary in view of the fact that the Japanese have adequate representation there already in the person of the Japanese Deputy Secretary, with rights to communicate with heads of all departments and to attend all important conferences in which affairs concerning the Japanese community are discussed. From the summary of the Council's reply, it is to be assumed that no changes are. contemplated in other departments of the administration. Will the Japanese accept! what the Council offers? That remains to) be seen, but it is sincerely hoped they will, for it represents a very real desire on the art of the Counci! for ce-operation with the! Japanese. Acceptance of these proposals. together with Japanese action to restore full Council control north of the'Srochow Creek. would have a great effect upon foreign public opinion concerning the Japanese altitude in 'Shanghai. They are offered a compromise which not only acknowledges Japanese partnership in.the International Settlement, but is a very' practical means of meeting Japanese desires. Will they in their turn do something to meet foreign aspirations? It is impossible to believe-that military necessity demands interference with the Council's! functions in the Hongkew and Yungtszepoo
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.