1
448
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE SITUATION AT SHANGHAI. ¦ We are authorised to deny most emphatically the ridiculous sta ement set about yesterday that dispatches from Sir Pelham Warren to the Taotai's dispatches had also been returned to Taolai had been returued unopened, and that the him. Last night it became known that an organ- ised run on the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank is being planned for to-day, when as many notes as possible are to be presented for redemption in silver dollars. It is even asserted that the
Although its mad expression was sharply stopped, it is too much to expect that the anti-foreign feeling at Shanghai bas subsided. Our telegraphic news (Dce. :) shows that the dispersal and disappearance of the mob on Monday night was not sufficient to warrant the bel of that the trouble was over. It may be only beginning. The mobs re-appeared next day; and much depends now on the behaviour of the foreign troops.
It is known that numerous modern fire irms, particularly Mauser pistols, are distributed amongst the turbulent people surrounding Shanghai; and the wonder is that they have not already been produced. It seems that, with later information, we have nothing to retract from what we have already said as to the causes and origin of the riot.
THE POINT AT ISSUE.
|
There was apparently one misunderstanding of the details the Mixed Court fracas, as appears in the following extract from the N.-C. Daily News-The South China Daily Journal complains of the one sided and irrelevant statements in our article on the outbreak at the Mixed Court, and says that if any scrious consequences result from the outrage, we shall be largely to blame. It accuses us of trying to hoodwink our readers by representing that there was a disagreement between the Chinese magistrat and the British assessor as to the destination of the children. We acknowledged, however, on Monday, that -We were misinformed on this point, and took the earliest opportunity of corr cling our mistake. A great deal is made of the arrest of a Chinese lady travelling with a number of legally bought slave girls, on the charge of kidnapping. Our native contemporary ignores the fact that the police were informed by a t-legram from Chinkiang that they should look out for a kidnapper with or victims on board a river steamer, that kidnapping is recognised by Chinese as a serious crime; and that they would have rightly complained if the police took no notice of sach a warning. We cannot suppos that the Chines magistrate would have remanded the Cantonese lady to the Mixed Court cells, as he did, if there were sufficient evidence that she was the lawful owner of the girls. But all this is beside the real question, which is: Are the Taotaï's orders to over-ride the orders of the Consular | Bdy in the International Settlement? The Consular Body bave instructed the foreign assessors that female prisoners on remand are to be sent to the Municipal goal, where ti ere is a proper women's ward under feminine superv.sion. The Taotai Las instructed the magistrate that they are to be put in the Mixed Court cells. The British assessor and the police were doing their duty in carrying ont the instructions of the Consular Body, and the magistrates were doing what they thought was their duty. The outrage, HA our contemporary calls it, arose through the magistrate's runnels attacking the police Meanwhile, a correspondent who has had a long experience in China, and knows the subject thoroughly, writes: "It may help in the understanding of this Mixed Court affair if you realise the fact that the Mixed Curt, as well as every native Court in China, is run by the "runners." For some years the Mixed Court runners have proaned over the losses to them by the Municipal care of prisoners, and in cases involving dealings in females they get their best harves'."
་་
ва
..
HỤNGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK 1HREATENED.
|
|
co-operation of one of the smaller foreign binks has been secured in this manœuvre, which cannot, however, do more than possibly cause a temporary incouvenience to trade. The Bauk will easily be able to make arrangements to meet any such ran, and iu sɔ do'ng might, in re- turn, seriously inconvenience the native banks."
41
NATIVE NEWSPAPER INSTIGATION,
4.
i
|
hand," no doubt with official countenance.
Naturally, the native newspapers took a As early as the 12th inst., a correspondent wrote:
Sir, Those of your readers who glance at the columus of the Chinese mrning papers Login to think that before long we shall have the events of 1900 repeated. Then, China defied the world in arms, with disastrous con- sequences to herself, and now the editorials of most of the Shanghai native papers remind one of nothing so much as of an Irishman at Donuybrook fair, uproariously demanding that someone should tread ou the tail of his cont. A little while ago we had the American boycott and the vials of editorial wrath were pured | out ou America Then came the Japanese Commissioners and the Manchurian negotia- | (ion. The Japanese did not comport themselves as pliably as Young China thought proper, and for a time they were said to be wors than the Russians. Tue Vladivostock riots furnish a text. to one of your contemporaries for an impassioned appeal to its readers to grow strong against the foreigner. No-one wou'd for a moment ref r to such an outrage as that at Vladivostock with anything but horror, but, when the Chinese papers complain that Russia promises an in domuity for Chinese wrongs, only as a matter of grace on the part of the Czar's government, but Foreign Powers, with a strong hand, compel China to pay as a matter of right, when the Chinese destroy foreign life an 1 property, they forget that the reason why Foreign Powers demand an indemn ty from China for all riots and massacros is because these riots are either
INSTIGATED BY CHINESE OFFICIALS
or are allowed to take place with their cog. nisance and consent. The Russian soldiers at Vladivostack wero as savige as the Chinese Boxers, Lut while the sold ers riotal in the northern port no Russian officer dared app ar in uniform. The riot was directed against the Russian authorities; the Chinese sufferad-and their sufferings have the deepest commiseration of everyoue-in the course of a riot directed by the sol fiers against their officers, by the people against their rulers. Now, what indarin suffered the least inconvenience during all the Boxer outbreak They were either the chief instigators of the massacres or, at any rate, connived at them. It was becausɔ China wax officially quil'y that China was called on to pay for her crimes. It is because the Russian government is not guilty of instigating or con- aiving at the massacre of Chinese at Vladivos. tock that they refuse to pay an indemnity as a matter of right, but offer one as a miter of grace.
