1958-04-26 — Page 8

I

AM perfectly aware that all have written of those momentous days which led to the destruction of Western influence in Shanghai, could have been bettor told had. I taken one side or the other, but such was not my purposo. I have related the events as they happened in the way I saw them happen, so whatever marit or lack of merit there is in the writing, the reader can be assured that it happened as 1. wrate.

J

At the same time, there place to take them was to remains a question to be the roof garden of a hotel. answered. We know it hap- So into the lift went the pened, but why did it mules, anil they were taken happen? What is the renson up to the roof garden high for it al

No one reason can suflice

to justify all that happened,

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1958,

THE LAST DAYS OF SHANGHAI

CAC Was

By JOHN LUFF

asaumad, the of life had begun which de "the light if I gave my word responsibilities of a modern pended upon all the art and no power units would be civic government were un science of Municipal con used. That is all they asked. dertaken.

trol, it would be in this beat so I announced their decislan My point is that having interest of the Chinese had to the school staff. Imagine frat big doparture took West. But he is implacable on

The

of

4

chance

most

the point that Chlog will deal!

in the spatch, le that

NEWS FROM BRITAIN

Peterb Burgoyne

Well, there it is, Mr. 'Mao · is

the way the British" voter will react under The fever-pitch pressure of u national election.

Nevertheless, they emphasise

atraen of vindictiveness, Ching servatives.. is to be alrong, China will make

Every-

THE fortunes of' Britain's ruling Copagrvative party are at their lowest ebb for many a long year. built up such a syatent, you Shanghai been handed over my surprise when I was place,

a gradually, and her people congratulated by some on

A series of disastrous As I have said, it was with no power except at

equal. carnet hand it back to people totally untutored in trained in honest Municipal outsmarting the authorities.

Parliamentary by-elections to Government. In four years, When I made it obvious that quite easy to leave at that civic affairs, and come

The only weaknows I can and has now been capped by tho the as it was, it became corrupt, if the privilege we had been time. The authorities were

Mr Mad crushing defeats in that, unable to accept responsibility

civic a shambles, and a terrible granted

seems to be a bit out of date in local government elections. ንስእ abused, extremely lenient, affairs, without trouble. monument to Inetalent should tell the authorities shell and you would almost stating the case for the Wastern

"Im- The Socialists are Jubljani, some time.

government.

to, cut off the power again, Imagine they were sorry to democracies. To quote:

*pertallat szereiston shattered the But do not read too much into That was the trouble with This state of affairs was there was much indignation, see so many people going.

Then came a sudden dream of the Chinese to team the results of the local govern- from the West. Really strange, ment, olections. These never Shanghai. pressure watched by the Communiata. The truth is Shanghai change, and from being po why do 'teachers always Invade have been a reliable, painter to brought upon the authori. They knew all that was corruption contaminated litely aloof, the pressure students?" ties to hand hack the town happening, and their way of after the war was foolish, dealing with it was to wins everyang it touched, and it was put on and we were over the town. The intrica. You cannot right a wrong out all that was ratten, touched everymie, Tho ago made to squirm. The points aware of the process that Euro- but of Aala, are, why thin sudden change pan Imperialism adopted, old commissiori cies of modern plumbing hud merely by evading response Where there had been ear squeeze, bribery, and black of pollox, and what caused nowhere in his speech is there the swing away from the Con- its fascination for them, the bility. Shanghai should have ruption in civil government, mail affected everyone's it! basic principle of water been handed back, but only they were extremely harah. e. Of course the foreign come can think of many is no wasting time to exact acialists if they gloat? but the year 1949 happened Anding its

You'von go on asking ques-

the world respect her, but there And who can blame the So- own level was after A number of years They gave most of the civic to be the year when a cen confusing, but with it all during which the Chineso

of ers were mixed up in it, and reasons you can imagine a let umployees

thing seema to be going their tury's seething discontent

they soon made a good job were trained in all the carrying on, but squeeze was themselves on the ground abwys all the rest.

would. I suppose, excuse mare. But one fact stands out lol for past wrongs. marshalled grent forces of things.

affairs of Modern Municipal wiped out in # matter, of

Leaving aside the patently and throw out the foreigner

I should suggest that Government.

