On April 11 of this year this journal had occasion to draw attention to the condition of the harbour arising out of the failure to continue conservancy work since the outbreak of hostilities. It was pointed out that owing to this neglect the river was silting in some places and scouring in others with all the disadvantages attendant upon such uncontrolled processes, and the hope wa ed that the Japanese, who have now control of all the machinery of the Whangpoo Conser Board, would see their way clear to perm resumption of work so vital to the best interests of this port. It has since been learned that negotiations have been proceeding in the matter, but up to the present no statement been "issued concerning any decision h may have been reached. Point is now added to the leading article in question by a statement made by Mr. K. M. Fetter! gent for the Canadian Pacific Steamships Lid., to a contemporary to the effect that the company's vessels would call at Shanghai as long as harbour conditions make it possible. Mr. Fetterly is reported to have said, however, that the present silting of the Whangpoo River and the Fairy Flats were already creating difficult problems for the operators of these liners. The Empress of Japan could no longer be berthed at a Pootung wharf, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to bring these vessels up river and manœuvre them against a wharf with reasonable safety from grounding. That is the result of approximate-y eight-and-a-half months inattention to this river, and the question naturally arises as to what will be its condition if the present state of inaction is allowed to continue many months more. It must be pointed out that deterioration in a case such as this proceeds with the rate of a geometric progression, and that in another six months the condition of the river may be in a much more appalling state than can be estimated merely in terms of time. It is consequently most strongly emphasized that the sooner steps are taken to remedy matters, the easier will be the work, and the quicker will present anxieties be dispelled.
In its previous comment on the subject this journal omitted to refer to the manner in which foreign interests were being disregarded in this matter, by the seizure and retention in idleness of the plant of the Whangpoo Conservancy Boa On April 9, 1912, an agreement was arrived at between the Peking Government and the Ministers of the Treaty Powers providing for the formation of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board of Administration, and also a Consultative Board. According to John V. A. MacMurray's compli tion the Board of Administration was to consist of the Shanghai Taotai—later changed to the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs—the Shanghai Customs Commissioner and the Coast Inspector—subsequently changed to the Harbour Master. The Consultative Board was be comprised of the following:
(a) Five members appointed as follows: The several Ministers at Peking of the five nations having the largest tonnage entering and clearing at Shanghai, shall each determine at his discretion the means by which one member of his nationality shall be selected, and the Consuls-General at Shanghai shall notify Conservant Board of the selection made and of any subsequent changes. (b) One member appointed by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. ds the financing of the scheme the several Chambers of Commerce and Associations representing the Commercial interests of Shanghai" agreed to the raising of a tax for conservancy purposes consisting of 3 per cent. of the Customs Duties and, in case of duty 1% per mille. There was also prov for a Governmental grant, but the fact remains that about 80 per cent. of the Board's income is contributed by foreign-flagged shipping administered by a Board, assisted by the Consultative Board on which foreign interests where predominantly rented. The constitution of the Whangpoo Conservancy as set forth in the agreement which has just been quoted is clearly an international one, and this is emphasized by the general provi of Articles 10 and 11.
It is important that this should be remembered, for while the Whangpoo Conservancy Board on the face of it appears to be an organ of the Chinese Government, the foreign interests involved bestow upon it also an international status which should be alw borne in mind. It is necessary, even though it has been repeated ad nauseam, again to lay stress upon the fact that frequent Japanese assurances have been given to the effect that foreign interests in China will be scrupulously respected. The effective maintenance of the Whangpoo River as a usable port for foreign shipping, which indeed is the Board's only raison d'être, is a matter of international concern, and a matter in which foreign interests are inextricably involved. Continued neglect of the river is not only a betrayal of those foreign interests but also a betrayal of the pledged word of the Japanese leaders. The point must be raised just as bluntly as that. It is unbelievable even now, when so''many matters have created an anxiety amounting almost to a conviction, that it is still the intention of the Japanese authorities to pursue a policy which can only do the harm which foreign commercial interests in Shanghai are so anxious to avoid. There is not one valid reason why the Conservancy work, so-necessary for the wellbeing of this harbour, should not be immediately put in hand. There most certainly is no military or naval reason, for the work necessary would in no way impede Japanese military and naval activities. As it is, valuable machinery, which ought to be hard at work for the maintenance and improvement of this port, it lying idle, the port is being allowed to deteriorate to a degree which must inevitably give rise to considerable alarm, and immediate and potential damage is being done to those foreign interests which neutral Powers have been so often assured would be respected. There have in the past been so many instances where Japanese action which would have made a favourable impression upon foreign observers has been neglected—possibly in some cases for good reason—that the time has come for the display of that good faith which has so often been insisted on.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.