SHANGHAI
841
Bureau for Foreign Affairs, in the Bubbling Well Road. It controls a special force of police composed of Sikhs and Chinese. A riot occurred on 5th and 6th April, 1897, in consequence of an increase in the wheelbarrow tax. It was suppressed by the Volunteers and sailors from the men-of-war in port, without loss of life. The Consuls and Municipal Council having submitted to the dictation of the Wheelbarrow Guild, an indignation public meeting was held on the 7th April, the largest meeting ever held in the Settl ments up to that date. At this meeting the action of the Authorities was so strongly condemned that the Council resigned. A new Council was elected and the tax enfo ced, the French Municipal Council increasing their tax in like proportion. Another riot took place on 6th and 17th July, 1898, owing to the Authorities of the French Settlement having decided t› remove the "Ningpo Joss House." The French Volunteers were called out and a force landed from n en-of-war, which measures speedily suppressed the riot fifteen natives being reported killed and many wounded. In 1900, Great Britain, France, Germany, and Japan landed troops at Shanghai for the protection of the Settlements, the presence of the troops being deemed necessary owing to the threatening aspect of the natives at the time operations were being conducted in the north. They remained as a garrison until December, 1902, when they were withdrawn. In December, 1905, differences arose between the local Chinese and British Officials_regarding the jurisdiction of the British Assessor of the Mixed Court, leading to a situation that called for the intervention of an armed foreign force. Inflammatory placards were posted throughout the native city and in the Settlement itself urging a general strike for the purpose of asserting so called Chinese rights, and on the 18th December serious rioting occurred in the streets when several foreigners were subjected to rough usage at the hands of the mob. Determined attacks were made on the Hongkew and Louza police stations. The latter station was set on fire and partially wrecked. Encouraged by this success the rioters directed their incendiary efforts to the annexe of the Hotel Metropole. Their designs were happily frustrated by a force of bluejackets and volunteers who arrived on the scene, but it was not before shots had been fired and a few of the rioters killed that the mob dispersed. In the Nanking Road also the police found it necessary to fire on the mob with ball cartridge, two rounds of blank cartridges having failed to overawe them. In addition to the volunteers, the Municipal police, European and Sikh, who appeared on the streets armed with rifles and fixed bayonets, upwards of 3,000 bluejackets were landed from warships of various nationalities for the protection of the Settlement. The men behaved with great moderation, but speedily convinced the rioters that their conduct was ill-advised. The Viceroy himself came to Shanghai to settle the dispute, and the Mixed Court, after being closed for a fortnight, was re-opened with Mr. Twyman, the British Assessor (whose dismissal the Taotai had demanded), still on the Bench. The Corps Diploma- tique at Peking somewhat unfortunately yielded to the demand of the Chinese Officials and this has prevented any satisfactory conclusion being arrived at, both parties, the Municipality and the Chinese Magistrates, being unsatisfied.
GOVERNMENT
As at all the open ports, foreigners are in judicial matters subjects to the immediate control of their Consuls, British subjects coming under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, which was opened in September, 1865. Subjects of His Britannic Majesty have to pay an annual fee of two dollars, for which they have the privilege of being register- ed at the Consulate and heard as plaintiffs before the Court, There is enforced re- gistration at several of the other Consulates, but it is free of charge. In the Autumn of 1906, the United States Government established a High Court for China on much the same lines as H.B.M.'s Supreme Courts. Chinese residents in the Foreign Settlements are subject to their own laws, administered by a so-called Mixed Court, which was established at the instigation of Sir Harry Parkes in 1864, and originally sat at the British Consulate. It is presided over by an official of the rank of Tung-chi or sub- prefect. The cases are watched by foreign assessors from the principal Consulates. The working of the Court, especially in regard to civil suits, is far from satisfactory, as the judge has not sufficient power to enforce his decisions, and is notoriously open to outside influence. The matter has for some years been supposed to be engaging the attention of the authorities at Peking. For the French Concession there is a separate Mixed Court, which sits at the French Consulate. There is a Court of Consuls which was. established in 1870, the judges of which are elected by the Consuls annually, its purpose being to enable the Municipal Council to be sued.
In local affairs the forign residents govern themselves and the natives within the Settlements by means of the Municipal Councils, which exist under the authority of the "Land Regulations." These were originally drawn up for the British Settlement