Now comes the matter of the Mixed Court, and all the native newspapers threaten vengeance on all things British uul-ss this is a tiled to their satisfaction. Don't you think, sir, it would be
well if the intelligent men who endast the natire papers would pause for a moment ani think what effect this continal sparring, first On the 19th inst, five days before the out-at ons nation, and then at another, is bound to break, our contemporary had the following have.. Chin hopes one day to abolish the note: Although native opinion is still highly extri-territ riality clauses in her treaties excited over the affair in the Mixed Court, and When that day comes, foreigners will probably the most extravagant and anti-foreign senti. gain as many privileges as they will lose, but, ments are being expressed, the tension between will that day be hastened by the present impotent, but spiteful clamour of your con- temporaries? I think all intelligent Chinese wil admit that the nation has gainel more during the last twenty years from the good vill of Britain, America, and Japan than from that of any other embination of Powers, yet, it is propisely against those thres nations that the Chinese native papers have been girding most viciously for the last month or so,'
the Chinese and Consular authorities is some. what relaxed. The Consular body met yesterday to discuss the dispatches from the Taotai, and the proceedings have not, of course, been divulged. But it appears to be generally understood that the immediate crisis has been avoided and that negotiations may he set on foot which will result in a complete under. standing in regard to Mixed Court, procedure.
|
|
|
[December 23, 1905.
CHINESE DEMANDS
At the interview granted to the merchants and gentry by Taotai Yuan at the Bureau of presented the following proposals, which, they Foreigo Affi 8, the former, says the Nanfungpao, urged, should be considered in the settlement of the Mixed Court fracas
1. Since the Chinese residents in the Interna- tional Settlement are hollers of a large part of the real estate, they should be represented in the Municipal Council by a Chinese member or mmbers.
»
Siac. Mr. Twymu has shown by his action a lack of knowledge of the treaties, he should b› replaced by another assessor.
3.-The police inspectors participating in the riot should be removed.
4. The polic constables, who are also guilty of violence, must be pan ́shad.
5-In the future, all cases must be decided: according to the regulations, i e., the magistrates are to enjoy fal powers in purely Chinese The female wards in the municipal goal are to be abolished.
THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL'S CASE. The following letter, with enclosures, was ordered for publication as bearing on the recent dispute at the Court :-
Shanghai, 22nd June, 1905. Dear Sir, I have the honour to forward to you: -
1.-Translation of a dispatch from the Taotsi, dated 10th of June, 1905.
2.- Translation of a reply dated 21st of June, 1905.
As it appens impossible to come to term < with the local Chinese authorities. I have been instructed by my colleagues to proceed to Nauking and to discuss the question with his Excellency the Vioaroy.I have the honour to be, dear sir, your obedient servant,
DR. KNAPPE Consul-General for Germany and Senior Consul.
F. ANDERS ON Esq.,
Chairman, Municipal Council.
Tanslation of dispatch from Tuotai to Senior Consul, dated the 10th June, 1905.
The Taot i writes in reply to the letter of the 6th inst. that according to all the treaties a Chinese offender is under the jurisdiction of China. If a Chinese commits an offence in the Settlement, he is to be tried and detained in custody by the Magistrate of the Mixed Court according to Article I, of the rules for the Mixed Court at Shangbai.
The Mixed Court has ex'sted in Shanghai for several teus of years; but neither is there any mention in the treaties, nor is there any precedent to show that a female convict has ever been sent to the Municipal Gal.
I have been, the Taɔlai continn s, in Shang- for four years as Taotai and have always endeavoured in my intercourse with the foreign Chusuls to act in an amicable manner. I cannot understand how you, as Senior Consul, in- fnod by the Municipal Council, can address to me a request which is not in conformity with the treaties.
In consequence of the successive enlargements of the Settlement the number of the which have to be tried in the Mixed Court has increased. And socor lingly the gaols for mals and fem la prisoners, which in former times were regarded as large enough, have proved to be to small. I have, therefore, given instructions to the Mix d Court Magistrate t repair and cleanse the Mixed Court's gaols and to choose a place on the Mixed Court's premises for erecting new buildings,
Mr. Twymin, the British Assessor, has inspected the places and declared them as fit for use. Thereupoa I have set spirt a sum of money for the construction of the new buildings and have thus done my duty.
**
Famile convicts have to be tried as soon as they have been taken, and immediately after the trial they are to be dealt with according to the senteuce.
If there have occurred delays in producing female convicts because I do not agree with their being sent to the Municipal gaol, and if consequently case accumulate, the fault lies. not with me but with the foreign assessor. According to Chinese law offenders who have committed a crime are sent to prison; those who
เล
: