To the"Bditor of. the "Nowra-Citwa Dany News Siz—I would like lo make a suggestion through your valuable paper which would possibly help to bring some hope of brighter days ahead.
The suggestion is that a World's Fair be held here in Shanghai from September 1 to November 30, in 1940.
Such a proposal made public and freely commented upon might result in some definite decision to hold such a Fair. This would help to turn the attention and the eyes of the public from the present gloomy outlook to a happier and brighter future for Shanghai, and also tend to make possible better and more friendly, relations between the many different nationalities represented here in Shanghai.
A World's Fair held here in 1940 would bring to other interested nations and individuals a hope that the policy of the open door in China is being fostered and planned for by all parties interested in and concerned about the future of Shanghai, and China.
Chinese living abroad in all parts of the world would probably have less apprehension that there is no hope for peace in China, and the deep wound that this war has inflicted might be relieved in some measure by the unity that a World's Fair should bring.
To plan for a World's Fair in 1940 would probably bring to Shanghai business men some hope that the internal and external relations as to China's future might be reconstructed on a basis that would lead to a happier and healthier ce-operation between all parties concerned in the welfare of Shanghai and China. Japan, I am sure, is not desirous of fostering the ill-will of any nation and to create and welcome a common interest such as a World's Fair would induce would prove her sincere desire that unity and prosperity be restored to Shanghai and China as soon as possible.
Let us strive to bury the hatchet of hate and hope for peace and good will and the prosperity that will relieve the sting of defeat in some measure.
To start the ball rolling, a World's Fair planned for and fostered by true and sincere ce-operation would greatly help to restore a better feeling here in Shanghai between all nationalities, Let us hope that a new and bigger and greater Shanghai may be built up and that the wound of "war" may be healed as soon as possible, The grudge that war must bring, if fostered too long, cannot produce peace and blessing for Shanghai. Phere is nothing better than a common interest to help unite people and cause them to drop their contentions and differences.
To hold a World's Fair here in Shanghai from September 1 to November 30 1940 might prove a common interest that would produce 1 better outlook for the future of hanghai. Peiping and other parts of hina and all ports en route to aanghai (including Japan) would, aturally benefit by the large number of tourists and visitors that a World's Fair would be expected to bring. To have and hold the expectation of such a Fair here in Shanghai would give us something better to think about und look forward to than the dark picture that this war has produced for many.
Refugees might be used to help prepare for the World's Fair and New Shanghai would be a good location, so it would seem to the writer, but it cannot be a successful' Fair without full Japanese -accord and help in order to bring it to pass. Here's for a hearty hand-shake for everyone who hopes for and seeks to bring peace again in China, The truest and surest road to peace is to be found in the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, "The Prince of Peace," namely "Love your enemies—do good to them that hate you" (Matthew 5:44).
"All native industries should be represented in the native manner of manufacture and native products and modes of harvesting the crops should be exhibited. Fishing nets and fishing boats with a flock of pelicans, farm implements, native modes of transportation such as the chair, the wheel-barrow and the donkey should be for exhibit—the latter three also for hire. A few brides' chairs, a) Chinese funeral procession and a host of other interesting things could be displayed, Chinese carvings, curios, silk work, pottery, ete., could be for sale and on display. Japanese goods should be welcomed too, and anything the foreigner can produce to make the Fair a success. Foreign objects of interest and of note, such, as the Canadian Quintuplets, a model of the highest New York sky-scraper, with a card giving particulars, the new Golden Gate Bridge represented in an exact model of the original, giving dimensions, and many other things of interest.
These are but a few suggestions but I am sure that with ce-operation there will be jo store of good ideas and much material brought to light that would help to make the Fair a success.
Some may hold the opinion that a World's Fair is a costly undertaking. This may be true but the foreign visitors to Shanghai would be bringing gold dollars and would expect to pay reasonable prices to see exhibits, and ah entrance fee of one Chinese dollar would be less than twenty cents American money at the present rate of exchange.
Thë construction and decorating of buildings for a World's Fair here in Shanghai would cost but a fraction of what the cost would be in United States or Canada. One million dollars gold at the present date of exchange could be turned into over six million Chinese dollars.
Again carpenters and other skilled mechanics can be employed for one dollar. per day Chinese money. This, compared with American carpenters (say from $6.00 to $8.00 gold per day) brings the cost of a Chinese carpenter per day down to one thirty-sixth to one forty-eighth of the amount paid to an American carpenter per day. Chinese. artists who paint our adver-rising signs along Nanking Road could be employed for decorating purposes at a small fraction of the sum paid to American artists. In other words, a World's Fair could be financed here at a small fraction of the amount it would cost in England or the United States, provided the exchange rate held good.
The countries who have been selling millions of dollars worth of war material to both parties of the present war might do well tó spend some of the profits to help establish peace in a peaceful way rather than to use the money to "re-arm", in order to demand peace at the end of a gun.
Let us hope that there are business men here in Shanghai or in the States or England who see a good opportunity for helping to make peace and make money.
Hiram MUSSEN.
Shanghai, Nov. 16.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.