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that the post which has been offered to Mr McEuen is a quasi-Government appointment. The European settlements at Shanghai and at the other Treaty Ports in China are governed by Municipal Councils, elected by the resident rate-payers, under concessions negotiated by the English and French Governments with the Government of China. The Commercial community at Shanghai in particular, is in close relation with the Commercial Community at Hongkong; and it is important, for the interests of both communities, that the Head of the Police at Shanghai should be so efficient an officer as Mr. McEuen has proved himself to be. Moreover, Shanghai is a port of Registry for British ships, and the European settlement consists mainly of British subjects, so that, if allowed to accept the post offered to him there, Mr. McEuen would still be working in the interests of the British Government. On the whole, I strongly recommend