To the Editor of the "Nonru-CHiNA Dany News"
Sm—Those of us who, before the outbreak of the Shanghai hostilities, resided in the Hongkew and Yangtszepoo districts within the Settlement boundaries, cannot but feel that we had been betrayed by the Municipal Council, The ürst and paramount duty of the Shanghai Municipal Council, in times when its authority may be challenged or threatened, is to protect the bounds within which it exercises control and performs the functions of government conferred by the Land Regulations.
But the Council deliberately abner gated its powers.
As the Japanese spokesman has succinctly put it "the, Municipal (Council forfeited for a time its rights of administration over the eastern Settlement area when the Shánghai Municipal Police took to its heels on Orders from their superiors on August 17. As a consequence, the Japanese Naval Landing Party temporarily had to assume the authority that normally was that of the police."
Following the outbreak of hostilities on August 18, or it may have been even earlier than that, the Council, apparently in consultation with the military authorities of the Powers which had troops stationed in Shanghai, decided to abandon its jurisdiction in the Northern and Eastern Settlement areas, while taking full and complete measures for the protection of the Central and Western districts. We who lived in North Szechuen Road saw with surprise and dismay the Municipal Police lines withdraw from the Settlement boundary at Range Road to Haining Road, then to Boone Road, and finally to the south side of the Soochow (Creek, all within 24 hours, Those who should have received the protection of the Municipal Council. "were abandoned to their own devices and the implications of a rapidly developing war situation.
Had the Council adopted a strong stand—the only stand it should taken io protect all the areas within the defined Settlement limits, and had notified the Chinese and Japanese authorities that these boundaries must be respected, I am of opinion the Shanghai hostilities could not have developed into the huge military operations that they soon assumed. Certainly the two rich and populous districts of Hongkew and Yangtszepoo would have largely escaped the spoilation and destruction that overtook them, It is quite clear that the Council failed in its prime duty to protect its citizens, Chinese and foreigners alike, who resided and/or had their business in those two districts, and the Council must shoulder the blame for all consequences arising from the disgraceful and inexcusable abner gation of its authority.
HAT.
Shanghai, Dec. 29.
***Editorial comment will be found on page 4.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.