The result of considerable investigation into the condition of the Whangpto and the general condition of its bed—a most important factor in the life of this port—was published in these columns yesterday morning, and reveals a state of affairs which must give rise to anxiety. When hostilities broke out in August last conservancy work was naturally suspended. That was inevitable. When the Chinese were obliged to retreat' from Shanghai and the whole of the Chinese area fell into Japanese hands, the victors, exercise the powers which victory gave them, seized the whole of the material belonging to the Whangpoo Conservancy Board. There can be no criticism of that step. War is war, no matter by what other name it is called, and that necessarily implies that to the victor go the spoils. Now all the apparatus which in times of peace is continuously active for the maintenance of this port has been lying idle for approximately nine months. Meantime the Whangpoo, with its rapid silt-laden current, is effecting big changes in its general trends. Scouring is going on in places where it ought to be restrained, and silting is proceeding in others where it is imperative that the normal depths should be maintained. Wharves in some cases are being imperilled by the action of the fast moving waters, while in others continual deposit of water-borne earth is quickly making them inaccessible. Cases are reported where wharves can only be reached at high tide, where a few months ago they were available at the lowest of low water. The normal risks attendant upon bringing large ocean-going vessels up to their normal berths in the harbour are being increased, and, though those risks do not at the moment appear to be particularly grave, there is the possibility that, if something is not done to put the river into harness again, the dangers will increase to such an extent as to influence shipping companies not to risk their craft by coming up river. Thus it is apparent that while the situation is not too serious at present, there is every indication that, unless swift action is taken to put the Conservancy Board's machinery into operation, a state of affairs may be created which it may prove very difficult and expensive to rectify.
It may seem somewhat trite to insist upon the importance of this matter, but it must be emphasized that the state of the Shanghai harbour is a question of the utmost importance to the fortunes of this city. Its commerce, industry and economic well-being are entirely dependent upon the efficiency with which this river is maintained. That is not being done at the present time, and matters are being allowed to drift in a manner which must give rise to the greatest possible concern. There need be-no misgivings as to where the responsibility rested in the past few months and where it will rest in the future. It sits fairly and squarely upon Japanese shoulders, Shortly after the capture of Shanghai, Japanese divers are said to have investigated the Nantao boom, and reports were current that the Japanese intended to raise the vessels which had been sunk there.
So far as the eye can see nothing, or at the most very little, has been done towards that end. The effect of the diversion of the current by the boom is already being felt on the Pootung side, and in the interests of the port it is imperative that something should be done to remedy the existing state of affairs. All the apparatus for the adequate maintenance of this port has been taken over by the Japanese authorities. It is lying idle. The staff of the Conservancy Board has been immobilized. But despite the fact that all the facilities are still available to bring the Whangpoo again under control nothing is being done. It is a tragic state of affairs which must be remedied. It must be pointed out with all the emphasis of which this journal is capable that there exists no military or naval reason why the work should not be put in hand at once. Dredging operations would in no way impede the passage of Japanese ships supplying the armies in the field. The movements of the Japanese navy would in no way be interfered with. And yet foreign neutrals, whose interests it has been stated are the objects of scrupulous respect by the Japanese, are obliged to stand by with folded arms and watch the steady deterioration of this port through Japanese sins of omission. The extent of those interests it is somewhat difficult to assess, hut if the figure representing British interests—recently reported to be £300,000,000, or Yen 6,000,000,000,—be accepted as a starting point from which to estimate the total of neutral foreign interests, it is quite clear that very imposing investments in Shanghai and throughout China are being threatened by the inactivity at present shown in the proper maintenance of the river.
Neglect of the harbour must have cumulative effect. The longer the delay in getting into operation again the greater the effort necessary to regain former efficiency. Indeed it increases in an almost geometrical progress sion and to imagine what conditions will be nine months hence if nothing is done to mend matters naturally gives rise to anxiety. It is not desired to exaggerate any description of the present state of affairs. As one shipping man is reported to have said while there is always risk in bringing deep-draught ships up to their berths, no accident has happened as yet. That does not mean that none will happen in the future. Clearly the dangers of some such misfortune increase as months of inattention pass. In the potentialities of the future must be found cause for grave misgivings. There should be no doubt about it; the matter is entirely in the hands of the Japanese. There has been much complaint that foreigners fail to understand the Japanese and their policy, and that because of that misunderstanding relations between the Japanese and local foreign neutrals are not all that they should be. That is, unfortunately, true. Looking back over these last nine months it is difficult to find many Japanese actions which have been indicative either of goodwill or faithful adherence to their promise to respect neutral interests. The latter have been damaged either by positive action or negative neglect. The delay in effactively opening areas occupied by the Japanese forces, the petty annoyances to which foreigners are continually being subjected, the restraint upon Shanghai's natural desire to get back to normality, and the task of rehabilitation are all factors which give rise to the mistrust of which the Japanese complain. They have at all times had it in their power to do such deeds as would remove that cause of complaint. The remedy has always been in their own hands, but it must be apparent to them, that by their present courses they are slowly but surely alienating that sympathy which was felt with them in a large number of quarters only a very few months ago. Were they to make the gracious gesture of permitting the Whangpoo Conservancy Board to get back to work and perform those services so essential to the welfare of this port, it would be just one of those acts which would tend to allay present misgivings and bring about better relationships than at present exist.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.