Mr Maa visited Russia in The Statesman daya. It went to extremes that it was the only way to who had established himself Shanghai was

vaning popularity of the pro- the most As it was, Shanghai be which

get business done. There January 1950. - Ostensibly, his: seem, ridiculous

sent government, say the So. in Shanghai by virtue of a

no British cialipis, were exceptions, but in most visit was to congratulate Stalls

party for difficult of the whole tako-

camo IL shambles under

It was this speech which nearly half a century has manTM scientific superiority in the

over, because it presented a

the Nationalist Government.

cases somewhere along the on the latter's seventieth birth-, ars of war. But the foreign problem they had never Every kind of abuse existeri

line was the squeeze mer da, but there was a lot more caused me to classify Mr Mo? eged to win a third term,

to it than that.

as the greatest ntalesmon of this er alone had little to do with tackled before. It was prob- openly, corruption was

chant.

It is my opiniost that what age. He will make very tow the Kreat

revolutionary ally their very ignorance of rife that it was the accept-

admkalion Mr Mao has for the mistakes, and the only danger Russian Boviet State, it is that is that he has given himself forces that were changing civic

Tab is a' facile view, 1 pund, affairs on Western ed condition of Government,

although it can lead to over China Shanghal was but lines that caused them to

the Saviots conducted access little time The French Tramway

confidence among the Socialists, one town, a huge town, but behave in the manner they system simply shook itself

ful revolution. Whether gues industry. beyond that, I do not kada. Chinu was weak too long, she its danger les mast heavily, on only one of many difficulties

Up to that time, Russia has has too much to make up: she the Conservativea Asalnat to pieces. No stock was re that lay in the path of the

natalyon Ching much uld, but has left her entry

background of dwindling popu- placed, the vehicles became Reformers as the Land

It must have been Mao's extra modern, world niyfully inte, yeharity, it can lead to apathetic Communists called

shabby and dirty. The fine

performed ceceptance of the inevitability ordinary success that. Intrigued already"

miracles. and

Stalin.

of defeat and to the philosophy selves in those days.

streets became thy

Those foolish people who talk that to win the next general the buildings under Nation.

election will be to pull off of the old days returning are list control, became dela

Just wishful thinkers. The old fantastically long shot. days have gone forever. Those pitated hovels. Only institu-

Yet there is nothing in the who think that Shanghol will book of rules in my that return to a playboy's paradise government may not return for are equally foolish. All that: Is a third time. gone and all that it stood for.

them-

did.

Fine Cities

по

At the same time, the When the Communists whole business of Shanghai first marched into Shanghai, is an example of how foolish some of them saw the first Western statesmanship cas Foreigners they had ever be when it makes conditions tions under fortign contro!"

When they were off without reference to the kept their smartness and duty, they were as curious situation as it exists: as country people can be in a town.

weest.

efficiency.

The Chinese who had I make no apology to any- one when I say that I con. travelled and had acquaint-

the

in

I would go further. Aa the Communist Army was approaching, it was felt they

Reason

I have before me on English text of Mr Mac's speech.

for it all

invaded

ven

In

to reform Chinero

she has

into the

way.

+

1

A

1

a

When the nation comes to

rulera

the tor Whether you like It or whether choose

But it happened, Western institutions. From one wishes to show. But the forted by the thought that this speech Mr Mão pays tri her from

can deny

dreadful

had to quarter their mules cil, a certain condescending outrages which ended in the down town, the only responsibility for the Chin- Treaty Ports, once u mode

NO

were

It

10

For it is the apathy of its rank and file voters which is Live government and dimming throttling the prosent Conserva its chances of retaining power.

The concensus of the pollicul pundits aroung Lopdan is that general election in the autumn of 1950 (my personal queas ot the general election date is still the Spring of 1958).

This leaves the Conservatives between a year and, eighteen to gind themselves.

months

Mr Mugurillan has not con- ålded in me. But I forecast

I said earlier, they were sider the European grab for ed himself with Western

aware that, they

the would be no different. In on July 1, 1949 to commemor, you don't, the fact emerges as enruing five years, the enormity elour a day. China is even of the touc may jolt Con- lisa soldiers, and they territories during the last efficiency was very

superiority of courtesies which at times fact, many firms were com- ate the 28th anniversary of the

new one of the greatest powersservative voters, out of their Communist Party of China. curried themselves with century, makes shameful of the

on earth. No nation will throw apathy.

that position. To pride. Yet with it all there reading.

of bute to Stalls and Lenin because Intoxine she could be attacked that this was born that feeling answer is, the Communist it was only a question was a certain nivety that and none.

victory had made the we found rather amusing, where the Westerner of inferiority which led at Government succeeded, and time and price. And that is their

wrong works of Marx and Engels from the sea and overthrown is Their cries of wonder at a settled, he built fine cities, times to such a bitter out in all honesty, I do not think where they

