"Should the Council ignore this sentiment and persist in maintaining an oligarchical_ government Seercey, some quarters foresee the end of the Council and will demand the "abolition of the International Settlement and ask for the establish ment of a. special administration under a special arrangement with the Chinese authorities."
This possibility, the journal marked, had already been pointed out by the "North-China Daily News."
The newspaper continued that there a real perception among Chinese and foreigners alike of the vital service, which the Settlement, as an international organization, renders to China, economically, politically, and socially. "On the basis of actual conation in hina and the istry, of the Settlement will be "But who can say that this will not be.demanded should administrative affairs' reach an impasse where. nothing else' can be done?," the "Mainichi" asked in conclusion, Policy an Anachronism Decrying British conservatism as, it asserts, is being applied to the administration of the International Set loment, the "Shanghai Mainichi" in a vigorous editorial on Sunday asked for a "revaluation of the spirit. behind the establishment of the Seltlement by the Shanghai Municipal "Speaking frankly revaluation' may not even be an issue, Anything as vague as the spirit behind the estab-Ushment of the Settlement' may not appear as a question to. those who, with the backing of the British Em: pire, are prepared to sacrifice with-ut the slightest hesitation such matters as a spirit' or a principle™ for the benefit of their own people. This is, at least, the impression that these at the head of the Council have left with us. If that is the ease, this is the time to issue them a warning.
"The policies we have approved—willy-nilly In the past—are no longer applicable to this day and to exist ing conditions. It the British insist upon maintaining a conservative attitude, a collapse is bound to occur soon:
General men eat Remarking' thet "while no one gould ville the welsh for thei spotted to. their affiey at home, love of conservatism, 30 and og the
the ewapaperoatinnes "ose atthe continuation of 's_peliey which Is based onthe standpoint of benedling. their people. tion, "an International ssaement, where the eneft of all. peoples re: siding there. should be. the guiding motif, Is not only logical but The Brilish population of the settlement is vastly"smaller than the {Chinese or Japanese, the "Mainich!= Polnis out. "It is true that." some Fapanese appear to. be taking part in? the administration as" couneliors or as employees of the Counc ut they' only appear to be taking part, for" actually" they have' nothing" Sythe. journal declares.
The "newspaper concludes deslring that the Council should. not ermitied to use the question of the Fevision of the Land Regulations to Betog, the Issue, since simple. admire sitraive measures could reform: this Journal de. Shanghai "Lo Journal de Shanghai," the French local daily paper, on Thurs day commented favourably upon the leading article which appeared, on Seplember 3 in the "North-China Dally News" entitled "Need for Action."
After summarizing the article, which emphasized the need for reform in the administration of the International Settlement, the "Journal" went on to make the following remarks:—We have no wish to argue with the conclusions of our contemporary whose judgment Is unquestionable. But we shall content ourselves with 4 few remarks some of which will be in perfect agreement with those of the "North-China Daily News It is an incontestable fact that the modernization of China and the sue-cess of the Kuomintang are due in great measure (0 the existence of he foreign Settlements. It is also an indisputable fact that progress in China would be retarded were these foreign Settlements suddenly to disappear. That is why we have always had the conviction, when defending the Settlements against attacks by, political demagogues—who would not have come into existence if there had been ho foreign Seltlements—that we are not acting in any way prejudicial to the true interests of China and that Chinese of common sense will agre: with us.
We regret, therefore, that the surrenders made by these foreign Seltlements have greally exceeded what had been required by urgent clrcumstances. In more than one instance, they had given way to bluff." And when it happens that too much had been given away, it was not because the attack was irresistible but because the situation had not been properly understood and there was lack of will fand trust. Besides, the methods adopted have not, perhaps, been al-Ways good, Judging by the results Consular Body's Power?
According to the Land Regulations, the Shanghai Municipal Council has. administrative authority but no polilifeat authority. When a question of [sovereign rights or authority arises, is the Consular Body which has the qualifteation to take up matter with the Chinese authorities.
However, during the past few years, we find that political problems of a most important character have been @ealt with direct by representatives of the Council with the Chinese authorities. The Consular Body is often consulted only after an affair has been settled: then its approval is asked for.
Now, it should be well noted that fu more than one" instance, the, Council, in the course of negotiations, ad made concessions which were regarded as. excessive.
In January, 1992, was it not the [Defence Committee created by the International. Settlement which prematurely proclaimed a state of cmergency, a measure which had perhaps contributed towards a precipitation of events?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.