Communist last you could have wiped out the

known to Asia. Relying on this one of the stupidest theories Govern-

speech alone, which is translated ever entertained, Mao is ad- a mud flat; burst as described Hft in a skyscraper. Some of Shanghai was

mired because he has succeeded. the terrible corruption that ment had no price.

into English, gives a mystic The youth of China is soild with them rede up and down within a comparatively few week.

al quality to Marxism, which I several times, and then years, it was the wonder Without for one moment existed in Shanghai by any

In seeking for reasons, as an Occidental, cannot duc la him, and no matter if the old folk year somewhat for those the It excusing

other method. I give that as offered to pay for the trip. town of the Far East. On another pecusion, they had a fine Municipal Coun- episodes which led to the my reason for the harsh there is something else that Marx's works. It uses phrases old fantastic ways, the youth of the Conservatives will call a

needs, explanation. In an that one finds in the script of China la conscious that a man earlier article, I referred to a the great revealed religions. это

talks of truth in the way neas of the new régime.

with a love for China and all that is Chinese, is at their head, We now havet to see why letter that a number of us selentific theorist could use the the foreigners, came in for received telling us to stay in word, so that Karl Marx could

The uceds and aspirations of harah treatment while the Shanghai, that our lives and take his place as a prophet rather

Forme G00,000,000 people are ex-. Communist Government was our property would be re than an economie theorisi.

pressed li Mao Tse-tung." To

continue We can stamping out corruption. It spected, and that we should However, to return to Mr Mao imagine is difficult to find a general join in the new prosperity in Moscow. After making the ostrich-wise ignore their claim returned to to take their placs in the coun- usual visits, ho level of ethical behaviour, of China.

Thina with purchasing credit cits of the nations of the worldHow will they do it? but In the main, long

worth some £100,000,000. I is another foolish unrealistic familiarity with Shangha Law And-Order wonder if there were any-strings-theory-

attached to this-loan? For it

This state of events was re-t that he will copeçairale an was after this that things got laugh for the foreigner, and we flected in Shanghal. And we be- dragging aside the curtain of was much assured by that had a revolution on the Russian came the called representatives apathy between his party, and

that refused to the Conservative voters. letter, I felt it to be A lines of getting, tough with the of a world

acknowledge that China had

The achieved a revolution, and had

propaganda emphasis A trivial illustration will guarantee. The question is, bourgeoisie.

did the Government break

Certainly the Russian Advis won a position of strength In the will switch from the achieve "illustrate what I meun, their word, and if so, why? ers did come in, and most cer- world. The rest is history in the ments of the Conservatives

After the bombing of

tainly in Teasin, I saw much making. We saw the old China sold but unspectacular to

and For what it is worth, 1 of what Lenin

Stalin. pass away for ever, Shanghai, during, which the

we saw painting the grey picture of life

under the"Socinitati. but the birth of the new! electric power plant was will give the way I read the thought about revolution, hit, we were drastically facts. The whole foreign nothing of what Mr Mao thought,

Shanghal has gone. I am told vert any Socialists to Conser

Naturally, they will not con- rationed with, electricity. population, once they had However, as I suggest, that that the town has emerged as a valism with this But that is Refrigerators and, electric got over the first scare, might have been one of

seaport of a very sober nature. not the problem. In British To have been in Shanghat of the elections the major task is get- irons were off allogether, were much impressed by the sirings attached to the loan.

Mr Mio's summing-up of the days of which I have written ting the voters to quit thele and to affect this, the power Communist Government.

Ching's position in the modern was on experience, 1 would not homes long enough to record was cut off. We were down

Almost immediately, there world is masterly. He is much have missed-it, for worlds.

their vales. to using candles.

hos was law and order, and, if impressed by history, and

a wonderful grasp of the infer- 1 telephoned the authori- we were not respected, al national altuation which left ties and pointed out the In- least no one took any notice China weak and humiliated be convenience they.

were of us. As the months past, fore Western aggression, But drive him into causing us by cutting off and it was evident that that does not

saying thai China must break the power without warning. business and the old days with the West, in fact he states They agreed to let us use were not coming back, the that China. must learn from the

TV SNACKS GET HIGHER RATINGS WITH THIS

fresh, clean taste!

had, I should say, taken the fine edge off that code of honour upon which we pride ourselves.

Speaking personally,

I

the

This article ends the series by JOHN LUFF, COPYRIGHT

14

Tho Conservatives, are..con-. vinced that if their supporters can be got to the ballot boxes they can win the next election. And if it is necessary to ecpro them into voting by producing the spectre of a Socialist regima then this will have to be done.

Nothing does it

like Seven-Up

7UP

up

SAY

·EDU

SWINDER

SHAL

Mr... Chalk.